Developing the Voluntary Sector’s Policy Capacity: How Umbrella Organizations Can Bridge The Gap Between the Public and Voluntary Sectors – The Case of Imagine Canada

The purpose of this paper is to build on the research done by previous public and voluntary endeavours to strengthen the policy capacity of the voluntary sector. The paper will demonstrate that Imagine Canada, as a national umbrella organization, is well-positioned to develop the voluntary sector’s policy capacity at the national level, and foster a more collaborative relationship with the government. The challenges facing the voluntary sector are examined in this paper along with a brief history of government voluntary relations, overview of the voluntary sector and a rationale for Imagine Canada’s role in strengthening the policy capacity of the sector and formalizing the policy engagement process on a federal level.