Who stewards 10 of Canada’s biggest community foundations’ investments? Mostly white men in finance

Canadian foundations invest far more money each year than they grant out to charities. This means that their volunteer ‘investment committees’ — the group that oversees the foundation’s investment decisions — play a considerable role in the overall impact the foundation has. Some social impact leaders say that the “monocultural” nature of these committees is limiting their capacity to create systemic impact.

Are Canadian foundations afraid of death?

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to exacerbate inequality, several non-profit and grassroots leaders are calling on Canadian donors to spend down — distributing all of their foundation assets within a defined term — in order to free up capital for community impact. Some are responding, but analysis shows that systemic orientation toward perpetuity in the philanthropic sector in Canada may be preventing other philanthropists from following suit.

The $400 million Community Services Recovery Fund could be a game-changer for the social sector’s digital transformation — here’s how

A majority of Canada’s charities don’t have the digital skills and tools they need to adapt to an increasingly online world. And they don’t have the funding to get up to speed, either. The $400 million Community Services Recovery Fund could be an answer — if it’s deployed strategically.

The Canadian government wants to improve the Investment Readiness Program. Here’s what 11 sector leaders say needs to happen.

Social purpose organizations need help preparing for investment, but some sector leaders say the IRP is not quite as flexible, equitable, or fair as it should be — which makes readiness difficult.

Social impact professionals are on the verge of burnout — these organizations radically changed their work culture to help

Canadian Mental Health Week provides an opportunity to practice values and restructure organizational goals, which can ultimately lead to increased performance and better outcomes. While some of these measures are unconventional in the non-profit sector, the stakes are high, as deteriorating mental health may lead to employee burnout.

Scorecard: Does budget 2021 give us the social safety net we need? Social impact leaders weigh in

COVID-19 has tested Canada’s social safety nets, and many would say they’ve failed that test. Historically oppressed and marginalized communities have fallen deeper into poverty and marginalization. The budget provides a roadmap for how the federal government plans to change this reality.

‘You know your communities best:’ How the COVID-19 pandemic forced Canadian grantmakers to loosen up

Paternalism, white saviorism, and colonialism are the very bones of the British philanthropic model used in Canada. These values have historically made it incredibly difficult for Black and Indigenous-led non-profits to secure funding for their needs, and many of these organizations serve the communities that are most vulnerable to COVID-19.

‘We’re in a values crisis’: An in-depth conversation with Carol Anne Hilton, author of Indigenomics

COVID-19 is a health and social crisis, but it’s also an economic crisis. With record high unemployment and poverty rates, and all of this unfolding along gender, race, and other socioeconomic lines, many agree it’s time for a new, far more inclusive — and decolonized economic system. Could Indigenomics be it?

10 Black leaders in social impact you should know

Black leaders are underrepresented in most, if not all, parts of the social impact world — from tech for good to corporate social responsibility to philanthropy. For instance, a recent study by the Foundation for Black Communities found that Black-led non-profits receive a minuscule amount of philanthropic funding in Canada. But there are Black leaders transforming the world of impact, regardless, and their stories are important.

MaRS will launch a $200-million fund that grants to social impact organizations based on results. Could this accelerate recovery?

Deploying $200 million worth of funding to assist the social impact world will be welcome during the pandemic. Outcome-based models are relatively new, but appear to be gaining in popularity. However, it isn’t clear whether they actually provide the sort of innovative thinking they claim to.