Reclaim your attention through creative action
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.
Communications on a shoestring
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.
Reclaiming the public square in a time of rupture
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.
How philanthropy supported the biggest GHG reduction in North American history
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.
Featured
Analysis
New CAGP research challenges stereotypes, suggests opportunities around planned giving
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.
Addressing the caregiving crisis in Canada
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.
Philanthropy and Funding
Cultural centre in Nunatsiavut is helping Inuit reconnect with culture and language
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.”
Why trust matters: A reflection
Funding for gender justice rarely fits neatly into a single funding category. It requires both front-line service and system-level advocacy and it’s hard to capture in an elevator pitch. This is where gender justice and trust-based philanthropy must come together.
Case Studies & Guides
Anti-colonial by design: CAGP Greater Vancouver’s equity and right relations framework
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.
How a new funding relationship is transforming children’s mental health in Canada
A partnership between a family foundation and a grassroots charity demonstrates what happens when two organizations trust each other enough to shift power, follow community wisdom, and explore an idea without prescribing what it must become.
Decolonization and Reconciliation
Inuit face food insecurity, cultural loss 13 years into Labrador caribou hunting ban
This is the first piece from Frey Blake-Pijogge, a writing fellow working with The Philanthropist Journal and The Independent in Newfoundland and Labrador.
10 years after the TRC, Indigenous philanthropy is gaining momentum
In 2015, the Canadian philanthropic community made a “pledge to do better” on reconciliation. At an event marking the 10th anniversary of the Declaration of Action, Indigenous-led charitable foundations took centre stage.
Series on Work in Progress
Volunteerism: In crisis or at a crossroads?
With volunteering in Canada in decline, contributor Yvonne Rodney looks at the data and talks to sector leaders to ponder the way forward. The solution, she writes, includes acknowledging the impact of the pandemic, understanding generational differences, and convincing funders to do more to help organizations.
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
What happens to labour rights in a sector built on care?
While non-profit workers fulfill the needs of their communities, many are overworked and under-compensated by their employers.
Why supporting Black founders strengthens Canada’s economy
When capital finds Black founders, it grows enterprises, creates jobs, and diversifies the innovation ecosystem. Initiatives led by non-profits and philanthropy are demonstrating what more responsive capital can look like.
On the front lines of eviction prevention
‘A little goes a long way’ in keeping people housed, advocates say, and the social costs of not addressing the housing crisis are immeasurable.
How to support non-profits in AI adoption
Non-profit leaders are struggling to figure out how AI fits into their organizations while navigating ethical, privacy, and governance concerns. Contributor Julie Sobowale looks at some of the challenges and opportunities.
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.
- All Featured Contributors