Overview

Vision

The Centre on Philanthropy believes in a Bermuda where effective and efficient charities and nonprofit organisations collaborate with the private sector and Government to build a caring and giving community.

Mission

Lead the Bermuda community in building an effective, efficient and sustainable third sector by:

  • advancing knowledge, skills and performance
  • fostering effective partnerships
  • creating a unified voice for the sector, and
  • supporting and increasing volunteerism.

Principles

The Centre has 10 core principles to guide all behaviours. These values are embedded in many of our governance documents.

  • Accountability
  • Collaboration
  • Compassion
  • Courage
  • Excellence
  • Integrity
  • Leadership
  • Objectivity
  • Performance
  • Transparency

History

(see our 20th Anniversary AGM Presentation here)

The Centre on Philanthropy was created by a group of committed volunteers in 1991 to encourage an attitude of giving, to promote volunteerism, and to document charitable behaviours and issues in Bermuda.  The Centre was first registered as an unincorporated association in 1992 and incorporated as a limited liability company in 2000.  Highlights of the first decade include the publication of the Ready, Set, Go guide for charities, a donor directory, a charity directory, and A Portrait of Bermuda’s Charities (the first research study providing data on Bermuda’s charitable sector).  The Centre also established a web site to provide online information and resources to the community.

In 2004, The Centre’s Board arrived at a tipping point.  Relinquishing its office space in Hamilton due to increasing rents, The Centre faced an uncertain future.  The question was asked whether The Centre should continue to exist.  A task force was formed to determine the answer to this critical question.  After eight months of data collection, compilation, and interpretation the results were released.   The Community clearly saw the need for The Centre to be a part of the community.  The Board hired a new executive director, Pamela Barit Nolan, in November 2005 and during the first three years she developed a core team of staff and volunteers that have delivered a variety of services to the community.  Highlights include launching the quarterly Giving insert in the Royal Gazette, launching the Bermuda Volunteer Centre – Bermuda’s only online volunteer matching platform, and holding Bermuda’s first Third Sector Conference

The Centre’s Board believes in the benefits of continuous performance improvement and in 2008 carried out an evaluation of The Centre after these first three busy years.  The exercise concluded with the delivery of a more focused three-year plan for the organization.  In addition, 2008 saw the staff and the Board work through the requirements of the Bermuda National Standards and the organization was certified in January 2009.

Perhaps the best indication that the community is pleased with The Centre’s progress to date is the growth in membership during the period.  When Ms. Nolan joined The Centre there were 68 charity members and a dozen corporate supporters.  Today over 260 individuals, corporations, and nonprofits are members and supporters of The Centre, an increase of 282%.

As we move forward, The Centre will continue to strengthen and further develop the operating model approved as part of the 2008 strategic plan and illustrated below.