How We Work

ONN brings together people and groups that want to work together to strengthen the nonprofit sector. Our work is action focused, creating opportunities for the emergence of new ideas, flexibly responding to opportunities and needs as they arise.

Our theory of change is that when the sector is better connected (the network), we will start to discover the needs and opportunities for collaboration (in constellations or communities of practice) that will lead to the sector being able to take action to affect changes that will benefit nonprofits in Ontario.

ONN has been created in order to:

1. build our knowledge of what is going on in the sector so that we can work together where it makes sense
2. build communication across sectors through email lists and events with the goal of building understanding, cohesion and trust across the nonprofit sector
3. work together strategically in constellation action teams to be able to undertake joint projects together where it makes sense

In addition to creating a mechanism by which all nonprofits can communicate and dialogue with one another, ONN will host "constellation" groups who want to tackle a particular issue facing the nonprofit community. These groups are self-formed and motivated by mutual self-interest, for the benefit of the entire sector, and may take on an advocacy role.

ONN works on issues that meet our minimum specs, which include:

• issues that affect the public benefit nonprofits and charities
• issues that are cross-sectoral - relevant to arts and environment for example
• projects that would benefit from collective voice
• projects seeking systems change in public policy
• issues that aim to strengthen the role of the third sector in Ontario

To read more about us, check out Tonya's article in our inaugural issues of ONN's enews

If you have an idea for a project or initiative that you think ONN should be involved in, learn more about how we work and then contact our Network Director for more information.