November December 2020

Why Grassroots Efforts in Kenya Are Where My Impact Matters

By Carolyn Moraa There is a lot of talk condemning “white saviorism” these days. As a proud Kenyan woman, it is not lost on me that the conversationalists on the topic are often from North America, and frankly are often white. A discussion on an idea referring to a white …

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November December 2020

Losing WE Charity Didn’t Have to Happen

By Matthew Torigian On October 29 the Federal Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion exonerated former Finance Minister Bill Morneau of conflict of interest charges over his participation in two volunteer trips for WE Charity. Morneau stood accused of not disclosing these trips; he maintained that he believed he had paid for …

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November December 2020

WE Answered The Call

By Scott Baker I have been with WE Charity since 2004 and I’m immensely proud of the team we’ve built, and the impact our programs have had both domestically and internationally. Recently, I served as Executive Director from December, 2010, to January, 2019, working with the WE Charity Board of …

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November December 2020

Philanthropic People & Their Work: Dr. Art McDonald

By Jeff Todd Dr. Art McDonald is unique in his appreciation for philanthropy. After all, he wasn’t born a Nobel Prize winning physicist. Before reaching the pinnacle of his profession 2015, Dr. McDonald was the recipient of an endowed chair at Queen’s University, courtesy of philanthropists Gordon and Patricia Gray, …

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November December 2020

Even in Crisis, Major Donors are Stepping Up

By Peter Nicholson To say we live in unprecedented times is a huge understatement. In so many ways, our day-to-day lives have fundamentally changed, from the way we do business, to how we socialize with others, and of course, to how we raise money for the charities that are important …

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November December 2020

Mary’s Meals Canada: Helping Children in Crisis

By Brendan Read Helping the neediest individuals in the poorest countries and raising funds and attracting and retaining volunteers to deliver those programs are daunting challenges at the best of times. But when they are overlaid with a deadly global pandemic the obstacles seem practically insurmountable. But that is the …

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November December 2020

Sustaining Growth Against a Tide of Transformation and Pandemic: It Can Be Done

Interview with Jane Potentier, Associate Vice President, Alumni & Development, University of Victoria By Brendan Read The University of Victoria (UVic) is one of Canada’s leading post-secondary institutions, with strong foci on research and on career preparation. Its campus is located in the Victoria B.C. area, split between the municipalities …

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November December 2020

How Can Donor Advised Funds Support Vulnerable Canadians Through the COVID Economy?

By Leanne Burton A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving vehicle that a donor can establish to make all of their gifts to charities over time. DAFs are touted for enabling flexible giving over one or many years as an alternative to setting up a private foundation. The …

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November December 2020

The Need is Still There, So We Have to Be Too

By Sarah Chamberlin Asking for money is never easy. And often, neither is giving it away. Of course, this is not breaking news to any fundraiser. The real news hit earlier this year. Canada instantly felt the impact of the COVID-19 virus when it hit in March. It quickly bordered …

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November December 2020

The Good or Bad Charitable Gift

By Kathleen Provost As a professional fundraiser, I often struggle between the intent to find an extraordinary idea to fundraise successfully, and the security that comes with known fundraising practices or methods. I have learned to give a value to a charitable gift and to document proven methods by which …

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