The Philanthropist Journal

Annahid Dashtgard is teaching racialized leaders how to survive – and then thrive

Sherlyn Assam — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:10:02 +0000

Though some governments and funders shying away from DEI are dominating headlines, the Anima Leadership CEO and co-founder proves that workplace equity is more than just in demand – it’s necessary.

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Federal budget spends more on capital investment and less on non-profit sector – so far

Sherlyn Assam — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:11:41 +0000

While Budget 2025 does not include a strategy to systemically support programs and services that non-profits and charities provide – or the Canadians working at these organizations – “it could have been worse,” says economist Armine Yalnizyan, the Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers.

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Vu Le: How to reimagine non-profits and philanthropy in an era of rising autocracy

Holly Jonas — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:30:29 +0000

After more than a decade of writing scathing (and often hilarious) critiques on his Nonprofit AF blog, Vu Le shares what’s holding us back, what progressives can learn from conservative philanthropy in the United States, and why he still stays in the sector.

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Illustrator and animator Claire Nest sets ideas in motion

Gordon Bowness, Claire Nest — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:45:34 +0000

For Claire Nest, trust is the key to working well with illustrators – and impact is the result.

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Illustrator and designer Maïa Faddoul’s invitation to community

Gordon Bowness — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 20:28:14 +0000

Maïa Faddoul’s bright colours, cheerful patterns, and uplifting depictions of human courage and connection are often in the service of community and rights organizations.

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Illustrating work

Gordon Bowness, Julien Posture — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:14:29 +0000

Illustrator and anthropologist Julien Posture discusses how human misunderstanding and machine learning devalue creative labour.

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Ratna Omidvar has left the Senate, but she’s not going away

Tim Harper, Aiden Cyr — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 13:42:42 +0000

In conversation with Philanthropist Journal writers Tim Harper and Aiden Cyr, Omidvar discusses her legacy in the upper chamber, a lifetime of advocating for the underdog, and passing the baton to new champions of the non-profit sector.

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Ellen Gabriel: 35 years after the so-called Oka Crisis

Toula Drimonis, Martin Akwiranoron Loft — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:30:29 +0000

More than three decades after the Mohawk Resistance at Kanesatake, the activist, artist, and filmmaker who was on the front lines doesn’t see much progress in Canada’s treatment of Indigenous Peoples. She hopes her new book will help educate Canadians.

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For Anglican priest and writer Maggie Helwig, her church’s encampment was a ‘site of grace’

Christina Palassio — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 20:11:28 +0000

In her new book, Encampment: Resistance, Grace, and an Unhoused Community, Helwig tells the story of the encampment that formed on the grounds of her Toronto church during the pandemic, and how the church and the surrounding Kensington Market community fought to protect it and its residents.

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What do the political changes of 2025 mean for the sector? Five leaders weigh in

Sharon Riley — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:59:23 +0000

Massive changes in government direction are in store this year. Leaders in the philanthropic, charitable, and non-profit sector share how they’re gearing up – and what’s top of mind in 2025.

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Rage is having its moment, but author Carol Off sees hope for return to civility

Tim Harper — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:47:25 +0000

In her latest book, Carol Off takes on those who have contorted words for their own design in this era of political battle in which a precise vocabulary is needed more than ever. “We haven’t lost the war for humanity,” she writes. “We want to get along, and we work better when we work together.”

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How to listen: An interview with Mastercard Foundation’s Reeta Roy

Christina Palassio — Mon, 13 May 2024 20:02:19 +0000

The Canadian-registered Mastercard Foundation is one of the largest charities in the world and has a global/local mandate, with its Young Africa Works 2030 strategy and a commitment to reaching 100,000 Indigenous youth in Canada.

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The decision to step down: Reflections from four foundation leaders

Yvonne Rodney — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 21:26:59 +0000

When long-serving leaders leave their roles, what can we learn from them that will help our sector traverse the challenging times ahead?

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Not your typical conference: Insights about hosting from The Circle’s All My Relations gathering

Holly McLellan — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 16:40:02 +0000

What happens when we are intentional about being a good host? Host Holly McLellan talks with guests Joleen Mitton, Justin Wiebe, and Josh Paterson about their experiences and reflections from The Circle’s 2023 All My Relations gathering.

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Convincing people that change is possible by ‘painting the beautiful tomorrow’

Christina Palassio — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 19:31:01 +0000

Contributor Christina Palassio talked to renowned communications strategist Anat Shenker-Osorio recently about the power and promise of positive messaging and how non-profits and charities – from leaders and funders to fundraisers and communicators – can navigate increasingly polarized and polarizing political and cultural environments and move donors and supporters to take action for lasting positive, unifying change.

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How decolonizing design can help the shift from exploitation to making amends

Andrea Gunraj — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 19:29:32 +0000

Dori Tunstall’s Decolonizing Design is a powerful exploration of the colonial, white-supremacist thrust of modern Western design and technology. Contributor Andrea Gunraj recently spoke to Tunstall, dean at the Faculty of Design at OCAD University, about her book, the work of reconciliation and making amends, and dismantling colonial systems by breaking the addiction to privilege.

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Anand Giridharadas on reclaiming persuasion to rebuild democracy

Christina Palassio — Mon, 08 May 2023 19:50:28 +0000

In an exclusive interview with Christina Palassio, Anand Giridharadas, whose latest book is The Persuaders, talks about building progressive fronts, crafting popular narratives that unite instead of divide, and crossing political lines to connect with people on a values level.

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How can we reimagine philanthropy for tomorrow?

Rachel Chen — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 01:04:45 +0000

Host Ratna Omidvar talks to Lucy Bernholz and Justin Wiebe about a way forward for philanthropy, including a broader understanding of the many ways people give and care for their communities.

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Should we think of philanthropy as public money or private money?

Rachel Chen — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 14:58:57 +0000

Host Ratna Omidvar explores with Liban Abokor, co-founder of Foundation for Black Communities, the nature of philanthropic wealth – who it belongs to – and how to hold the philanthropy sector accountable to the communities it serves.

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Is philanthropy still relevant?

Rachel Chen — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 20:50:12 +0000

Amidst growing critiques of private giving, Ratna Omidvar, host of the Reimagining Philanthropy podcast, asks author and researcher Beth Breeze if philanthropy is still relevant. Breeze asserts that we hear more about the smaller problems than the greater good that philanthropy contributes to society.

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