The Discovery Pod

What’s in a name? For President and CEO Joanna Kerr , the name change from Tides Canada to MakeWay is much deeper than just being just an attempt to solidify brand identity. It represents a bigger pivot from being a service-based organization to being a purpose-based organization. It represents the adoption of a more laser-focused approach on service that aligns everything to the purpose of making...

The busiest season for social profit is upon us, but with everything that has happened in the first three quarters of 2020, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, things aren’t exactly breezy for the sector. What can we learn about the way we do things today that can help us navigate the challenges and uncertainties of the future? Joining Douglas Nelson to talk about this is one of Canada’s premier phi...

Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that afflicts a significant part of our aging population, yet we still have a lot of catching up to do in addressing the needs of people who are living with it. The  Alzheimer’s Society of BC  envisions an ideal society that is free of Alzheimer’s and dementia. In recognition of the fact that the vision may be many decades away from realization, the Soc...

Like all forms of education, music education has been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the closure of physical campuses and the increased reliance on distance and online learning. How do music schools manage to do this? The  Sarah McLachlan School of Music  is such a success story in this regard, as Interim Executive Director,  Jen Rose , relates in this interv...

Immigrating to another country is no easy feat—from the time you’ve decided to move to the moment you finally arrive. How do you settle down? How can you create new relationships? How can you start on the path towards the life you want?  Olga Stachova , CEO of  MOSAIC , helps people who are in this challenging journey. MOSAIC is one of Canada’s largest settlement organizations supporting...

In unprecedented times, such as with the current COVID-19 pandemic we are all in, finding precedent is one of the most important tasks of a leader in an organization.  Ezra Shanken , the CEO of the  Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver , is someone who is all too familiar with this challenge, and in this episode, he sits down with host, Douglas Nelson to talk about how the pandemic has...

A lot of people have been working hard to pivot their organizations, their fundraising, their messaging, and the missions of their organization in response to the pandemic. One such organization that has pivoted successfully despite the numerous challenges is Ocean Wise, a global conservation organization that inspires millions of people to take action to improve the health of our oceans. Joining...

Men’s health remains to be an underserved advocacy in the social profit sphere despite alarming statistics of men suffering from preventable chronic health problems like heart disease and obesity. Led by its President,  Wayne Hartrick , the  Canadian Men’s Health Foundation  (CMHF) is on a mission to inspire men to live healthier lives by being more proactive in modifying their life...

As the world keeps changing, research continues to provide understanding and knowledge about the things that affect us in our daily lives. It keeps us informed and, in times of crisis, prepared. In a global health crisis, the power of research—especially medical research—is undeniable. However, we can’t deny the fact that it can be quite costly. Responding to this concern, a group of community cit...

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted almost every single aspect of our lives, and everything has to be put on hold as we struggle to survive the crisis.  Burnaby Hospital Foundation  had just launched the largest campaign in their history, raising $30 million for redevelopment, when the pandemic struck and forced them to shift focus.  Kristy James  was right there at the forefro...

Engaging with the community, of course, is one of the most important aspects of running a social profit organization. But this engagement naturally differs between organizations, and over time must evolve to respond to the needs of the times, especially in times of extraordinary crisis. Douglas Nelson is joined by Christine Bergeron , Vancity ‘s Chief Member Services Officer. Douglas and Christine...

One of the silver linings in the COVID-19 crisis is the fact that we see a lot of people stepping up to donate in any way they can to the fight against the pandemic. Victoria Hospitals Foundation makes sure that these donations go where they are needed the most. Using all resources available to extend its reach, the dedicated people in the foundation have essentially become frontliners in healthca...

The COVID-19 pandemic is a far-reaching and present danger that affects every sector on every level. Assuming roles of leadership in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic is bound to be tough because, on top of the usual transitional activities, there’s the additional task of keeping everything running as smoothly as can be, undaunted, in the face of an international crisis. Douglas Nelson is joined b...

For many organizations and social profit groups, attaining sustainability that’s authentic and equitable is both a challenge and a mission. However, many organizations are working towards this goal consistently, whether on a large scale or a community level. Douglas Nelson is joined by  Mark Gifford , the CEO of the  Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia . Douglas and Mark discuss t...

The importance of continued social profit cannot be underestimated for organizations in any kind of field. Especially in times of crisis, it’s important that voices of organizations be heard to continue accruing this so-called social profit such that in the long run, the organization has something to work with on that end. Douglas Nelson runs down how organizations can continue building social pro...

The COVID-19 presents a seemingly insurmountable challenge for players in the social profit sector to continue providing their services and managing to stay afloat. Funding has always been an issue for these organizations, but it has become more so in a time when their services are needed the most. Today’s guest, Sandra Richardson , the CEO of the Victoria Foundation , joins Douglas Nelson to tell...

Although no one could have predicted the immensity of the crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the social profit sector is in many ways inherently geared towards responding to situations like this. This is especially true for United Way of the Lower Mainland , which has made moves to decentralize its operations and involve the community more. Michael McKnight , the organization’s CEO, ta...

Leading a hospital foundation such as VGH and UBC in Vancouver entails dedication, pride, and honor to serve a community seeking for quality health care. In this episode, host Douglas Nelson talks to Angela Chapman , the CEO of Vancouver General Hospital (VGC) and UBC Hospital Foundation , who shares her experience as an SVP who transitioned to become the SEO of the organization. Having experience...

The COVID-19 Pandemic has undeniably disrupted almost all of our lives. Along with the rest of the world’s business sectors, many social service organizations have found themselves operating with far from normal business models. This episode is very timely with the current situation. Host, Douglas Nelson, talks with the Executive Director of the  BC Center for Disease Control Foundation for P...

Most concepts of leadership are taken to be monolithic, without much variation in between fields. But the field of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership is one that’s unique in many ways, especially if considered side-by-side with leadership in a business or corporate setting. Susan Phillips is a Professor at Carleton University who serves as the Director of the school’s Master of Philanthropy and...

STARS Air Ambulance  has been saving and changing many lives. Not only by way of responding to medical emergencies but also through Philanthropy, inspiring others to help as well. The CEO behind this great organization,  Andrea Robertson,  is here in this episode to talk with Douglas Nelson about the origin story of STARS and how it maintains its enviable model and loyalty from corp...

Running a foundation, in principle, shouldn’t be that much different from being at the top of, say, a large corporation, but the truth is, there’s a delicate line that you constantly have to be toeing. Because foundations are philanthropic institutions, there are certain expectations about your goals, your operations, and who benefits from the resources you’re expending. Dick Vollet is the Preside...

There are many ways through which an individual or organization can measure the impact of philanthropy on the lives of the people it purports to affect. But at the end of the day, sometimes, what really matters most is that the change exists and is happening at the moment, and continues to happen. Andrew Chunilall is the Chief Executive Officer of Community Foundations of Canada, which focuses on...

Charity work is already a noble move. Rescuing charities takes nobility up a notch. Today, Douglas Nelson talks to Paul Latour , a motivational speaker and the creator of HeroWork Society , a program that inspires people, communities, and companies to come together to help renovate charities. Paul talks about how he formed HeroWork, its benefits, actions, and values. Paul’s four Cs to a successful...

When stepping into a bigger role, you have to be prepared to fill in the shoes—or even better, improve what has been worn out and make it new. When  Danielle Dunbar  took on the role of Chief Development Officer at the  University of Saskatchewan , she needed to pull together the team from a decentralized structure. Just as we hear a lot about in developing programs at universities...