Let's Imagine

Across the nonprofit and charitable sector, organizations regularly talk about equity, community impact, and meeting people where they are. But there's a harder question that often goes unasked: who is actually doing the fundraising - and who isn't? Fundraising teams frequently don't reflect the diversity of the communities they raise funds for. That gap isn't just a moral concern - it has real consequences for trust, relationships, and the sector's long-term sustainability. In this episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald is joined by Alain Mootoo, Chief Operating Officer of the CAMH Foundation. Alain oversees the full operations of the Foundation - including the people, strategy, and systems that make fundraising possible. He has also drawn on his own lived experience as an immigrant to Canada, a foreign-trained professional, and a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community to launch award-winning programs and events for marginalized populations across the country. Together, they explore why representation in fundraising teams matters strategically, not just symbolically; how lived experience shapes the way trust is built with donors and communities; what structural and cultural barriers keep diverse talent from entering and advancing in the field; and what it looks like to create genuine pathways to fundraising leadership for people from marginalized backgrounds. Read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/mj6UOYQadK3 Listen to pas episodes here: https://imaginecanada.ca/en/lets-imagine-podcast

Canada's economic landscape has shifted significantly in recent years. Businesses are navigating inflation, labour shortages, digital transformation, and growing geopolitical and trade uncertainty - including questions about the future of Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreements. As businesses adapt to these pressures, the effects ripple across the nonprofit sector. Corporate donations, sponsorships, employee volunteering, and community investment strategies are closely tied to economic conditions. Understanding how businesses are evolving is essential for nonprofits seeking to build strong partnerships and plan for the future. In this episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald is joined by Candace Laing, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Together, they explore the current state of the Canadian economy, how companies are rethinking community investment and social impact, the new energy around impact investing, and what these shifts may mean for nonprofit organizations. They also discuss digital and AI transformation, how to "challenge ourselves to break up with the present", and what nonprofit leaders should watch for as corporate strategies evolve in an uncertain economic environment. Read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/WZdNoLZ7uZA Listen to past episodes here: https://imaginecanada.ca/en/lets-imagine-podcast

As we mark Black History Month, we honour the vision, courage, and generosity of Black leaders whose work has long shaped Canada's nonprofit and charitable sector. From grassroots mutual aid to community organizing and philanthropy, Black leadership has powered social change - often without the recognition it deserves. At the same time, Black leaders and professionals continue to navigate workplaces where difference, power, and identity shape how leadership is experienced and supported. In this episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald is joined by Nathan Hall, CEO of Culture Check, an organization dedicated to helping workplaces confront racism, strengthen psychological safety, and create environments where Black, racialized, and marginalized employees can thrive. Nathan is also the creator of The Work of Us, a framework that reframes culture as shared movement and challenges teams to design better conditions rather than "fixing people." Throughout the conversation, Nathan invites listeners to rethink culture as the rhythm we move to together, and why learning to move in the same direction, in the same way, is essential for nonprofit effectiveness. He shares insights on creating spaces where disagreement is safe, individuals aren't pressured to represent an entire group, and shared movement keeps teams connected rather than pushed apart. Whether you're a nonprofit leader, board member, or someone committed to building healthier, more equitable workplaces, this episode offers thoughtful reflections and practical guidance on leadership, culture, and community care - during Black History Month and beyond. Make sure to check out our full episode list. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Read the full transcript here

In this special episode of Let's Imagine, guest host Wilfreda Edward, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR), explores how nonprofits across Canada are working to close the digital skills gap. Over the past 18 months, CCNDR—together with partners Imagine Canada, Blueprint ADE, The Dais, and the Digital Governance Council - led the Futureproofing the Community Service Workforce project. Through research, piloting, and collaboration with nonprofits across the country, the project developed resources and a practical toolkit to help organizations strengthen data practices, build digital capacity, and align staff skills with emerging needs. Wilfreda is joined by two leaders deeply engaged in this work: Sampada Kukade, Vice President, External Relations and Development at Skills for Change, one of the pilot organizations that tested the toolkit; and Max Palamar, Vice President of Data Capacity and Analytics at Blueprint, who played a lead role in the project's research. Together, they discuss the toolkit's step-by-step activities that make digital transformation practical, accessible, and aligned with day-to-day nonprofit realities. They share lessons learned from piloting, explore the challenges of building capacity in a resource-constrained sector, and highlight why digital skills are no longer a "nice-to-have," but essential to future resilience. For nonprofit leaders, staff, and funders alike, this episode offers both insight and encouragement: that strengthening digital capacity doesn't have to mean more work - it's about working smarter, creating sustainability, and building a stronger sector together. Visit https://futureproof.ccndr.ca/ to explore the tools and start your own journey. Make sure to check out our full episode list. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. And read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/gWVIEJFZOzP

In this special International Day of the Girl episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald sits down with two trailblazers who are reshaping what leadership looks like in Canada's nonprofit sector: Anjum Sultana, Director of Policy Advocacy, Partnerships, and Youth Leadership at Plan International Canada, and Emma Asiedu-Akrofi, CEO of FORA Network for Change. Women represent 77% of the nonprofit workforce, and young people make up 32%. Yet many of the structures and norms that govern the sector were not designed with young leaders in mind. From rigid hierarchies to outdated governance models, barriers still stand in the way of young women, girls, and gender-diverse youth who want to lead. In this episode, we explore what meaningful youth leadership looks like, how funders can better support youth-led initiatives, how youth advisory councils can be powerful vehicles for shifting decision-making, and what systemic changes are needed to share power equitably. They also share personal reflections on their journeys, the barriers they've faced, and the hope they carry for a future shaped by the next generation of changemakers. For nonprofits, this conversation is a call to action: if you say you value youth leadership, how are you proving it? Make sure to check out our full episode list. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. This podcast was made possible thanks to generous support from our sponsors. SUPPORTING PARTNER Knowledge partner: Carters Read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/DLB5LW5yGBb Listen to past episodes here: https://imaginecanada.ca/en/lets-imagine-podcast

In this episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald welcomes Deepa Chaudhary — founder of GrantOrb, an AI-powered grant writing platform designed to support nonprofits in one of their most time-consuming and mission-critical activities: securing funding. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the workplace, its role in the nonprofit sector is evolving rapidly — especially in fundraising and grant development. Deepa shares how AI technology can reduce the burden on overstretched teams and increase access to high-quality funding proposals, particularly for small and medium-sized organizations. Together, Bruce and Deepa explore the promise and pitfalls of AI in grant writing, from questions of trust and authenticity to equity, bias, and environmental sustainability. Join them as they unpack the tools, tensions, and opportunities at the intersection of technology and social impact — and consider what a thoughtful, human-centered approach to AI adoption might look like in the nonprofit sector. If your organization is looking for ways to secure more funding, you may also be interested in exploring Grant Connect (https://imaginecanada.ca/en/grantconnect), Imagine Canada's fundraising research platform, to help you find grant opportunities and grow your impact. Read the full transcript here (https://share.descript.com/view/foKJ7lzA7Ul) ÉPISODE 32 : Intelligence artificielle et demandes de subvention : plus d'autonomie ou surchage d'automatisation? Dans cet épisode du Balado Imagine, nous accueillons Deepa Chaudhary — fondatrice de GrantOrb, une plateforme de rédaction de demandes de subvention propulsée par l'IA. Conçue pour soutenir les organismes à but non lucratif, cette solution les aide dans l'une de leurs tâches les plus essentielles à leur mission : obtenir du financement. Alors que l'intelligence artificielle continue de transformer les milieux de travail, son rôle dans le secteur à but non lucratif évolue rapidement — particulièrement en ce qui concerne la collecte de fonds et la préparation de demandes de subventions. Deepa partage comment les technologies IA peuvent réduire le fardeau des équipes surchargées et augmenter leur accès à des demandes de financement de haute qualité, particulièrement pour les organismes de petite et moyenne taille. Bruce et Deepa discutent également des promesses et des pièges de l'IA dans la rédaction de demandes de subvention, notamment en ce qui attrait à la confiance et l'authenticité, l'équité, les biais et à la durabilité environnementale. Au couer de cette discussion est l'analyse des outils, des tensions et des opportunités à l'intersection de la technologie et de l'impact social — et ce à quoi pourrait ressembler une approche réfléchie et centrée sur l'humain de l'adoption de l'IA dans le secteur à but non lucratif. Si votre organisme cherche de nouvelles façons d'obtenir du financement et accroître votre impact, Connexion subvention (https://imaginecanada.ca/fr/connexionsubvention), la plateforme de recherche de subventions d'Imagine Canada, pourrait vous intéresser.

In this powerful new episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald welcomes Eden Fineday — award-winning nêhiyaw (Cree) journalist, changemaker, and Publisher of IndigiNews. Eden leads IndigiNews through a lens of cultural safety and actively works to decolonize journalistic practices. She is also the founder and CEO of tâpwêwin media, an Indigenous-led nonprofit that acquired IndigiNews in 2025, and co-founder of the Indigenous Media Association of Canada. Eden recently contributed a series of articles to Imagine Canada's HR Intervals, helping nonprofits better navigate complex people management issues with a focus on equity, reconciliation, and anti-racism. Her work challenges organizations to move beyond surface-level inclusion toward building genuinely safe, culturally grounded workplaces. Join Bruce and Eden as they explore how nonprofits can rethink power, hiring, and leadership to foster deeper cultural safety for Indigenous, Black, and racialized staff. Read Eden's articles on HR Intervals here: Supporting BIPOC Board Members, Staff And Management De-colonizing hiring practices Building Cultural Competency and Cultural Safety Read the full transcript here.

For this week's episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald is joined by Émilie Pontbriand, Senior Manager of Strategic Communications at Imagine Canada. Together they review and highlight some revealing findings from a series of public opinion polls Imagine Canada conducted in the past year, thanks to the generous support of BMO. Each poll focused on a theme or topic related to the nonprofit and philanthropic sector, with the objective of collecting data that would shed light on where Canadians stand on social issues as well as their understanding of the work of charities and nonprofits, and perceptions about the nonprofit sector. Listen & share! To learn more about the survey results, we encourage you to also read these summary blog posts: Giving intentions, charity rankings and trust: insights from our latest public opinion poll (February 2025) New poll provides insights into Canadians' views of companies' social responsibility (November 2024) Recent public polling offers insights into long-held perspectives about the sector (August 2024) Read the full transcript here Listen to past episodes here

Dans cet épisode d'Imagine, nous recevons Céline Füri, directrice des politiques et campagnes à Oxfam-Québec. En cette période marquée par les bouleversements et les changements politiques et sociaux, nous discutons de l'importance pour les OBNL de se faire entendre en employant des stratégies de communications et de plaidoyer efficaces. Nous abordons les relations gouvernementales, les communications avec le grand public, qui sont devenues plus complexes, et le pouvoir d'unir ses forces pour provoquer le changement. Écoutez et partagez! Découvrez aussi tous les épisodes de notre balado. Lire la transcription complète ici Impactful Communication and Advocacy Strategies with Céline Füri In this episode of Let's Imagine, we welcome Céline Füri, Director of Policy and Campaigns at Oxfam-Québec. In this time of social and political uncertainty and change, we discuss the importance for nonprofit organizations to make their voices heard by employing effective communications and advocacy strategies. We dive into government relations, communications with the general public, which have become more complex, and the power of joining forces to bring about change. This episode of Let's Imagine was recorded in French.

In 2020, the world experienced a seismic jolt of awareness related to issues of systemic racism in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd. From global protests to bold declarations by the leaders of governments, companies and nonprofits, there was a deep desire to do better. Four year later, how are things progressing? In this episode, Emira Woods, Executive Director of Green Leadership Trust based in Washington, DC, shares her perspectives as well as insights and learnings from her work. A great example of inclusion in action, Green Leadership Trust is working to build a thriving environmental and conservation community in the United States, with a vision to embed an environmental ethic and shifting practices and behaviors across sectors and institutions. Read the full transcript here Listen to past episodes here

Joining us in this episode of Let's Imagine is nonprofit leader and author Angie Peters. Together we explore Angie's experiences and learnings from working in the poverty reduction space as the CEO of the Toronto-based charity Yonge Street Mission, as a social service provider tackling poverty in the city, and the 3 key elements integral to her organization's approach to systems: lived experience leadership, cross-sector collaboration and creating shared goals. We also discuss managing time expectations and how to frame these insights in ways that can be applied across missions and causes. Listen to past episodes of the Let's Imagine podcast here Read the full transcript here

Joining us in this episode is Dan Pallotta, American entrepreneur, author, and humanitarian activist. His experiences with dysfunction in the nonprofit sector have influenced his work, from his viral TED talk to his most recent project, the Uncharitable Movie. Together, we delve into deeply held perceptions about charities, how they are problematic, and how we can reframe the narrative and move forward. We also explore the potential of creative, breakthrough thinking, unburdened by costs & structure, as a powerful tool for real fundamental change in the nonprofit sector. Listen & share! Don't forget to check out our full episode list. Read the full transcript here

Non-Indigenous instructional methods and approaches have contributed to the colonization of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples and communities. What steps can organizations take to decolonize frameworks and center justice for Indigenous people in the nonprofit sector? In this episode of Let's Imagine, we're joined by Mélanie Valcin, President and CEO, and Kristen Miller, member of the board of directors of United for Literacy - a national charity focused on improving the lives of children, youth and adults through literacy. Together we dive into the organization's mission and its historic relationship with Indigenous communities, as well as their approach to truth and reconciliation. Listen & share! Don't forget to check out our full episode list. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Read the full transcript here