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PWRDF Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)
HISTORY AND IDENTITY
What is PWRDF?
Can you describe PWRDF in one sentence?
How did PWRDF come to exist?
Is PWRDF still a part of the Anglican Church of Canada?
Does PWRDF only support Anglicans?
What are the guiding principles of the organization?
What are the basic components of the PWRDF program?
Does PWRDF have a gender policy?
Is ARDF the same as PWRDF?
What is unique about PWRDF?
FINANCE AND FUNDRAISING
Is PWRDF a Registered Charity?
Where does PWRDF funding come from?
Does CIDA provide matching grants?
How are donations receipted?
How much is spent in administration?
How can I get PWRDF to fund a project that I know about?
Can I forward funds through PWRDF to a project that is not a PWRDF partner and get a tax receipt?
Can funds be designated for a particular project?
How does PWRDF know that the money gets through?
Does PWRDF fund individuals?
Does PWRDF solicit funds by phone?
EMERGENCIES
How does PWRDF respond to emergencies?
What is an emergency?
How does PWRDF respond to emergencies?
What is Action By Churches Together (ACT)?
What kind of situations does ACT respond to and who can receive assistance?
What is the benefit of working through ACT?
Why don't we see PWRDF on the news delivering supplies?
Why does PWRDF ask for money instead of donations of food, clothing or other supplies?
What is Reconstruction?
What are human-made disasters?
How does the question of external debt figure in emergency situations?
What is PWRDF's long-term strategy related to emergency relief?
History and Identity
What is PWRDF?
The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund is the Anglican agency for development, relief, refugees and justice.
With the support of Anglican parishes across Canada, PWRDF makes financial and human resources available to support our partners' long-term development initiatives, to respond to emergencies and protect refugees, and to promote knowledgeable actions of solidarity at home and around the world.
Can you describe PWRDF in one sentence?
The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund is the Canadian Anglican agency for development, relief, refugees and justice.
How did PWRDF come to exist?
The Primate’s World Relief Fund (as it was first named) came into existence as a result of the Springhill Mine Disaster of 1958. On October 23rd of that year, in Springhill, Nova Scotia, an underground explosion trapped 174 men in a coal mine at a depth of 14,000 feet. 75 men died as a result of the disaster. The tragedy moved Anglicans and other Canadians to respond with assistance for the stricken families and community. As a result of this experience the church recognized the need for an efficient process to direct assistance quickly in emergency situations. Within its first decade of existence the word “Development” was added to the name as PWRDF came to see that deeper, long-term development needs were strongly connected to most of the suffering caused by natural or human disasters around the world and that the people who experienced these problems first-hand were in the best position to develop long-term solutions.
Is PWRDF a part of the Anglican Church of Canada?
PWRDF was incorporated as a federal charitable organization in May 2000. Incorporation provides PWRDF with the certainty that we can make long term program plans with our partners in Canada and overseas, with the support of Anglicans from across Canada and the assistance of the Canadian International Development Agency. PWRDF remains an essential part of the ministry of the Anglican church. We share office space with the General Synod, participate as observers on major church governing bodies and our own Board of Directors is made up of members of the Anglican laity, clergy and bishops from across the country. Locally, PWRDF strives to be a part of the ministry of every Anglican parish in Canada.
Does PWRDF only support Anglicans?
PWRDF's mandate is to make a difference in the lives of people. Partners vary from region to region. Partners include Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians, other Christian denominations, other faiths and peoples organizations. In establishing our partnership relationships we look for faith based and secular organizations who are best placed to make a difference in local situations. In Africa, for example, where the church is a strong, community-based agent for change, more than 60% of our partners are Anglicans.
What are the guiding principles of the organization?
At the heart of the ministry of PWRDF is a Christian vision of the restoration of community and partnerships focused on promoting peace and justice. PWRDF makes financial and human resources available to strengthen these partnerships, to support partner's relief, development and refugee programs and to promote knowledgeable actions of solidarity.
What are the basic components of the PWRDF program?
PWRDF funds programs of Emergency Relief, Community Development, Human Rights, Peace-building, and Public Engagement. Within these programs PWRDF has special emphasis on Women, HIV/AIDS, Youth, Refugees and Indigenous Peoples.
Does PWRDF have a gender policy?
Yes. PWRDF approved a policy on Gender and Development in 1994 recognizing the need for the equal participation of both women and men to achieve development. The policy seeks to promote a transformation of gender roles and proactively support women's efforts to redress imbalance and sensitize men to be agents of equitable community development.
Is ARDF the same as PWRDF?
The Anglican Relief and Development Fund was created in 2004 by Anglican Communion Network, based in Pittsburgh, PA. PWRDF was created by The Anglican Church of Canada in 1959 as a response to national, and eventually international, relief and development needs. The two are quite separate organizations.
What is unique about PWRDF?
PWRDF is an Anglican response for international relief, development and justice. Our Anglican identity is reflected in our governance structure and embedded in our history. The integrity of the Primate's Fund is reflected in our relationships with partners, who are represented on our Board of Directors. These relationships are cultivated by our experienced staff and enhanced by the engagement of Canadian Anglicans.
Finance and Fundraising
Is PWRDF a Registered Charity?
Yes, PWRDF is registered as a federal charity and our charitable number is: 8664 34640 RR0001.
Where does PWRDF funding come from?
PWRDF is the ministry of Canadian Anglicans. From a few thousand dollars in 1959, the Primate's Fund has grown to work with an operating budget of about 5 million dollars. Eighty percent of the Fund's budget comes from donations from Anglicans across the country. Funds are channeled through parishes and dioceses or sent directly to the Primate's Fund office. Additionally, just over one million dollars comes from CIDA, the development agency of the Federal Government.
Does CIDA provide matching grants?
Up until the late 1980's PWRDF applied to CIDA on a project-by-project basis and we received matching funds on this basis. In the early 1990's, CIDA acknowledged PWRDF's managerial and administrative competence and allowed PWRDF to move to program and institutional funding. Currently we apply for an annual program grant that PWRDF then allocates within our own program, as we deem appropriate. We may not apply CIDA dollars in a ratio that is greater than three to one to our 'donor' dollar, so the stability in our donor base remains essential to the security of our government funding.
How are donations receipted?
One of the ways that PWRDF keeps our overhead costs low is that local volunteers support much of our work. When you give to PWRDF through your parish, the parish traditionally issues the receipt. Receipts for direct donations are issued from the national office.
How much is spent in administration?
A large portion of the promotion and administration of the fund is done by volunteers across the country. This invaluable volunteer support accounts for our low administrative overhead. Administrative costs average at about 7% of our overall budget. These costs include expenses that relate to costs of administrating the whole organization -- legal, audit, governance, etc. Core costs, including salaries; travel and office expenses are allocated to administration as well as program. The Annual Report is the best source of this information and more information is available from PWRDF upon request.
How can I get PWRDF to fund a project that I know about?
PWRDF believes that the people most affected by a specific situation are the ones best able to identify what they need for their own development. Therefore, PWRDF responds only to initiatives that are designed and implemented by our partners.
Can I forward funds through PWRDF to a project that is not a PWRDF partner and get a tax receipt?
No. Federal law prohibits us to issue tax receipts for funds distributed outside the boundaries of our existing funding agreements.
Can funds be designated for a particular project?
Within our existing partnership relationships, any designated funds that we receive over and above our ongoing program grants are applied to the area that is designated. However, PWRDF prefers to receive undesignated donations for our program as a means to preserve our capacity to maintain ongoing and long-term commitments to partners and to respond to priorities.
How does PWRDF know that the money gets through?
Financial reports from partner organizations, which account for how funds were allocated, are carefully reviewed by staff. Sometimes, in the case of larger programs, the accounts have been independently audited. PWRDF staff also visit our partners on a regular basis and have an opportunity to visit the field, discuss plans and see the results of programs.
Does PWRDF fund individuals?
No. PWRDF cannot accept funds for individual scholarship or sponsorship programs.
Does PWRDF solicit funds by phone?
Regular donors to PWRDF say they have been contacted by an organization requesting funds on our behalf. PWRDF does not solicit funds by telephone or use a telemarketing company to do so. The PWRDF direct donor list is held in strict confidence and access is restricted to appropriate staff only.
Emergencies
What is an emergency?
Disasters come in many forms: natural disasters include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, drought, hurricanes and cyclones, which often happen suddenly.
Although termed 'natural disasters', many situations are worsened by environmentally harmful human behaviour including climate change and deforestation. Other disasters are caused by conflict and political crises.
Emergency is the term PWRDF and other agencies give to the situation following or during a disaster, when the lives and livelihoods of many people are threatened. During emergencies it is often the poorest people who suffer most.
How does PWRDF respond to emergencies?
PWRDF partners provide emergency relief by way of emergency shelters, blankets, clothes, food, water, medicines and health care, seeds and agricultural tools -- all meeting basic needs in times of crisis. PWRDF responds to emergencies through an international ecumenical response alliance called Action By Churches Together (ACT International). This rapid response protocol allows for the quick identification of local implementing partners and the rapid release of pre-approved emergency funds. Often by the time a situation is reported in the media the ACT response mechanism has already begun working on the ground. And more often, the program continues to run and work on situations that are never reported in the international media.
What is Action By Churches Together (ACT International)?
ACT International is a global alliance of churches and their related aid agencies working to save lives and support communities during emergencies.
ACT works through 195 Protestant and Orthodox churches and related aid agencies from the membership of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
What kind of situations does ACT respond to and who can receive assistance?
ACT offers assistance to victims of natural and environmental disasters, as well as emergencies caused by war and civil conflict. ACT strives to reach those in need across front lines, national borders and other ethnic, political or religious divides. ACT provides assistance irrespective of race, gender, belief, nationality, ethnic origin or political persuasion.
What is the benefit of working through ACT?
ACT has strong local roots within populations affected by emergencies and is therefore able to provide locally-based knowledge, analysis and understanding of emergency situations.
ACT has experience and expertise in a range of emergency sectors: camp management, shelter, food and non-food distribution, health care, water and sanitation, disaster preparedness, de-mining, transition from relief to development, conflict resolution, and peace and reconciliation.
The rapid response protocol allows for the quick identification of local implementing partners and the rapid release of pre-approved emergency funds. Often by the time a situation is reported in the media the ACT response mechanism has already begun working on the ground. And more often, the program continues to run and work on situations that are never reported in the international media.
Why don't we see PWRDF on the news delivering supplies?
How can we recognize our own efforts? The media often avoid covering denominational groups like PWRDF so as not to favour one over the other. Also because of our indirect role in emergencies (see ACT above) our Anglican support is not immediately visible.
Our support however, as a part of a combined effort is stronger and is more effective because it relies on community-led response and local expertise and infrastructure.
Why does PWRDF ask for money instead of donations of food, clothing or other supplies?
In-kind donations of food, clothing and other items, while well intentioned, are not the best way to help those in need. There are tremendous processing and transportation costs involved in shipping these items to beneficiaries.
Local purchases of food and clothing are more culturally appropriate and effective. Cash transfers to the affected region provide the optimum flexibility to our partners so they can meet the most urgent needs.
What is Reconstruction?
PWRDF will also support programs in a community once the disaster has subsided to help it get back on its feet. This is called reconstruction or rehabilitation, and can take months or even years.
PWRDF partners have developed emergency preparedness plans, which mean that they are alert to impending disasters where possible, and have the necessary resources ready should disaster strike. This saves both time and lives.
Proper roads and bridges provide easier redistribution of food within a country as well as delivery of international aid. Planting trees, preserving indigenous drought-resistant seed varieties, protecting of water-beds, securing adequate funds for health care - all go a long way to help communities cope in times of crisis.
What are human-made disasters?
Emergencies rooted in political crises are increasingly common. Recent examples of human-made emergencies include Iraq , Afghanistan , Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where conflict has triggered refugee crises and the need for large-scale humanitarian aid.
In Southern Africa , the drought that threatened millions of people resulted from a mix of natural and political causes - what is known as a 'complex emergency'.
How does the question of external debt figure in emergency situations?
The 'unnatural disasters' of the external debt crisis created by international financial institutions and our national governments is one of the biggest barriers to real improvement in the lives of the world's poor. With one hand the international community provides aid and with the other demands it back many times over in payments on un-payable loans.
The debt cycle and the policies that go with it leave countries without resources to fund basic services, like roads, health and education and without the power to determine their own futures.
Churches have joined with millions around the world calling for immediate end to the international debt system.
What is PWRDF's long-term strategy related to emergency relief?
PWRDF's strategy involves supporting communities before, during and after emergency situations. Through supporting disaster preparedness planning, PWRDF helps communities to develop their own solutions in times of crisis, leaving them less dependent on outside aide.
In countries where PWRDF has long-term development partnerships, once the immediate danger has passed, PWRDF continues to work with partners to address the root causes of crises and to bring about lasting change.
Over the years PWRDF has been able to support the kind of long-term change - reducing HIV transmission, empowering women, tending to the environment, building peace - that has the effect of mitigating the impact of future emergencies and making a positive difference in the daily lives of people who are most affected.
Development Program
What does PWRDF mean by Development?
Development is the process of creating a better quality of life for all members of society. It involves release from social, economic and political oppression and it supports communities in their efforts to identify solutions to their own needs and priorities. Development is the opposite of dependency and means a commitment to principles of participation, empowerment and social justice. It means being able to take responsibility for your own destiny.
Does PWRDF support Development In Canada?
Yes. The INdigenous Development Program exists to strengthen Indigenous communities in Canada through initiatives designed to build stronger, healthier and more self-reliant communities.
Does PWRDF have staff in the field?
PWRDF is not operational in the field. All our staff are based in Canada, and they travel to visit partners from time to time.
How are development projects chosen?
PWRDF seeks to support development work that addresses root causes of poverty and injustice, that is initiated and implemented by the people most affected by the situation, that is viable and that has results that are sustainable. PWRDF responds to the needs articulated by our partners within the context of our overall strategic plan. Partners and potential partners submit project proposals to our regional staff Development Coordinators. The Board of Directors overseas the budget and the work of the Fund across and within regions based on three strategic themes: Weaving a Culture of Peace with Justice; Building a Moral Economy; and Accompanying Communities in Crisis.
Refugees
Does PWRDF sponsor refugees?
PWRDF does not sponsor refugees. Sponsorship is done locally by dioceses that hold Sponsorship Agreements with the Canadian Government. We pass on requests that we receive to the appropriate representative or Diocesan office. Please know that these organizations receive numerous requests and are unable to respond to all of those received.
Who should I contact for information on how to sponsor a refugee from overseas?
If you are in Toronto, contact the Anglican United Refugee Alliance (AURA). This organization receives more requests that they are able to fulfill. In another city please contact your Diocesan Office.
How does PWRDF support refugees internationally?
PWRDF provides financial support to refugee organizations in Egypt, Kenya, Sri Lanka, India, Gaza and the West Bank to provide health and nutritional programs, skills training, legal and alternative dispute resolution, income generation, advocacy, and emergency relief. PWRDF has no direct involvement with the camps or the refugees.
How can I contact someone in a refugee camp?
If you know the name of the organization in the field, contact them directly. Or be in contact with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
How do I sponsor a family to come to Canada as refugees?
Contact an organization who is a Sponsorship Agreement Holder with the federal government.
Public Engagement
Why doesn't PWRDF participate in child sponsorship programs?
Sponsorship programs are appealing to donors in that they create what is perceived as a direct connection to their giving. PWRDF, like many other development organizations, has chosen not to approach our donors in this way for three main reasons.
First our partners and our own experience have both convinced us it is better in the long run to help build up communities as a whole, rather than singling out individuals for financial support. Our approach also helps individuals build their leadership skills, but it does so within the context of developing the whole community. Child-focus programs are designed with the donor in mind, not necessarily the development partner's community.
Second, child sponsorship programs are expensive with high administrative and promotional costs that are usually not spelled out clearly in the highly emotional marketing material.
Third, the ads for many child sponsorship programs portray people as dependent, helpless victims. This approach is something we and our partners do not support. Our partners are not passive or pitiful in any way, but indeed the opposite is true, that they are able, active, resourceful people responding to difficult situations. They have become our friends and teachers in the course of our partnership walk and that's how we - and they - want others to see them.
Why is the PWRDF involved with issues of social and global justice?
PWRDF was originally created in response to disaster. Early in our history, Development work was added to our mandate based on the realization that root causes of poverty need to be addressed if real change is sought. A development approach seeks to reinforce the capacity of people to respond to their own situations. The search to address causes takes us beyond the local level to address the economic and political area at the policy level.
How does PWRDF engage in justice work?
On matters of social justice, PWRDF acts, almost exclusively, ecumenically - with other Christian churches. Through the organization KAIROS, PWRDF joins in coalition with other churches in Canada in one of the largest justice networks in the country. Through active local groups, expert staff and national committees KAIROS deliberates on issues of common concern, educates and advocates for social change and joins with people of faith and goodwill in action for social transformation.
How can I get involved with PWRDF?
Read our stories and learn about the work of PWRDF and issues of international development, relief and justice.
Act - with us in support of what you learn, become involved in faith-based social justice work. Find a local KAIROS group in your area.
Give to PWRDF - we can only do our work with financial support. If you are giving already consider giving more, as you are able.
Pray - for situations where we work for change, for staff and for partners. With your full and prayerful support together we can make difference.
See more opportunities for involvement.
Does PWRDF send international volunteers?
PWRDF is not a volunteer-sending organization and we do not have the necessary infrastructure to support volunteer placements. Few of our partner organizations can spare the resources to give Canadian volunteers the cross-cultural communication training, housing and transportation they would need to function effectively. The Anglican Church of Canada Volunteers in Mission program does provide opportunities for volunteer placements.
Does PWRDF accept material donations?
Material donations are too expensive to ship, including customs duties and local transportation, and complicated to distribute fairly upon arrival. Often these costs can exceed the values of the goods themselves. We want to affirm the initiative to undertake activities in Canada in solidarity with people around the world. Our recommendation is that communities sell materials collected and forward the money to PWRDF.
Are there any signs of hope?
The hope in these situations is always sparked by people's capacity not only to survive but also thrive in these situations. Hope lives in the desire of local people for peace and their hard work and ingenuity in rebuilding their lives yet again. Hope lives in your ongoing support and commitment to live and learn in partnership with people over the long haul.
Send in a question pwrdf[at]pwrdf.org
