Writers’ guidelines

What we’re looking for

The Philanthropist Journal is a free online publication that provides a forum for thoughtful discussion and debate about the charitable and non-profit world in Canada. Since 1972, it has been publishing articles and analysis directed toward practitioners, scholars, supporters, and others engaged in the sector.

We are interested in well-written, original articles in English or French – news analysis, features, op-eds, interviews – that will be of interest to a range of people connected to the sector: boards, staff, volunteers, donors, financial advisors, government officials, scholars and researchers, among others. Overall, we are looking for articles that explore new ideas or approaches and different perspectives from various parts of the sector.

The Philanthropist Journal began as a scholarly journal, and while we continue to publish occasional scholarly pieces, we are interested in articles with more of a journalistic tone. We understand that there are many ways to tell a story, however, and urge contributors to use the format that best allows them to get their point across in a lively, accessible style that promotes dialogue and discussion among readers.

Submitting a proposal

Before sending a proposal for an article or op-ed, spend some time on our website to familiarize yourself with our style, tone, and topics.

Your pitch should be written in the body of your email and include the key points you plan to cover, any necessary background information, any people you plan to interview, your qualifications for writing about this topic, and why this story matters now. Please include links to any previously published work or other relevant resumé details.  

What we don’t publish

We do not publish notices about courses, upcoming events, job opportunities, advertising, press releases, or breaking news stories.

What you can expect

If your proposal is accepted, one of our editors will contact you to discuss next steps. If you don’t hear from us within two weeks, feel free to pitch your story idea elsewhere.

Visual art

We publish illustrations and photography by artists committed to “social good” and from a variety of perspectives to accompany written work in the magazine. Our visual work is mainly by invitation, but queries are welcome.