Is generational change coming to foundation philanthropy?
With a turbulent external environment, growing pressure on charities, and internal shifts in leadership and focus, the philanthropic sector is navigating significant change. It’s all adding up to what may be the biggest shift to foundation philanthropy we’ve seen in Canada, Hilary Pearson writes.
A lifeline for local news is urgently needed – and philanthropy can do more to help
Local news is in decline, but without it, communities become more polarized, their citizens detached from their neighbours and institutions, and trust breaks down. A new report from the Public Policy Forum offers some solutions – a couple of them aimed directly at Canada’s philanthropic sector.
What do the political changes of 2025 mean for the sector? Five leaders weigh in
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.
Do we still need women’s leadership programs?
A growing body of research demonstrates that women are often more effective leaders, yet there are many programs geared toward women upskilling and networking to get there because they are still underrepresented in leadership. Can these programs offer long-term solutions?
Featured
Analysis
When the expert is your cousin: Indigenous alternatives to ‘distrust by default’ conflict-of-interest rules
COI policies have contributed to a working culture that’s antithetical to Indigenous ways of working, Aiden Cyr writes. He talks to four Indigenous social impact leaders whose insights suggest that the path forward may instead lie in “mutuality of interest.”
The push for a national caregiving strategy
Groups including the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence call caregiving the next frontier in public policy in Canada. They want to make the issue of care politically and socially unignorable.
Philanthropy and Funding
Why some foundations are not letting ‘risk’ stop them from partnering with non-qualified donees
While the barriers to funding traditionally under-resourced organizations and communities can be systemic, these foundations share how their partnerships transform community organizations that are often left out of the conversation.
Why the Trottier Foundation is following the science and betting big on climate solutions
The family foundation’s commitment to the Climate Champions initiative is a call to action for other funders to adopt a climate lens and grant in this space. Lorne Trottier offers three reasons why they should.
Case Studies & Guides
Rethinking refugee narratives: How non-profits can shift power in fundraising
Shifting fundraising practices isn’t just about minimizing harm – it’s also about maximizing opportunities. When storytelling aligns with an organization’s purpose, it can foster a better understanding of systemic issues and create meaningful connections between donors and the communities they aim to support.
Regranting: How funders can further Indigenous self-determination
Toronto Foundation and the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council partnered to regrant funds to Indigenous organizations – with the foundation ceding full control over designing and delivering the grant program to TASSC.
Decolonization and Reconciliation
How to listen: An interview with Mastercard Foundation’s Reeta Roy
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.
Learning with the I4DM, a tool to increase accountability to uphold Indigenous self-determination
How has the I4 Definitional Matrix (I4DM) – created in large part to see more funding go toward Indigenous-led work – been used? How has it affected Indigenous-led groups, organizations, communities, and nations? The Circle on Philanthropy shares lessons learned.
Series on Work in Progress
The future of non-profit work and workers post-pandemic
In the face of unprecedented demand for services, financial vulnerabilities, and a human resources crisis, the sector is at a crossroads. In this introduction to our Work in Progress series, which will examine the key issues relevant to the future of non-profit work and workers, contributor Yvonne Rodney outlines some of the fixes that are needed now.
The decision to step down: Reflections from four foundation leaders
When long-serving leaders leave their roles, what can we learn from them that will help our sector traverse the challenging times ahead?
Building a sense of belonging and connection at work in the hybrid era
With remote and hybrid work the new norm post-pandemic, non-profits are tailoring strategies to ensure that employees feel heard, seen, and valued – and have discovered that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
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Most Popular
Analysis
Inviting difficulty into the room at PFC’s Together 25 Ensemble
Philanthropic Foundations Canada’s 25th anniversary conference addressed polarization head-on – with tangible resources from conflict mediators to move forward during tense times.
What non-profits need to know about AI policy-making in Canada
Canadian non-profits need to get involved in advocacy relating to artificial intelligence policy. It’s complex and fast-moving, contributor Katie Gibson writes. Here’s what you need to know to get started.
Pressing forward
In today’s “survival-of-the-nimblest” journalism industry, an October summit organized by media advocacy group Press Forward aims to get people excited about journalism and the future of community-centred media in Canada.
An ‘agitator’ seeks a solution to the charitable funding gap
The founder of a charity that promotes greater giving in Canada has proposed a mandatory “Social Sector Grant” to build capacity and impact. Is it the type of shake-up a moribund sector needs or the scheming of someone who does not understand how the sector operates?
More articles From the Archives
A short history of voluntary sector–government relations in Canada (revisited)
The original version of this story, published in 2007, is one of The Philanthropist Journal’s most popular pieces of all time. In this updated version, Peter Elson and Peyton Carmichael expand on that detailed (and not so short) history.
Charities and the rule against perpetuities
Charitable status is a legally privileged status. The law in numerous ways, ranging from the trivial to the noteworthy, confers legal advantages upon charities. These legal advantages are often misunderstood.
‘We don’t have a word for philanthropy’
What do Indigenous Peoples mean when they talk about Indigenous philanthropy? Miles Morrisseau put this question and others to Indigenous people who are leaders in the philanthropic sector.
Strategies for a caring society
This article was developed from a paper presented at Investigating in the Whole Community: Strategies for a Caring Society, a conference organized by the Trillium
Featured Contributors
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Angela Long
Angela Long is a freelance writer currently working on a book about rural journalism in Canada.
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Yvonne Rodney
Yvonne Rodney is a Toronto author, career consultant, speaker, and non-profit worker with extensive experience in career development. She is the author of Moving On: A Quick Guide for Non-Profit Workers and Military to Civilian Employment: A Career Practitioner’s Guide.
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Christina Palassio
Christina Palassio is a non-profit communications professional and freelance writer. When she tweets, she does so at @mcpalassio.
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Tim Harper
Tim Harper is a Toronto-based writer. He is a former Washington correspondent and national affairs columnist with the Toronto Star.
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