From Our Vantage Point

In this episode of From Our Vantage Point, Vantage Point CEO, Zahra Esmail is joined by Alex Wilson, the Senior Director of Philanthropy and Campaigns at Big Sisters BC Lower Mainland, and the VP of Community Engagement and Board Director of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Vancouver Chapter. Their conversation revolves around the evolving landscape of philanthropy, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the challenges and opportunities facing the nonprofit sector. Zahra and Alex discuss key trends in philanthropy, with Alex highlighting the significant digitalization of fundraising efforts and a trend towards major giving strategies, an emphasis on DEI efforts in philanthropy and some predictions for the future of philanthropy, including the rise of donor-advised funds (DAFs), the importance of planned giving, and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on fundraising practices. Vantage Point is proud to support and celebrate the upcoming National Philanthropy Day and the Giving Hearts Awards hosted by AFP Greater Vancouver Chapter, which recognize the contributions of individuals and organizations in the philanthropic community. We hope you will join us at this event for a moment to come together, share successes, and inspire one another in our collective mission to serve our communities. Get your tickets to the event now at https://afpgreatervancouver.org/national-philanthropy-day/

In this first episode of our podcast season, British Columbia’s Parliamentary Secretary Megan Dykeman joins Vantage Point’s Zahra Esmail and Prairie Chiu in an exploration of the growth of a stronger relationship between government and non-profits in our province, what we’ve seen so far and what we might expect and look forward to with future initiatives and the development of a non-profit network in BC. The opportunities abound and we are glad to be on this journey together!

On May 30, 2023, Vantage Point, together with Vancouver Foundation, Victoria Foundation, City of Vancouver, Vancity Community Foundation, and United Way BC, released “Safety Net” the 2023 State of the Non-Profit Sector Report. The report finds that British Columbia’s non-profits continue to be a safety net for communities, providing services and bridging gaps between government and the private sector. But the safety net is under pressure. BC’s non-profits continue to be driven by hopeful future-oriented visions, but human resource concerns remain prominent. While BC’s non-profits are doing more for communities and for their staff by meeting increased service demands and improving working conditions across the sector, during a time of increasing costs and staffing pressures, the SOTS report signals that even optimistic organizations are unable to thrive in the face of constant uncertainty about operational and funding sustainability. Our panel of human resources professionals in our sector, join host Cherie Payne, Director of Sector Development and Government Relations at Vantage Point, to explore the results of the sector report, the human resource concerns within, and what is needed to help these organizations survive.

Strengthening the capacity of the Non-profit sector is a primary focus at Vantage Point. Through all our work we seek to support, convene and uplift non-profit organizations in British Columbia. That’s why this conversation is so important to us. How can we use effective fund development practices and efficient technology to support our sector? The tools are out there. How can we use them best? Why are inclusive fundraising practices important? Who is responsible for financially supporting the sector? In this episode, our host and CEO of Vantage Point, Zahra Esmail, talks with Bryna Dilman, the Senior Director of Growth and Marketing at Keela, exploring the importance of strong and inclusive fund development and how data-driven technology can help us in building a stronger non-profit sector. 🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy. Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too. Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.

This episode we speak with Kevin McCort, CEO of the Vancouver Foundation, and Katie Clogg, Executive Director of the Sunshine Coast Resource Centre about the new Recovery & Resiliency Fund – $34 million of new funding available for not-for-profits and open for applications until September 30. It is an eye-opening conversation about what these two leaders have learned about good practices in past funding models, and what this new Fund can seek to correct with novel approaches, innovative evaluation criteria, and commitment to multi-year funding to ensure sustainable staffing and projects. BC not-for-profits and charities can apply for a grant from the Recovery and Resiliency Fund at this link: https://www.vancouverfoundation.ca/grants/recovery-and-resiliency-fund 🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy. Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too. Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.