The Discovery Pod

In this episode, Febe Voth , the Author of The Case for Your Cause , offers advice on messaging, storytelling, and writing a support case. She shares some examples to walk us through the framework she presents from her book. This episode is for individuals who need to craft a case as a tool to move donors and create a bigger impact on those who benefit from the work of the organization. Take notes...

The establishment of Canada's first Chinese Canadian Museum showcases how cultural institutions can uphold and honour the diversity of our communities. It shows the importance of representation in shaping our shared history. In this episode, Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee shares the significance of the Chinese Canadian Museum and her passion for startup organizations in the cultural space. As a female lea...

In anticipation of the Coronation of King Charles III, Douglas Nelson sits down with Farah Mohamed , CEO of the Prince’s Trust Canada . She talks about their development programs for veterans leaving active service and equity-deserving youth looking for employment. Farah explains how their work investing in these amazing people helps them pursue promising opportunities and serve society in fulfill...

Being in the social profit sector requires embracing the ever-changing needs of the community. You must be nimble in order to respond to create a bigger impact. Younger foundations have the advantage of embodying these qualities. They can navigate the present and future without the weight of history. One of the new entrants as a community foundation here in Canada is the  Toronto Foundation ....

“Mothers are the first teachers” - they are the initial figures in a child’s life who nurture and prepare them for the world. In this episode of Opportunity Spotlight,  Christoph Clodius  is joined by  Bruce Flexman  and  Julia Kim  Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, of  Mothers Matter Centre . Together, they share the important work being done across Canada in...

Leaders in social profit have a unique opportunity to drive positive change and create a better future for all. Through philanthropy and education, we can inspire the next generation of leaders to make a difference in the world and leave a lasting impact on our communities. In this episode, Douglas Nelson speaks with Dr. Jacline Nyman , Vice President of External Relations at the University of Ott...

Building a strong and inclusive community requires expanding our services to support all newcomers and to meet the evolving needs of those we serve, overcoming challenges with resilience. In this episode, we have Michael Itti , Executive Director of the Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC Seattle) in Seattle, Washington join us for a discussion on the evolution of social profits and adapt...

"As a fundraiser at a university, there's everything…It provides this incredible opportunity to be a matchmaker between the needs of an institution and the philanthropic aspirations and goals of donors." - Erin Morantz.   Erin Morantz , Vice President, Advancement and Alumni Engagement of Simon Fraser University , shares what it's like to build a coalition of collaboration and philanthropy fo...

In this episode, Christine McIver Founder and CEO of Kids Cancer Care Foundation , shares how the programs she started over 28 years ago has helped thousands of kids and families on their cancer journey. She provides some insights on how she leads and sets the standards on board governance. Leading a social profit organization can be challenging, but Christine always gets the job done. Be inspired...

As one of the largest serving agencies in Metro Vancouver, YWCA Metro Vancouver provides a wide range of services to help address the economic, social and physical challenges facing women. Erin Seeley , CEO joins host Douglas Nelson to share how the YWCA Metro Vancouver continues to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of the region. With over 200 employees and 75 programs, Erin leads a large, d...

Building strong communities is key to driving better outcomes in the social profit sector. By bringing together essential partners, boards, and teams, we can create a unified force to make a meaningful impact in the world. In this episode, Zahra Esmail , the CEO of Vantage Point , shares her invaluable insights into leading communities in the social profit sector. Zahra emphasizes the importance o...

In honour of International Women's Day, Paulette Senior CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation joins the podcast to discuss empowering women to assert their rights and advocating for gender justice. Paulette shares the unique ways her organization have helped women from vulnerable sectors, as well as her career journey through her work in women’s shelters to leadership roles in the Canadian govern...

In this special Ask Me Anything episode, Alex Wilson , Director of Communications of The Discovery Group , sits down with Douglas Nelson to ask him questions submitted from our listeners. Doug shares the insights and wisdom that he has gathered over his 20 year career in the social profit sector. The two touch on the recession, donor communication and the best approach in recruiting and retaining...

On this episode of Opportunity Spotlight, we shine a light on the Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island with special guest Shelley Engelhardt , Director of Development. Shelley Engelhardt joins Christoph Clodius to discuss an exciting new leadership opportunity – Events & Annual Giving Manager. Listen as they delve into the details of the role and the critical work that the Children...

On today’s show, we are joined by Mark Korthuis , President and CEO of the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation in Edmonton, Alberta. Glenrose is Canada's largest freestanding rehabilitation facility. Its mission is “enabling patients with impairments or disabilities to reach and achieve their optimal physical, sensory, psychological, spiritual, and social functional levels.” Mark takes us...

Dr. Anson Wong is the Campaign Director at The Discovery Group. He joins this episode to discuss exceptional Asian fundraising strategies influenced by his lifetime of experience. Joining Douglas Nelson, Dr. Wong shares insights guided by positive impact and social change on building an effective Asian fundraising program in your organization. He also delicately dives into the art and science of e...

Our food distribution system is broken. It is time that we take action and fix it. In this episode, David Long , the CEO of Greater Vancouver Food Bank , and Stuart Lilley , Founder of ReFeed, share their insights on how to fix food systems through the Zero-Loss Model to feed future generations. The partnership of Greater Vancouver Food Bank and ReFeed has created a positive impact on mitigating f...

In this episode,  Neelam Sahota , CEO of DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society joins Douglas Nelson to discuss the value of immigration to all Canadians. Neelam touches on the Canadian immigration system, the services desperately needed, and the importance of alignment and strong governance in any social profit organization. Tune in now to learn how DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society h...

Join Christoph Clodius , Vice President at The Discovery Group , and Dee Dee Sung , Executive Director, Development at UBC , as they discuss UBC’s campaign FORWARD and the important role the Assistant Dean, Faculty of Education, will play in this project. Discover if this role is right for you!   The Faculty of Education at UBC was established more than 60 years ago. It is celebrated today as...

It is widely acknowledged that philanthropy has played a critical role in both developed and developing societies. However, today philanthropic acts or so-called “do-gooders” are being criticized, mocked, and even attacked by journalists and academics. Where are all these criticisms coming from? And what is the truth about philanthropy’s intentions? Together with Dr. Beth Breeze , this episode exa...

Over 30% of food is lost or wasted each year, which is striking, given the large number of hungry people worldwide. This wasted resource is a social justice issue that we should mitigate. In this episode, Tristan Jagger of Food Runners and Victoria Della Rocca of Food Rescue Hero share their insights on how these organizations help control the issue of food waste. The technology behind Food Runner...

Institute of Corporate Directors is a not-for-profit organization that inspires directors to make meaningful contributions in the boardroom. The conversations that take place in the board rooms are very important for any organization. As the CEO, it's your job to make sure that every chair is aligned with each other. Join Douglas Nelson as he talks to the CEO of the Institute of Corporate Director...

The year of adjusting to the new normal and organizational shifts is almost over. 2022 is just about over and it's time to start thinking about the future that is 2023. Join your host Douglas Nelson and his special guest Alex Wilson as they reflect back on some of The Discovery Group's 2022 achievements. Also, get a snippet of what's in store in philanthropy for 2023. 

Women in the workforce have been experiencing challenges in the social leaders’ profit sector- even up to this day! Women are still seen as unworthy of leadership opportunities and incapable of being instruments for social impacts, even when they have repeatedly proven the exact opposite. That’s why companies like Minerva are crucial to empower women in breaking the cycle of re-offending and ultim...

The Surrey Board of Trade attracts and supports businesses in Surrey. They believe that transportation and education are the two economic foundations of building our city. In today's episode, social profit leader Anita Huberman , the President of  Surrey Board Of Trade , shares her tips for working with boards, her idea about leadership, and how to get things done. She also shares some advice...