The Shared Brain Podcast

Passion is one of the nonprofit sector’s greatest strengths. It fuels missions, inspires change, and drives people to make a difference every day. But what happens when that same passion becomes the very thing putting people at risk? In this episode of The Shared Brain Podcast, Theresa Bolton, Founder of Customized Recruitment, and Derek Rolstone, CEO & Founder of Stone HR Strategies, take an...

Are donor-advised funds holding money hostage — or are they one of the most powerful tools in the charitable sector? In Part 2 of our DAF series, Senior Consultants Jill Nelson and Peter McKinley tackle the real concerns and common misconceptions surrounding how donor-advised funds operate. From disbursement quotas and endowment comparisons to anonymity, stewardship barriers, and complex gift vehi...

What if there were billions of dollars already earmarked for charitable giving — just waiting for your organization to tap in? That's the reality of donor-advised funds, and in this episode of the Shared Brain Podcast, we're breaking down everything you need to know. Hosts Peter McKinley and Jill Nelson, both Senior Consultants with Global Philanthropic Canada, sit down for an in-depth c...

In this episode, two expert Senior Consultants with Global Philanthropic Canada, Corinne Rusch-Drutz , PhD, and Jason Muscant , MA, discuss political resilience within Canada's charitable sector, emphasizing the importance of understanding the impact of crises, maintaining a clear mission, and developing effective communication strategies. They explore how organizations can navigate the polit...

This episode celebrates Mitch Thomson and his team at Red Deer Food Bank Society's innovative, inspiring approach to fundraising.  What can your organization do DIFFERENTLY to move the needle on your important mission? How can you integrate an entrepreneurial mindset into your daily initiatives to drive funding and engagement?  How can you connect with donors, volunteers and your Board meanin...

HOORAY for the next generation of philanthropists!! This episode takes us to New Brunswick, where we connect with two inspiring individuals who make the wheels turn for the "Youth in Philanthropy" (YiP) program. This program is designed to inspire, engage and teach youth about the impacts and benefits of being involved with philanthropy through various activities where they learn about t...

Let's discuss ways to enhance your nonprofit's efficiency and achieve optimal outcomes. When evaluating the philanthropic health and potential of your nonprofit organization, have you assessed the 3 Cs: Culture, Capacity and Competency? These three dimensions offer a comprehensive and practical framework for assessing readiness to effectively fundraise, particularly through the lens of b...

Aujourd’hui, on vous propose un épisode spécial pour faire écho à la conférence nationale 2025 du CCAE, qui s’est tenue dans le cadre prestigieux du Château Frontenac à Québec, en collaboration avec l’Université Laval. Une rencontre qui a réuni les leaders de l’avancement institutionnel au pays — et où les idées, les échanges et les inspirations ont fusé.  Mais on le sait, tout le monde ne peut pa...

Canadian fundraisers unite to discuss navigating mental health in the workplace, specifically within the non-profit space.  ⭐ What can your organization implement today to maximize mental wellness? ⭐ As a leader, how can you think differently to support your team to be their best? ⭐ How have small changes in the workplace led these fundraisers to notice improvements in their fundraising teams?...

What makes philanthropy tick in the Canadian landscape? How do we collectively squeeze the most juice out of associations and memberships to elevate your non-profit's mission and your fundraising career? What does it mean to be a fundraising generalist? In this episode, we dive in to discuss fundraising in Canada from the perspective of Lisa Dayanandan, CFRE . Lisa is a self-described storyte...

We love hearing how leaders "made it". This episode is an honest discussion exploring Sofia Janmohamed's journey to transform her unique strengths into a successful fundraising career. One of six women we profiled during our recent Knowledge Creation report entitled Women Leading Philanthropy , Sofia is based in British Columbia. She is the Executive Director of Development, Advance...

It's Pride Season! So let's dive in. Pssst. May we have an itty bitty chat about the acronym LGBTQ? Or is it LGBTQ+? Where do we include the 2S? What does allyship look like from a fundraising perspective? What's the best approach to pronouns in the workplace? This conversation provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by the queer community and what we can do collectivel...

Pourquoi l’engagement du bénévole est important pour la collecte de fonds à tout niveau?   L’épisode d’aujourd’hui porte sur l’engagement des bénévoles et est animé par Denis Lalonde et  Élaine Lalonde . Ils sont deux conseillers séniors de Global Philanthropic Canada établis au Québec. Ensemble, ils ont accumulé près d’un demi-siècle d’expertise philanthropique en collaborant pour améliorer la mi...

Today’s episode has us jetting off to the quaint town of Dunnville, in Ontario’s Niagara peninsula to chat with Penny Banks of the Dunnville Hospital and Healthcare Foundation . Penny is the passionate and upbeat Executive Director of the foundation and enthusiastically spends a good portion of Smile Cookie Week elbow deep in cookie dough. Penny’s organization teamed up with the Tim Horton’s Smile...