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Ideas
Inclusion on the Court: What the NBA Can Teach Us About Relative Privilege
Why It Matters
The Raptors locked down Canada’s first National Basketball Association win last week, to raucous celebration across the country. While we continue to celebrate the win, Amy Ge — of the equity-focused consulting firm Feminuity — takes a minute to unpack recent issues of inclusion and privilege on both the basketball court and the football pitch and explores how sport strengthens inclusion in communities.
Corporate Social Innovation Nation
Why It Matters
Sometimes, in the world of impact, we can have biases about "the other" and their intentions for trying to have a social or environmental impact. Working through these dividing lines has potential to open up more capital for good.
What’s A Blockchain, Anyway?
Why It Matters
Blockchain offers a new model, and freedom from traditional structures. However, it’s not without its limitations.
Trends
Tech Companies Still Don't Embrace Diversity. Can This Generation Change That?
Why It Matters
The world of tech is famously bad at making its workforce diverse and inclusive. But according to diversity, equity, and inclusion expert Cedric Brown, companies that don't step up their policies and culture run a true risk of being passed over by the next generation of innovators.
Why CSR Is An Outdated And Irrelevant Term
Why It Matters
Sustainability leadership expert Coro Strandberg notes that CSR is becoming a dated term and businesses are pivoting to purpose. At this time of CSR evolution, nonprofits can maximize corporate partnerships beyond philanthropic capital.
Rise Up and Give Back
Why It Matters
The face of volunteering has changed over the years to become more diverse. During National Volunteer Week, we look at trends shaping the future of volunteering, which gives us insight into civic engagement, giving back, and changing narratives in the world of impact.
Insights
These Organizations Are Raising $1 Billion For Women's Rights. Here's How.
Why It Matters
The Equality Fund has ambitious plans to raise $1 billion over the next 15 years to fund women’s rights organizations in Canada and abroad. Their approach? Broker strategic partnerships between nonprofits, philanthropists, and government sectors to build fast and scale sustainably.
The World Is Becoming Increasingly Polarized. Here's How Citizenship Can Combat It.
Why It Matters
Divisive forces are tearing the fabric of our society. We see stories daily about people being pitted against each other. Democracy is in a period of fragility, with online disinformation increasingly polluting our public square. The solution? We must practice active citizenship and create inclusive spaces where we all belong.
Here’s how co-operatives are making a comeback
Why It Matters
The benefits of platforms such as Uber and Airbnb are clear, but people are becoming aware of the downside. Platforms are making work more precarious and the sharing economy has been co-opted by investors seeking massive returns. In response, the old co-operative approach (one that Canada knows well) applied to platforms is emerging as an alternative.
International Women's Day: The Future of Doing Good
What Is Gender Lens Investing And Why Does It Matter?
Why It Matters
Gender-lens investing matters for the world of impact, because it recognizes that all investments have gendered impacts on our economic, financial, and social systems. Many impact investors and international NGOs understand the potential of applying a gender lens to move the needle on gender equality outcomes, but are less sure of what it looks like in practice.
What's Next in Tech and Philanthropy?
Why It Matters
Giving is changing and engaging Canada's fast-growing tech sector will become a massive part of philanthropy in the next decade. We must understand what's driving philanthropy in Canadian tech, how they give, and what trends are shaping their giving culture.
Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural Communities
Why It Matters
With practically every job now, and certainly in the future, requiring digital literacy and proficiency in technology, the lack of tangible resources and infrastructure to support Indigenous students in the acquisition of digital skills is particularly consequential.
How to Run a Social Venture Hackathon
Why It Matters
What is a hackathon? What are the logistics? How do you even get started and what are the common mistakes? Hackathons can reveal new insights, uncover blind spots, and lead to happy accidents. Get it right out of the gate, and you can benefit from the right momentum and set the tone for innovation in your organization.
Closing the Loop
Why It Matters
All innovations have a shelf life, but all too often we get attached to sustaining innovations that were successful in the past. Closing innovations, programs, or services in a thoughtful and compassionate way can boost organizational resilience, relevance, and empower teams.
Uniting Practitioners
Why It Matters
Social Innovation Canada is a new entity with a mission to connect and enable practitioners. It builds upon the legacy work of Social Innovation Generation (SiG) and other actors. Given the Government of Canada’s renewed focus, we asked Chi Nguyen, Director, Social Innovation Canada, about what practitioners can expect in 2019.