Research and Education
Giving Resources
Writing and Articles
Welcome to the Family, Autism Aspergers Friendship Society!
Having been with SVP Calgary for just over 18 months, it was a thrilling moment for me yesterday to hear Scott announce Autism Aspergers Friendship Society (AAFS) as our new Investee. Making the moment even better was that fact that so many former Investees attended the event in support of SVP...
Twenty years and counting…Connections Counselling
A warm and breezy Sunday evening in May was the perfect backdrop for Connections Counselling's 20th year celebration at the Yardhouse in Kensington. Greeted by champagne on entry, you felt like family the moment you walked through the door. And that's undoubtedly because building families is at...
Have your cake? If you like cake.
Among the many topics at the Skoll World Forum, the question that has swirled around my head is “can you have your cake and eat it too?” posed in relation to social good with market returns. The most interesting answer to this question came as “Well, it depends on if you like cake.” Filled with a...
360 degrees.
Last June, I applied to take part in the six-month program offered by the Max Bell Foundation to educate nonprofit staff and volunteers on how to engage in public policy and advocacy. As part of the application, I needed to identify an "ask". Coming from philanthropy, my ask was going to be...
Canada Helps asks "Did you Know?"
Following on the success of similar 'edutainment' videos, Canada Helps spices up the world of donors and giving in their short 4 minute video. Great job presenting statistics on donors & donations - so I don't fall asleep!
Islamic Finance, Muslim Philanthropy
Two articles have been sitting on my desk for weeks now and I’ve spent a number of afternoons mulling over what to write about them. The first Doing God’s Work from the Wall Street Journal takes another look at the success of Islamic finance funds and ask how well they are fairing & whether...
13 Years.
Folks who know me are not surprised when my mind jumps from thought to thought. It's not easy to carry on a conversation, but they are use to it. In fact, the reason I write is because it helps to sort out my monkey brain, as it swings from idea to idea. I chalk part of this up to being an...
Do what you can.
This quote arrived in my email inbox this week: Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. (Theodore Roosevelt) Earlier in the week, I heard it said another way, "Do your share. Know your share." And this morning, I found a note I wrote last August (which I love), "If you help, this...
Build strong intermediaries, Build strong connections
Two months ago, the provincial government where I live asked some of its disability service providers to help pay the provincial deficit - by returning a portion of money from previously signed government contracts. It was a particularly callous move being two weeks before Christmas. In Canada,...