Impact Conversations

In this conversation with Tonya Surman, CEO of the Centre for Social Innovation, or CSI, we hear about the effect of COVID on their core social purpose coworking space and significant strategic changes happening at CSI. We see the value of CSi (and other nonprofits) owning real estate, unpack SI Canada's new role, learn about their leadership on an Impact Dashboard with a Common Approach, and a pilot social enterprise in Muskoka for healing, connection and learning for impact leaders…and much more. Resources Tonya Surman : https://socialinnovation.org/team/tonya-surman/ Centre for Social Innovation (CSI): https://socialinnovation.org/ Social Innovation Canada (SI Canada): https://sicanada.org/ CSI Community Living Room, Regent Park: https://socialinnovation.org/space/locations/community-living-room/ TechSoup Canada : https://socialinnovation.org/about/techsoup-canada/ Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN): https://theonn.ca/ Vancity Community Investment Bank (VCIB): https://vancitycommunityinvestmentbank.ca/ Climate Ventures : https://climateventures.org/ Tapestry Community Capital: https://tapestrycapital.ca/ Wasan Island: http://www.wasan-island.de/ Breuninger Foundation: http://www.breuninger-stiftung.de/en/ Community Foundations of Canada (CFC): https://communityfoundations.ca/ McConnell Foundation: https://mcconnellfoundation.ca Common Approach: https://www.commonapproach.org/ Adopting Common Measures with the Common Approach: https://socialinnovation.org/offering/adopting-common-measures/ Impact Dashboard: https://impactdashboard.org/ Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca

Laura Manning, Executive Director at the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation (LSHF) shares the journey and lessons learned from a bold Canadian pilot started in 2018, granting significant additional, unrestricted General Operating Support (GOS) to known grantees. We hear about the time it takes to get boards comfortable with this approach and what's behind that. We also hear how Laura and the Foundation see advocating for this approach as part of their work, to help shift the sector. Now issuing more than 70% of the Foundation's grants in unrestricted General Operating Support, LSHF provides insights and a framework in a Canadian context, and encouragement to Canadian funders to take a closer look at unrestricted giving as a way to enable impact. Resources Lyle S. Hallman Foundation: http://www.lshallmanfdn.org General Operating Support pilot reports: http://www.lshallmanfdn.org/Pilot-Projects.htm Laura Manning on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-manning-3b052718/ Ford Foundation Unrestricted Giving: https://www.fordfoundation.org Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca

Our guest today is Andrea Nemtin, Executive Director of SI Canada. Sally and Andrea talk about what Social Innovation is, the history of the field in Canada, and how Social Innovation Canada (SI Canada) came to be. Andrea talks about the priorities of the organization as our country emerges from COVID, and how solutions to the complex challenges of social justice and climate change can be catalyzed and aligned through education, intentional networking at local and national levels across all sectors, and storytelling. Resources: Social Innovation Canada: https://sicanada.org hello@sicanada.org Post Event Check-in with our National Gathering Design Team Igniting Local Actions for an Inclusive Economy Andrea Nemtin LinkedIn White Fragility Subscription Box: https://www.edmontonshiftlab.ca/shift-lab-2-0-prototype-the-white-fragility-subscription-box/ Report: Unfunded: https://www.forblackcommunities.org/reports/ Foundation for Black Communities: https://www.forblackcommunities.org/ NFB film The Children of Fogo Island: https://www.nfb.ca/film/children_of_fogo_island/ SiG – Social Innovation Generation: https://thesigstory.squarespace.com/ MaRS Discovery District https://www.marsdd.com Tonya Surman: https://socialinnovation.org/team/tonya-surman/ Darcy Riddell: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/darcy-riddell-11153a52 Alex Ryan: https://www.marsdd.com/bio/alex-ryan/ Radius: https://radiussfu.com/ Manitoba's Social Enterprise Centre: http://www.secwpg.com/ Boldness Project: https://www.winnipegboldness.ca/ Alberta's ABSI Connect: https://www.absiconnect.ca/ Quebec's MIS – Maison de l'innovation sociale: https://www.mis.quebec/ Atlantic Canada's Inspiring Communities: http://www.secwpg.com/ Democracy Collaborative: https://democracycollaborative.org/ Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority. https://rpra.ca/ Circular Economy Act: https://rpra.ca/the-circular-economy/ Michael MacMillan: https://www.samaracanada.com/about-us/board-of-directors The Samara Centre for Democracy: https://www.samaracanada.com/home . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca

Sarah Midanik, Executive Director of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund shares a message of hope, as she reflects on the important work of reconciliation requiring us all, and non-Indigenous Canadians in particular, to take action. We hear about the important work to be done to address systemic racism and how this national charity found a way, working from the ground up, to address the history not previously being told in the school curriculum, providing tools and resources into some 6000 schools within 4 years. And that's just one example. Resources Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund: https://downiewenjack.ca/ ReconciliACTIONS: https://downiewenjack.ca/our-work/reconciliactions/ Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca

Veronika Berlicki, co-founder and leader of CityHive, shares how they are transforming the way young people engage in shaping their cities. Based in Metro Vancouver, this 5-year old nonprofit has revisited its initial strategic plans, to assess the impact its been making and see what changes that might mean for the way forward. They've engaged key stakeholders along the way and had some tough conversations as a team, looking at the change they want to be making and considering the trade-offs. They've developed a Theory of Change that is not only guiding their work but providing momentum, as they aim for youth facing systemic barriers to have an increased and lasting sense of civic agency. To really understand the youth they aim to serve and the solutions they might need to serve them, we hear about a 10-point continuum of civic agency they've created, from not really being interested in engaging around 1, to those working with their municipality to create change. They've further dug in to understand what it might take to create that sense of civic agency, uncovering things like voting at the first possible election. All of this puts CityHive in a strong position to take action, assessing everything they take on against the impact they seek. Resources: CityHive: https://cityhive.ca Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca

Foreseeing COVID negatively impacting women's ability to stay and thrive in the workforce, Pamela Jeffrey, Founder and lead of The Prosperity Project was concerned about the impact this would have on not just the women themselves, but Canada's prosperity. So, she took action, focusing on women, and particularly women of equity-deserving communities, including Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQ2S+, and physically challenged. Pamela shares how this project came to be and the unique seed funding approach, with 60+ senior professional women committing to the cause – personally and financially. She breaks down the 5-point plan laid out from the start, aligned with 5 marketable programs including a goal-focused professional volunteer program supporting charities that focus on women and girls, and a Rosie the Riveter inspired initiative to get more women and girls into skilled trades and STEM for good, well-paying jobs. We uncover an important adjustment to the plan along the way, after recognizing a better approach to achieve their desired impact through advocacy for affordable childcare. Resources The Prosperity Project: https://canadianprosperityproject.ca/ Volunteer matching program: https://canadianprosperityproject.ca/matching Rosie Resource Portal https://portal.canadianprosperityproject.ca/ 2022 Annual Report Card on Gender Diversity and Leadership: The Zero Report: https://canadianprosperityproject.ca/data-tracking Pamela Jeffrey : https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelajeffery . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca

B Corp is a global movement of more than 4800 companies, with almost 400,00 employees in 79 countries around the world, all focused on making business a force for good. Together, B Corps are working to shift our global economy from a system that profits few to one that benefits all: advancing a new model that moves from concentrating wealth to ensuring equity, from resource extraction to energy generation, and from individualism to interdependence. We are happy to have Ian Kelly and Elaine Adema from PeaceWorks Technology Solutions, a fellow B Corp, on today's episode. PeaceWorks is an employee- owned social enterprise that provides IT Services and Support, based out of Waterloo, Ontario and Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are a technology company, motivated by the impact their clients are making in the world. 65% of their clients are non-profit. They have been making the benefits of technology affordable and accessible to all organizations, including those with limited resources, for more than twenty years. In today's episode, Ian Kelly, General Manager, and Elaine Adema, Account Manager at Peaceworks, talk about what motivates them about the B Corp movement, what the certification process is like, and the evolution of new B Corp standards around the world. They talk about how employees and customers respond to and are motivated by the B Corp mission, and the hope it brings. Resources: Peaceworks site: https://peaceworks.ca Peaceworks B Corp certification: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/peaceworks-technology-solutions/ About B Lab and the B Corporation movement: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/movement/about-b-lab . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca

In this episode, Sally speaks with Shelley Zuckerman, who has been the Executive Director of North York Community House for the past 30 years, about her long career in the non-profit sector, how her organization has navigated the challenges of the past two years, and her advice for the next generation of leaders in the sector. Shelley shares what makes her optimistic for the future, both for our sector and more broadly. As she nears retirement this year, Shelley reminds us about how far we have come, and shares her confidence in the next generation to go further on issues of social justice, building on strengths in community and amplifying the voices of the people the sector serves. She advises leaders to be continuously curious and learning, and to support new leaders by giving them opportunities to share and try their ideas. North York Community House serves more than 15,000 residents in northwest Toronto every year. The help transform lives by working with people, understanding their needs, and supporting them in achieving their goals. For over 30 years, NYCH has been opening doors for new Canadians; supporting youth, parents and seniors in becoming active, engaged citizens; and creating opportunities for residents to improve their lives and lead positive change in their neighbourhoods. Resources North York Community House: https://www.nych.ca NYCH Twitter and Facebook: @nychonline . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca

In this episode, Sonia Theroux, the Executive Director of Leadnow speaks with Sally about what progressivism means, the movement, and how activists and change makers can think about and stay hopeful about the moment we are in. Sonia is a campaigns and communications specialist, passionate about organizing and community building. She has seen the power of people talking to people about something they care about. She has led or advised on successful electoral campaigns at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. As a consultant with a digital civic tech company, she advised local governments on effective public engagement strategies. Now, serving as Executive Director of Leadnow - a people-powered multi-issue progressive campaigning community, she sees this organization as a much-needed non-partisan opportunity for people to engage with, and strengthen, our democracy. In this conversation, Sonia shares her ideas about how to build unity around the things that are important to our communities. She talks about how leadership in this moment is about vision building, while making space for civil discourse about the systemic and structural barriers to achieving the just and equitable society we want. Sonia also shares what keeps her hopeful in this moment. Leadnow: https://www.leadnow.ca/team/ Sonia Theroux: Twitter @soniatheroux Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca

In this episode, we hear from the Ontario Nonprofit Network through Executive Director Cathy Taylor, and Policy Advisor Pam Uppal, They share the state of the sector in Ontario, from their most recent surveys and ongoing interactions, and what this means for the ONN's policy priorities. We hear about the important role of looking out for the sector overall and being part of emergent issues. We also hear about the rise and importance of collaboration across the sector – although nonprofits may compete for funding at one level, they share challenges such as labour and volunteer shortages and a lack of funding that can best be addressed together, as well as coming together to collectively address community-specific issues, as has happened throughout the pandemic. Of course, we talk about impact and how ONN views the difference it is making. Overall, ONN hopes this is embraced as a time of transformation, bringing an equity approach to ONN and the sector's work and engraining the key role of nonprofits in our society. Resources ONN: https://theonn.ca/ COVID-19: State of the sector one year later: https://theonn.ca/our-work/covid-surveys/ Podcast: Digging In with ONN - https://theonn.ca/podcast-digging-in-with-onn/ Not-for-Profit Corporations Act: https://www.ontario.ca/page/rules-not-profit-and-charitable-corporations Nonprofit Resources: https://nonprofitresources.ca/ . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca

In this episode, we hear from 4R's Youth Movement Executive Director Jess Bolduc about the desire to address reconciliation, by engaging Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, creating authentic relationships and addressing fundamental flaws in the system. We hear about the challenge many nonprofits face, of only having near-term funding, while the issue to be addressed is much longer term. She lets us know about a framework for cross-cultural dialogue created by youth, and how the challenges and approaches of other equity-deserving communities provide models, guidance and allyship for Reconciliation here, on Turtle Island. Have a listen. Resources 4R's Youth Movement: http://4rsyouth.ca/ 4R's Framework for Cross-Cultural Dialogue, "Seeding Reconciliation on Uneven Ground": http://4rsyouth.ca/our-framework/ Audio blog (like a podcast) Land(ing) Back: https://landingback.simplecast.com/episodes . Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca

In this episode, we are speaking primarily about the challenges facing the arts sector and also the philanthropic sector more broadly, in addressing racial and other systemic inequities, in granting and beyond. Our guest, Jordan Baylon (they/she/he) is a queer, non-binary second generation PhilipinX artist, critic and community worker imagining justice and abundance for equity-deserving peoples. Jordan brings a decade of experience working as a grantor in the non-profit arts sector in Calgary and is currently the General Director of Chromatic Theatre, which is focused on supporting the incubation and amplification of racialized voices and stories within theatre. Jordan is also a proud associate of the Anti-Racist Organizational Change program at CommunityWise, and co-author of RE-Tool, a handbook on equity-driven grantmaking as part of Equity in the Panel Room working group. Though not always easy to hear, we think you'll appreciate Jordan naming some of the issues the sector faces, along with some steps that need to be taken, and a vision for the future. Have a listen. Resources RE-Tool handbook: https://mapfundblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/re-tool-2018.pdf CommunityWise Anti-Racist Organizational Change project: https://communitywise.net/aroc/ 35 50 initiative: https://www.theatrealberta.com/2021/06/16/announcing-a-new-partnership-with-the-35-50-initiative/ COCo, White Supremacy Culture: https://coco-net.org/white-supremacy-culture-in-organizations/ COCo, The "Problem" Woman of Colour in the Workplace: https://coco-net.org/problem-woman-colour-nonprofit-organizations/ Eve Tuck, decolonizing: http://www.evetuck.com/bio Edgar Villanueva, Decolonizing Wealth: https://decolonizingwealth.com "gaslighting" definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gaslighting Critical Race Theory: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/literary_theory_and_schools_of_criticism/critical_race_theory.html Chromatic Theatre: https://chromatictheatre.ca

In this episode, Mary Ellen Schaasfma, Director and Co-Founder of the Social Purpose Institute (SPI) at United Way BC, shares the concept of businesses having a social purpose as their reason for being, beyond profit. Over the last 5 years, SPI has been piloting programming to help businesses determine and implement their social purpose, in an effort to create a movement of businesses for good. While it's more often that businesses support charities, Mary Ellen explains how it makes sense for United Way to support the business sector in having a societal purpose– social and/or environmental – at its core to best benefit the community, in fact, to create the thriving community that United Ways often aspire to. It's also an opportunity for United Way to shift, changing not only its approach for impacting the community but how it engages corporations. This work has gained the attention of funders, interested in seeing this innovative model adopted across the country. We suggest it's worth your attention too, whether as a funder, nonprofit or for profit organization. Have a listen. Resources Social Purpose Institute: https://socialpurpose.ca Social Purpose Innovators program: https://socialpurpose.ca/services/innovators/ Social Purpose Implementers program: https://socialpurpose.ca/services/implementers/ Mary Ellen Shaafsma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryellen-schaafsma Coro Strandberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corostrandberg Hemlock Printers: https://www.hemlock.com GLOBE Events: https://www.globeseries.com/events/ Propelling Purpose Summit: Road to Purposeful Economy (discount code PAN-21): https://propellingpurpose.ca Thank you for listening to Impact Conversations with Lynn Fergusson & Sally Fazal . Find out more about our work at Social Impact Advisors: https://socialimpactadvisors.ca