The Philanthropist Journal https://thephilanthropist.ca/ By and for the non-profit sector in Canada en-CA Mon, 25 May 2026 17:51:55 +0000 Mon, 25 May 2026 17:51:55 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/ As Canadian donors age, crowdfunding may help fill the giving gap https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/05/as-canadian-donors-age-crowdfunding-may-help-fill-the-giving-gap/ Mon, 25 May 2026 17:05:01 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13129 Whether it is the aging of donors, financial hardship, or the fraying of social connections that inspire giving, there are challenges lurking everywhere, but digital platforms can create new pathways into generosity.

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]]> The tyranny of the typical https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/05/the-tyranny-of-the-typical/ Mon, 25 May 2026 16:21:37 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13126 The average is a useful tool, Sara Wilson writes. But when we build systems around what is statistically typical, we routinely fail the people at the edges.

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]]> Cultivating genuine belonging as a practice to fix and fund the charitable sector https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/05/cultivating-genuine-belonging-as-a-practice-to-fix-and-fund-the-charitable-sector/ Tue, 19 May 2026 18:13:29 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13124 Mide Akerewusi shares findings from the Fundraising While Black report and lays out a path that can pave the way to belonging culture.

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]]> Canadian non-profits are using AI in a way that risks losing public trust https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/05/canadian-non-profits-are-using-ai-in-a-way-that-risks-losing-public-trust/ Tue, 19 May 2026 17:03:59 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13119 As charities race to adopt artificial intelligence, “the single most important step” should be a clear framework on how it is used. But only 10% of Canadian non-profits have formal policies.

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]]> Advancing a vision for stronger volunteer supports in Canada https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/05/advancing-a-vision-for-stronger-volunteer-supports-in-canada/ Mon, 11 May 2026 21:19:45 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13112 The president of the Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada issues a call to advocate for investment in Canada's chronically underfunded volunteering ecosystem, starting with a 10-question survey for leaders of volunteers across Canada.

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]]> The equity problem inside strategic planning https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/05/the-equity-problem-inside-strategic-planning/ Mon, 11 May 2026 21:01:18 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13106 Access to high-quality strategic planning in Canada’s non-profit sector is not evenly distributed, and that gap compounds everything else.

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]]> Road maps for changing the world https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/05/road-maps-for-changing-the-world/ Mon, 04 May 2026 16:52:54 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13092 The authors of Social Innovation for Real-World Transformation describe a future where collaborative work and reciprocity can create a different kind of society, pointing readers to hands-on skills and summarizing big-picture ideas into digestible charts and lists.

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]]> Fighting the good fight: Philanthropy and policy advocacy https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/05/fighting-the-good-fight-philanthropy-and-policy-advocacy/ Mon, 04 May 2026 16:47:02 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13093 The Atkinson Foundation’s Good Fight Prize celebrates the creativity and commitment within the movement for decent work. Toula Drimonis profiles the 2025 winning campaign and the two finalists.

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]]> Reclaim your attention through creative action https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/04/reclaim-your-attention-through-creative-action/ Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:22:05 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13078 Andrew Zitcer and Shannon Litzenberger share the belief that our attention is being diminished, and it is not accidental – it is political. They argue that creative practice done with others, like the examples they share here, can cultivate resources for collective action, mutual aid, and the pursuit of social justice.

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]]> Communications on a shoestring https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/04/communications-on-a-shoestring/ Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:17:10 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13074 Communications work is a core component of organizational trust, Chioma Orji argues, but is often treated as an afterthought in organizations with limited capacity. She introduces the “trust visibility model” and breaks down how even small teams can build sustainable communications systems.

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]]> Reclaiming the public square in a time of rupture https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/04/reclaiming-the-public-square-in-a-time-of-rupture/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:15:42 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13069 Rather than seeking incremental changes, the social sector is being called upon to reclaim a larger role in Canadian society, Abdul Nakua suggests. He offers three areas of development and three key investments for consideration.

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]]> How philanthropy supported the biggest GHG reduction in North American history https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/04/how-philanthropy-supported-the-biggest-ghg-reduction-in-north-american-history/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:09:49 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13067 Philanthropy’s role in closing the last coal-fired power plant in Ontario 12 years ago, one of Canada’s great clean-economy achievements, offers some urgent lessons for how the sector can be most effective today.

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]]> Anti-colonial by design: CAGP Greater Vancouver’s equity and right relations framework https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/04/anti-colonial-by-design-cagp-greater-vancouvers-equity-and-right-relations-framework/ Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:42:09 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13052 One organization shares how they are thinking about “equity and right relations” and reshaping their practices to reflect justice, reciprocity, and a deeper understanding of the histories that shape wealth and giving today.

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]]> New CAGP research challenges stereotypes, suggests opportunities around planned giving https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/04/new-cagp-research-challenges-stereotypes-suggests-opportunities-around-planned-giving/ Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:54:24 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13051 With shifting mindsets and a huge intergenerational wealth transfer underway, fundraising experts say charities need to be speaking to a more diverse cross-section of Canadians about legacy giving.

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]]> Governing in a world of perpetual volatility https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/04/governing-in-a-world-of-perpetual-volatility/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:06:27 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13042 Amidst volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous conditions, oversight without sense-making can become governance theatre. Contributor Stephen Murgatroyd outlines the practical steps boards can take to become sense-making engines.

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]]> Addressing the caregiving crisis in Canada https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/04/addressing-the-caregiving-crisis-in-canada/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:02:06 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13044 Coming to grips with the “existential” crisis in care amidst an increasingly austere economic environment requires not just financial support for caregivers, but broader system investments and reforms.

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]]> What happens to labour rights in a sector built on care? https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/03/what-happens-to-labour-rights-in-a-sector-built-on-care/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:44:24 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13036 While non-profit workers fulfill the needs of their communities, many are overworked and under-compensated by their employers.

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]]> Non-profit governance for a complex world https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/03/non-profit-governance-for-a-complex-world/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:36:06 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13034 The Concise Introduction to Nonprofit Governance lives up to its title without sacrificing ambition, reviewer Julia Carr writes. Aimed primarily at students, it is also a valuable resource for board members and governance consultants.

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]]> Cultural centre in Nunatsiavut is helping Inuit reconnect with culture and language https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/03/cultural-centre-in-nunatsiavut-is-helping-inuit-reconnect-with-culture-and-language/ Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:25:27 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13022 Inotsiavik is offering youth-led cultural programming, Inuttitut lessons, and more in northern Labrador. Founders say that winning the million-dollar Arctic Inspiration Prize in 2024 allowed them “to have the freedom to just do what the community wants to see.”

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]]> Annahid Dashtgard is teaching racialized leaders how to survive – and then thrive https://thephilanthropist.ca/2026/03/annahid-dashtgard-is-teaching-racialized-leaders-how-to-survive-and-then-thrive/ Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:10:02 +0000 https://thephilanthropist.ca/?p=13015 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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