Latest Articles
Ideas
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.
Policy Wonky
Why It Matters
In fraught and fast-changing times with insecurity in work, climate, and food systems, there is a need to make decisions rooted in evidence that is effective and robust. Crowdsourcing reduces the overhead and effort required to stay on top of policy and movements happening across the country. Join the crowd.
Trends
Why CSR Is An Outdated And Irrelevant Term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.
The Rise of Employee Activism
Why It Matters
Employees are increasingly promoting social justice causes at work and during the work day. At the same time, organizations are facing a growing expectation to act as activists. As the imperative to engage with social issues through the workplace intensifies, so too does the need to start thinking about how to do so effectively.
Insights
Your Guide to Exponential Technologies
Why It Matters
Exponential technologies aren’t just for growing business, they are also for growing impact—particularly with a digital-first generation. Here’s what’s essential to understand about exponential technologies in rapidly changing world of impact.
The "Silver Economy" Is Coming. Are You Prepared?
Why It Matters
Seniors want to age with vitality, health, agency, and dignity. The new “longevity economy” tracks the aging marketplace and sees older consumers with a global spending power that will reach $15 trillion by 2020. Unlocking the massive opportunities will require a new set of problem-solvers, innovations, and capabilities, many of which have yet to be developed in Canadian industry, government, or civil society.
How blockchain is saving Lake Winnipeg
Why It Matters
Buzzwords are becoming action. Blockchain technology is demonstrating that in a country tackling complicated, cross-jurisdictional problems such as water governance, there are open, grassroots, and transparent platforms that can help. This is just the beginning.
International Women's Day: The Future of Doing Good
Gender-Lens Investing Allows Us to Think Big
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
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.