What three things motivate you today about the charitable and nonprofit sector?
There was a time when a lot of power and control was held – one might say hoarded – by individuals and entities in our sector. With the growth of third-party options, the power has shifted and a new world of funding, partnerships, and a mindset towards social good has taken root in the public consciousness. While scary at times to truly “lose control,” the result has also been quite beautiful when in the hands of caring communities and creative, entrepreneurial individuals.
Technology is adding momentum to social capital raising. Whether it be “tap” technology (tiptappay.ca ), cryptophilanthropy, digital wallets or online wills integrating donations, there are more ways, accessible to all, to give and do good in Canada. Also, the pandemic forced our sector to advance its technology adoption. Even a year ago if I tried to hold a meeting on video chat it was near impossible and now, remote collaboration and intellectual connection is possible with more than just the well-resourced.
The people! We are finally embracing the potential of diversity in our sector. Not just diversity that is skin-deep, but raising more voices from rural communities, neuro-diverse communities, aligned sectors (banking, technology, grassroots citizens), and meeting these new peers is exhilarating. I can’t wait for travel to open back up so we can all start collaborating more together.
