The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre is a drop-in centre supporting 250 women in need each day. The Centre provides services that stabilize the lives of traumatized women living in the Downtown Eastside.

For DWEC (and many nonprofits), government funding comes with program restrictions set by contract, limiting the organizations ability to be flexible and responsible with services. For example, the organization can only funding for staffing, advocacy, victims services, and $1 per day per person for food. This funding is insufficient to address existing needs of the community being serviced (safety, meals, health, crisis management, counseling and opportunities for positive change).

The SVP team has developed a long-term business plan for the organization including program capacity building, as well as board and fund development plans. The team has developed a sound governance model for their board and recruited member a more diverse group of people with business backgrounds to sit on the organizations Business Advisory Board. The team is working on a fund development strategy that will be linked to a renewed fundraising campaign. To increase awareness and support for their work, the team is developing a new website and communications plan.

http://www.dewc.ca/