Latest Articles
Special Reports
Budget 2021: A New Social Contract?
After a year of the most significant economic and social crisis of our generation, this year’s federal budget is critical — and highly anticipated by many, especially those in social impact. The communities and groups social impact organizations work with are devastated by the pandemic, organizations can’t keep up with the demand for economic and social support on their own, and our current social safety nets aren’t keeping everyone safe. Will the federal budget catalyze the beginnings of a new Canadian social contract?
Family-friendly organizational culture
For a more resilient social impact world coming out of COVID-19, organizations will need to change their worldviews on care. They’ll need to better accommodate and support their employees who also take care of family members at home. From simpler solutions like flexible hours to deeper shifts in the worldviews and organizational culture underpinning the sector, we’re digging into it all in this member-exclusive special report.
Recovery Fund 2021: Will charities modernize?
Will 2021 finally be the year the charitable and non-profit sector has the resources it needs to modernize? With the federal government's upcoming $400 million Community Services Recovery Fund, it just might. But modernization takes many forms — what should the fund prioritize for maximum post-pandemic resilience in the sector? We'll ask that and more in this member-exclusive special report.
Featured Collections
A new kind of capitalism
The pandemic has brought into sharp focus the synergies between doing well in business and doing good in our communities. Beyond corporate social responsibility, companies that embrace social capitalism do so by using their core business to serve a greater social purpose that benefits all of their stakeholders — from shareholders and customers to our most vulnerable citizens. How can we mainstream this approach? Read these stories to complement the Future of Good plenary on building a new kind of capitalism.
Anti-racist social impact
2020 changed the mainstream conversation on systemic racism. While BIPOC activists and professionals have been working to decolonize and make anti-racist social impact work for many, many years, some organizations finally began to listen last year. This collection catches you up on our coverage of anti-racist work making the social impact sector better.
Great first reads
Need an intro to the world of social impact? Find it here.
Tech
Money
Work
When we all return to the office, will social impact organizations keep supporting parents and caregivers?
Why It Matters
Caregivers need concrete, clear policies that allow them to take time off work when needed. The social impact world is seen as very accommodating, but doesn’t always have formal HR policies or procedures to back up its good intentions.
There’s a mentorship gap in Canada. Here’s how — and why — to close it.
Why It Matters
Young people who are mentored are 53 percent more likely to report good mental health, and more than twice as likely to report a strong sense of belonging in their community. At a time when youths’ mental wellbeing and career prospects are limited by the pandemic, an equitable recovery requires a stronger culture of mentorship across the country.
The illusion of choice: Why I might have to give up my social work career to take care of my child
Why It Matters
The social impact sector is largely made up of women workers — women make up 80 percent of the non-profit workforce alone. Many of these women, like the author of this essay, take on a disproportionate share of caregiving for family members. To be more resilient, the sector will need to better support and accommodate caregivers, and that starts with understanding their experiences.
New Economy
Talks
Inclusion
Indigenous youth should lead Canada’s implementation of UNDRIP, experts say
Why It Matters
After its initial refusal in 2007, Canada endorsed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People: a piece of legislation impacting everything from resource extraction to land disputes. With Indigenous youth being the future of their communities, it’s vital that UNDRIP be implemented with Indigenous youth policy leaders at the forefront, shaping what future legislation looks like in Canada.
Four tips for building intergenerational connection into social impact work
Why It Matters
Older Canadians and youth are two of the demographics who’ve suffered the most throughout the pandemic. Experts in intergenerational connection say key to community recovery will be building connection across age groups, but it won’t be easy.
The pandemic has created a fear of aging. Stronger intergenerational bonds could fix that
Why It Matters
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased concern for the emotional wellness of older Canadians and the mental health of younger people among healthcare workers. Experts believe this has created an opportunity to leverage intergenerational connections to shape the future of elder care in Canada; if this opportunity is not taken, society will be left in a troubling disconnected state.