Membership approves new name for PWRDF

After almost two years of listening together and planning, PWRDF has chosen a new name, Alongside Hope. It was approved, along with its French equivalent, Auprès de l’espoir, at a Special Members meeting held Tuesday, October 15, 4 p.m. ET, in accordance with our corporate bylaws.

The issue of changing PWRDF’s name to one that is easier to say and less confusing has been ever-present for many years. In 2022, the PWRDF Board approved a budget and the creation of a Task Team to identify a new name that would honour its history as the Anglican Church of Canada’s agency for international development and humanitarian response, but would also carry it into the future. The Task Team included staff, board members and volunteers from across Canada. This team gathered several times on Zoom with the goal of identifying a compelling name – a name that better reflects our work, and one that would sustain our work into the future, while honouring our legacy.

In 1958, a mining disaster in Springhill, N.S. compelled Anglicans across the country to donate money to support the affected families. One year later, The Primate’s World Relief Fund was established at General Synod, to create an agency that would respond to emergencies on behalf of Anglicans in Canada. In 1969, the D was added for Development. In the last fiscal year, PWRDF worked with more than 70 partners in 32 countries, and was recently named to the 2024 Charity Intelligence Top 100 Charities List. The voting membership comprises Board members, Diocesan Representatives and PWRDF’s Youth Council.

The Task Team was made up of 12 key volunteers from across the country, including members of the Board, Youth Council and PWRDF staffers. Cyan Solutions, a marketing and creative agency in Ottawa, led conversations with the Task Team, other volunteers and staff to inspire reflections and gain valuable insights. In all of these discussions, one clear and hopeful theme emerged: partnership.  

• We partner with local organizations who carry out the work that you support – life-giving work that improves food security, champions gender rights, provides training on conservation agriculture, and creates income opportunities. 
• We partner with membership organizations that allow us to be part of a larger network. These include the Anglican Alliance, the ACT Alliance, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, KAIROS, Cooperation Canada, among others.  
• We partner with funding agencies including Global Affairs Canada, businesses and a growing number of private and family foundations. 
• We partner with the Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican dioceses, spiritual ministries and ecclesiastical provinces, through their bishops and their PWRDF Representatives, who support our programs and invite us to spread the good news of PWRDF at synods and other meetings.
• We partner with parish representatives, clergy and countless volunteers in the pews across the country, who share our stories and engage others in our work.  
• We partner with our generous donors, without whose support none of our partners’ work would be possible. 

This theme of partnership or accompaniment is woven throughout the Bible, but the task team was drawn to the story of the road to Emmaus. Days after Jesus died, the disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, still grieving their loss. As Luke writes, the resurrected Jesus came alongside them, but they did not know it was him. Jesus travelled with them and then accepted their hospitality to dine with them. In the breaking of bread, their eyes were opened and they recognized him. When we walk alongside one another, Jesus accompanies us. We are strengthened and comforted and recognize Jesus when we share in his feast. 

As we walk alongside each of our partners, supporting, listening and sharing with one another, we embrace and embody the hope of a better world. Thus was born our new name: 

• Alongside Hope: Anglicans and partners working for change in Canada and around the world
• Auprès de l’espoir : Anglicans et partenaires œuvrant pour le changement au Canada et à travers le monde

Alongside Hope conveys the concept of partnership in a simple and uplifting way. 

• It is easy to understand and to pronounce. 
• It requires no lengthy or clumsy acronym. 
• It de-emphasizes the colonial, top-down approach of giving and emphasizes a more collaborative approach. 
• It is a name that will carry us forward into the future. 

Watch a video of the new name presentation

The name may be changing, but our colourful globe icon remains. This continuity will improve brand recognition as we transition to Alongside Hope over the coming year. Though you will be hearing people talk about Alongside Hope, the changes to our website and social media will not take effect until March 1, 2025. This will allow us time to complete tax receipts for 2024 under the PWRDF name.

We are excited and energized about the possibilities of Alongside Hope and look forward to your support. Please watch this space and other future communications for an FAQ sheet where we intend to answer your questions as they arise. Please send your questions to pwrdf@alongsidehope.org.