Centraide of Greater Montreal: Case Study

Introduction

For the general public, the name ‘Centraide’ evokes an annual fundraising campaign – often the major campaign in the region – to assist people in need. Even if the era of posters illustrated with stark images of dire poverty is now a thing of the past, the idea that donations will be used to relieve the misery of those who are poor, lonely, ill or otherwise disadvantaged still persists. While this is not entirely false, in practice the amounts redistributed by Centraide are never given directly to individuals; they go instead to local community organizations to which these people belong or that deliver services to them. What Centraide ‘sells’ is community action – a very nebulous concept for ordinary mortals! Imagine the challenge of focusing a fundraising campaign on this concept. But this is precisely what Centraides in Québec do!

They do even more, because the Centraides do not see themselves solely as sources of funding, but also as social actors playing a decisive role for social change. A case study of one Centraide, Centraide of Greater Montréal, helps us understand how these basically philanthropic organizations try to meet the challenge of participating actively in building a fairer, more just society. Part of the explanation lies in the roots of Centraide of Greater Montréal, and part in the shift it made a few years ago to turn resolutely towards working for caring communities. This is how it was done.

Complete document

pdf Centraide of Greater Montreal: Case Study William A. Ninacs et Francine Gareau 2003

William A. Ninacs et Francine Gareau, Centraide of Greater Montreal: Case Study, avec la collaboration de F. Gareau, Ottawa, Caledon Institute of Social Policy, 17 pages, 2003