Latest Articles
Ideas
Ethics, AI, and the Social Sector
Why It Matters
We have entered an era in Canada that blends human intelligence and machine intelligence in a range of industries. Impact-focused organizations must now consider how to maximize this blend within their teams to advance their missions.
A Call for Innovation in Resettlement
Why It Matters
Fewer than one percent of the world’s refugees are resettled to safe countries where they can rebuild their lives after experiencing violence, persecution, or war. The newly formed Innovation Lab at The Refugee Hub in Canada’s capital aims to make a transformative change in resettlement globally.
Tipping Point
Why It Matters
Legalizing cannabis in Canada is more than a cultural shift. The changing legal status will transform cannabis into a multibillion-dollar industry in the next decade. As the old adage goes, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Put through an impact lens, that means: with huge industry growth comes huge corporate citizenship potential.
Trends
Blind Spots of AI in the Social Impact World
Why It Matters
AI systems have massive potential, but issues of bias loom. Massive data sets, when put through various filters and systems, can lead to great harm. Impact-focused leaders must understand what this means and how to spot them.
The Trappings of Artificial Intelligence
Why It Matters
The AI train isn’t stopping. For social impact, and other sectors, the talent mix of the near future will be human intelligence mixed with machine intelligence. Impact-focused leaders need to think about how they are teaming to make use of—and push back on—an internet economy powered by algorithms.
The Next Generation of Donors
Why It Matters
Giving is not what it used to be. Demographics, figures, motivations, and means of giving all have changed drastically. How we respond to these shifts and how we engage the next generation of donors matters for the future of our communities and causes.
Insights
Addressing Certification Shortcomings
Why It Matters
A gesture toward transparency, means data, details, and corroboration--those verifiable points about a social impact business. How to differentiate between the structures? The third in a series.
Radical Transparency
Why It Matters
Demonstrating transparency means data, details, and corroboration — those verifiable points about a impact-oriented business. New legal forms like the C3 as well as more grassroots approaches like the Economic Nutrition Label are shaping the new age of transparency. The second in a series.
Just the Facts, Ma’am
Why It Matters
It’s no longer enough to pay lip service to diversity—meaningful measures to track, weigh, and address inequities are happening all around us. Here we look at an example in news media and its parallels. How the world of impact in Canada applies measurement and transparency to its work will become a larger, looming question in 2019.
2019 Bold Ideas To Watch
The Next Generation of Donors
Why It Matters
Giving is not what it used to be. Demographics, figures, motivations, and means of giving all have changed drastically. How we respond to these shifts and how we engage the next generation of donors matters for the future of our communities and causes.
Worker Mobility 4.0
Why It Matters
Cross-organizational and cross-sector mobility is slowly becoming mainstream in the social purpose economy. In a sector that already struggles to attract and retain the best and brightest talent, portability of worker rights, benefits, credentials, and intellectual property is of huge consequence.
Shifting the Power in Remote Communities
Why It Matters
Clean air, energy democracy, and renewable sources are all vital to sustainable development and reconciliation in Canada. The key is understanding local context, while putting power—literally and figuratively—in local hands. It’s a system change that allows for environmental, social, and economic good.