They say money talks. Is this true for the nonprofit sector, where a relatively small number of large charities receive the lion’s share of available funding? Have well-funded charities dominated the public policy governing our sector, drowning out the voices of the vast majority of small charities and nonprofits across the country? In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we take a closer look at the impact this inequitable power dynamic has on the sector, the problems it causes, and what can be done about it.
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Steven Ayer is the President and Founder of Common Good Strategies, where he spearheads transformative research and innovative strategies to strengthen the social sector. An acclaimed author, some of his notable works include “The Burden of Care,” highlighting low job satisfaction among nonprofit workers; “Wake-Up Call, detailing 10 shifts in the nonprofit sector post-pandemic)” and “Trust and Impact,” a groundbreaking report on the move towards trust-based philanthropy and unrestricted funding. Each report has been recognized among the top 10 nonprofit sector reports by PANL Perspectives at Carleton University. His research has been mentioned in more than 1000 publications worldwide.
With a keen understanding of social trends and the ability to leverage research to drive strategy, Steven empowers organizations to make strategic decisions that maximize their impact and sustainability, often working on strategic plans, social and market research, policy, and social enterprise strategies. Common Good Strategies’ client portfolio has included organizations such as YMCA Canada, Imagine Canada, the Diversity Institute, the Toronto Foundation, the Toronto Zoo, ParticipACTION, YMCA Toronto Prosper Canada, and dozens of other local and national organizations.
John Hallward
President, Sector3Insights
John’s career was primarily in the business sector (1983 to 2020) as a market research entrepreneur serving the largest advertisers (including working for Ipsos after selling his firm to them).
In 2008, John created GIV3 (a registered Canadian charity) with the mission to encourage more Canadians to be more giving. GIV3 brought GivingTuesday to Canada in 2013, and primarily focused on grass roots, “bottom up” initiatives to promote greater generosity. In 2020, GIV3 pivoted towards more advocacy and “top down” systemic policy changes in belief this is the path for greater good sooner.
John also started a social enterprise research firm, Sector3Insights (2017) to leverage his professional career to bring new unique research + insights to better understand generosity and the charity sector. He continues to run Sector3Insights in support of various charities in The USA and Canada. All profits are used for charitable purposes.
Outside of his professional research career, and the above, John has also been active in other non-profit organizations as a volunteer (past or present, the list includes):
GIV3, current President/Chairman
Sector3Insights, current President/Chairman
Veritas Foundation (Selwyn House School)
Selwyn House School (Chairman of the Board) (past)
Bishops College School, Board of Directors (past)
The Study School Foundation, Board of Directors (past)
Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Board of Directors, and Co-Chair of Leadership Circle (past)
The Brome Lake Land Foundation, Board of Directors (past)
Montreal Medical International, Board of Directors (past)
Optimal Health Care Foundation (Chairman) (past)
John also writes articles and OpEds about charitable topics for publications.
John has been a philanthropic leader in many campaign initiatives in his community. Recognized and awarded by: The Montreal chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP); and the Montreal Jewish Community Foundation.
John is also happily married, with three adult children, and is constantly exercising, cooking, sculpting (bird life), painting, and exploring the far corners of the natural world.
Mark Blumberg
Lawyer, Blumbergs Professional Corporation
Mark Blumberg is a partner at the law firm Blumberg Segal LLP (Blumbergs) in Toronto and works almost exclusivelyadvising non-profits and registered charities on their work in Canada and abroad. Mark has written numerous articles, is a frequent speaker on legal issues involving charity and not-for-profit law and is the editor of www.canadiancharitylaw.ca – Canadian website dedicated to news about the Canadian charitable sector as well as legal and ethical issues for Canadian charities operating in Canada or overseas. He also has established the websites www.CharityData.ca, the largest portal of data on the Canadian charity sector, and www.SmartGiving.ca a website encouraging informed charitable giving.
Mark is particularly interested in the regulation of non-profits and charities in Canada, philanthropy, transparency requirements for the voluntary sector, providing accessible information on regulatory issues, and the use of data to make more informed decisions on the charity sector.
Mark is quoted regularly in print media and appears frequently on radio and television on topics relating to philanthropy and the regulation of charities in Canada. Mark has also appeared on a number of occasions in front of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance on topics such as charity regulation, transparency, accountability and tax incentives for philanthropy. Mark has also made presentations to the Charities Directorate Annual All Staff Meeting as well as the Annual Divisional Staff Meeting of the Determinations Section of Charities Directorate. Mark has presented to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) when the FATF conducted an evaluation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism in Canada in 2015. Mark spent 6 years on the Advisory Committee for the Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership (MPNL) at Carleton University. Mark is on the Board of the Canadian Charity Law Association.
Mark was on the Charities Directorate Technical Issues Working Group for 4 years, which is a bi-annual meeting between the Charities Directorate, the Department of Finance and the charity sector to discuss technical and policy issues pertaining to registered charities and the Income Tax Act (Canada). Mark was a member of the Canadian Bar Association National Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section for 6 years. Mark is a member of the Exempt Organizations Committee of the American Bar Association.
Mark lectures frequently to various industry and professional groups on charity compliance issues including the Chartered Professional Accountants Canada (CPA Canada), as well as CPA Ontario, BC and Alberta, the Canadian Bar Association, Ontario Bar Association, Canadian Association of Gift Planners, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Ontario Hospital Association, and many other organizations.
Mark has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Toronto, an LLB from the University of British Columbia and an LLM from Osgoode Hall Law School in Tax Law.
You can contact Mark at mark@blumbergs.ca or 416-361-1982 locally or 1-866-961-1982 toll-free.
Liban Abokor
CEO, Reimagine LABS
Liban Abokor is the CEO of Reimagine LABS, a tech firm that harnesses AI for service design in the social and public sectors. He co-authored the “UNFUNDED” report, which revealed philanthropic disparities affecting Black Canadian communities. He co-founded the Foundation for Black Communities which was established as Canada’s first philanthropic foundation dedicated to investing in Black communities.
Liban volunteers as a board member with the Samara Centre for Democracy, Shoot For Peace and Toronto’s Economic Development Advisory. He holds a Doctor of Laws from Carleton University.
Minnie Njeri Karanja
Founder and Executive Director, Impact Weaving Coaching and Consulting
Minnie has dedicated her career to socio-economic justice and equity. For over a decade she has worked in the non-profit sector in Canada and internationally. She approaches work through the lenses of intersectionality, justice, decolonization, equity, inclusion and diversity.
As a coach and mentor, she works with non-profit and social impact leaders on values-aligned strategies to drive transformative change in communities. She is the founder and executive director of Impact Weaving Coaching and Consulting, a social enterprise which offers educational resources and services on charitable status registration, fundraising and executive coaching.
From 2022 to 2024 she served as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Charitable Sector, a consultative forum for the Government of Canada to engage in meaningful dialogue with the charitable sector.
She also works as the director of innovation and engagement at Pacific Legal Education and Outreach and is an instructor at the Simon Fraser University in the Nonprofit Management Program.
Minnie has completed a Masters degree in International Relations and a Certificate in Public Policy and Management. She volunteers her time to mentor young professionals working in social impact space and with local grassroots organizations.
She lives with her family in the traditional and ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations – also known as Vancouver, British Columbia.
Mary Barroll, president of CharityVillage, is an online business executive and lawyer with a background in media, technology and IP law. A former CBC journalist and independent TV producer, in 2013 she was appointed General Counsel & VP Media Affairs at CharityVillage.com, Canada’s largest job portal for charities and not for profits in Canada, and then President in 2021. Mary is also President of sister company, TalentEgg.ca, Canada’s No.1, award-winning job board and online career resource that connects top employers with top students and grads.
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