South Saskatchewan Community Foundation: Incorporation Through Vital Signs Reporting
SDGs Aligned:
Background
The South Saskatchewan Community Foundation approached their integration by incorporating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within their most recent Vital Signs Report. The purpose of Vital Signs Reports are to take a pulse of the local community to see where the most current pressing needs are. Once these needs are determined, then the Community Foundation can then use this data to help guide their efforts within the community and ensure they are supporting charitable organizations where they need it most. Also, with this data, they can also ensure voice the emergent community needs to their donors so they are aware of how they might be able to make more of an impact within their own communities.
Incorporation Breakdown
When developing their most recent report, they chose to approach the focus areas with a more targeted lens: they chose to align the focus areas with both the SDGs as well as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action (CTAs). By looking through this lens, they are then able to ensure that the report brings more meaning to the focus areas and the province of Saskatchewan. To ensure that they were truly meaningful with these incorporations, recognizing their importance, and representing the alignments in an intentional way, the Community Foundation had consulted and partnered with local experts within Luther College and the University of Regina.
Instead of taking a top down approach with the SDGs and seeing how they could vaguely connect all 17 SDGs, the Foundation took a bottom up approach. They gathered what community organizations were saying relating to the 5 focus areas highlighted in their report, and then looked up the key targets that are associated with each SDG. If the key target related to what organizations were saying, and could be seen as a stepping stone to help improve that focus area, then that SDG and target was included within the report.
How can this example be repurposed?
This example can be repurposed for a variety of reports: research heavy reports done every 3-5 years, an annual impact report that highlights what your organization did over the past year, or even semi-annual newsletters that keeps your donors in the loop of upcoming events and activities, all of these can include SDG integration. Looking at all of the SDGs can be overwhelming, and it’s ok if your organization is only working towards a couple of goals. Start by taking a look at the content being included in your report, and see how you can relate that content to some of the SDGs. Once you know what goals you are working towards, then it becomes easier to speak on how your work, programs, and initiatives are helping to achieve some of the targets highlighted within those goals. If you need help identifying the goals, you can use the quizzes within the Initiative Insights: SDG Navigator website, or you can reach out your local Community Foundation or academic institution for assistance. This could also open the door for future collaboration or partnership opportunities too!