LAST PAGE UPDATE: Thursday, December 5, 2:30pm EST
The Pillar Nonprofit Network team is committed to engaging, supporting, and informing our membership and community through the multiple challenges we face. Use our curated collection to find the information you need when you need it. You'll also find news related to our operations and service delivery on our News page and relevant events on the Pillar Events page.
Upcoming free virtual learning
Resources and advocacy for the impact sector
Addressing racism and xenophobia
Current relief and funding opportunities
Systems Change and Future-Weaving
Upcoming free virtual learning and occasional in-person events
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Grant Connect Training for Current Subscribers (Imagine Canada), TBA, Reminder that Grant Connect offers a Pillar member discount.
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Améliorez vos pratiques de collecte de fonds avec Connexion subvention! (Imagine Canada), temps a venir. NB: Il existe une réduction sur les abonnements de Connexion subvention pour les membres de Pillar Nonprofit Network
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Fundraising with Grant Connect for potential subscribers (Imagine Canada), Wednesday, December 4, 1-1:45pm EST. Reminder that Grant Connect offers a Pillar member discount.
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Mythbusting Federal Procurement (Pillar Nonprofit Network), Thursday, December 5, 10-11am EST
- Meet the Office of the Procurement Ombud - Tuesday, December 10, 1-2pm EST.
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ED/CEO Nonprofit Support Network - Navigating working with Municipal Council, with Ward 11 City Councillor Skylar Franke, Wednesday, December 11, 10-11:30am (hybrid)
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Formation Connexion subvention, destinée aux utilisateurs actuels de Connexion subvention (Imagine Canada). le 12 December, 1200h. NB: Il existe une réduction sur les abonnements de Connexion subvention pour les membres de Pillar Nonprofit Network
- The Top Technology Trends for Nonprofits in 2025 (TechSoup Connect Western Canada Chapter), Jan 22, 2025, 3:00 – 4:30 PM (EST)
Past events:
- Five Good Ideas for being inclusive of Indigenous Peoples, Bob Goulais of Nbisiing Consulting Inc (Maytree)
Resources and advocacy for the impact sector, including nonprofits, charities, social enterprises, and impact investors
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Resources for social innovators, social enterprises (nonprofit and/or for-profit), businesses
- Access to RHA Online startup community (RH Accelerator founder community)
- Innovation Canada’s Resources page for Social Innovators
- Google will now let any business list products on Google Shopping for free (Nick Statt, The Verge, Apr 21, 2020)
- Ontario Made: Celebrating Ontario manufacturers and Ontario made products (Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters)
- Are Charities Ready for Social Finance?: Investment Readiness in Canada’s Charitable Sector (Charity Village, June 25, 2020)
- Profit from technology: Digital tools to drive efficiency and revenue (BDC, July 15, 2020)
Volunteerism and Volunteer Management
Addressing racism, xenophobia, and sociodemographic determinants of health
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Canadian resources and local initiatives addressing racism and xenophobia
- Government of Canada Anti-Racism Resources
- allyship101 (PeerNetBC, November, 2016)
- Legal Services for Black Ontarians, Black Legal Action Centre
- Resources for Ending Anti-Black Racism (Canadian Women's Foundation, June 1, 2020)
- For White Leaders: How to Open a Conversation About Race (Lesli Mones, Power2Leaderlab, June 4th, 2020)
- Exploring My Power and Privilege Toolkit (Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion) 2017
- Beyond Solidarity Statements - Questions to ask yourself about your organization (Rania El Mugammar, Twitter thread)
- Free Indigenous Awareness Course offered by Bear Standing Tall
- Anti-Racist Resources (SURJ Toronto, 2020)
- Educate Yourself: Unlearning Resources curated by the Centre for Social Innovation
- Upholding and Advancing Our Commitment to Anti-Racism (Chiara C, TechSoup Canada, June 4, 2020) with Resources
- Beyond the Board Statement: How Can Boards Join the Movement for Racial Justice? (Part Two)," (Nonprofit Quarterly), Recorded June 29 + slide deck.
- Eductate: Anti-racism resources Canada (Black Lives Matter Canada, credit IG @deadcelery, @danii_jo, @asasyssas)
- True Freedom (Nneka Allen, Charity Village, July 17, 2020)
- The Micropedia, a collection of everyday microaggressions and their harmful impacts through source-based definitions and real-world examples.
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Relevant global resources addressing racism and xenophobia
- Nonprofit AF - A few things for nonprofits and foundations to consider in light of the Coronavirus
- Becoming Interculturally Competent (Milton J. Bennett, 2004)
- Adapt Your D&I Efforts to the Reality of the Crisis, A Three-Step Approach, (Lily Zheng, HBR, May 07, 2020)
- Beautiful, FREE illustrations of black people for your next digital project (5Four Digital)
- Anti-Racism Resources (Document compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein in May 2020, US)
- 10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship (Mireille Cassandra Harper, Twitter thread, May 29, 2020)
- Becoming Trustworthy White Allies (Melanie S. Morrison, Yale University "Reflections," 2013)
- Creating Content - Here's an equity screen to use from Nonprofit AF (Generocity, August 19, 2019)
- Watch "Systemic Racism Explained" (act.tv, YouTube, Apr 16, 2019)
- Overcoming the Racial Bias in Philanthropic Funding (Cheryl Dorsey, Peter Kim, Cora Daniels, Lyell Sahue, and Britt Savage, Stanford Social Innovation Review, May 4, 2020)
- MakeRoom BLM Resources
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources for your Nonprofit, Nonprofit Learning Lab
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Human Resources
- Watch "Retain and Gain: How Career Ownership is Transforming Nonprofits and Charities" (Charity Village), Recorded April 30, 2020
- Watch “Hello? Am I the Only One? – Recruiting Diverse Professionals to your Nonprofit” (Nonprofit Learning Lab), Recorded Aug 11
- Equity from the Inside out: Aligning Workplace Practices with Gender Realities, AnnaLise Trudell and Louise Pitre, Pillar Nonprofit Network, Sept 11, 2020
- Reimagining your Workplace in Rainbow: A Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion for HR, People, & DEI Leaders
- HRdownloads' Top 5 HR Policies Free Download
- Glossary of finance, HR, and payroll terms for nonprofits (Young Associates)
Philanthropy, Giving, and Special Grants
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Resources for fundraisers
- Follow The Money Gift Acceptance Research Report + Top 10 Recommendations for Charities (MPNL)
- More Fundraising Resources from Imagine Canada
- New: How to Set Up an Effective Peer-to-Peer Communications Plan (Imagine Canada and Keela)
- Hybrid Event Planning Template (Imagine Canada and Keela)
- Grant Application Management Template (Imagine Canada and Keela)
- Guide to Google Ad Grants for Nonprofits (Imagine Canada and Keela)
- Grant Writing Do's and Don'ts, According to an Expert(Imagine Canada and Keela)
- Grant Stewardship Checklist: So you've won (or lost) your grant. Now what? (Imagine Canada and Keela)
- Toolkit: Stop Driving in the Dark! Nonprofit Fundraising KPIs 101 (Imagine Canada)
- Prospect Like a Boss: Partnership Strategy Tips for Nonprofits (Imagine Canada)
- Funding Diversity: How to Protect Your Organization's Financial Health (Imagine Canada)
- Fundraiser's field guide to spotting foundations (Imagine Canada)
- Grants 101: A how-to guide for nonprofits (Imagine Canada)
- Six Reasons Why Tiered Event Sponsorship Needs To Go!, Phuong Pham, Community-Centric Fundraising, Sept 3, 2020
- A "Giving Tuesday Cheat Sheet" from DonorPerfect
- The Canadian Knowledge Hub for Giving and Volunteering
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Grants and other funding opportunities
The focus of this section is funding for charities, incorporated nonprofits, and unincorporated grassroots nonprofits, including nonprofit social enterprises. For-profit social enterprises and impact-focused businesses may want to explore Government of Canada supports for business.)
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OTF grant application deadlines for 2025-2026
- Capital grant - Application period February 5–March 5, 2025, 5pm EST
- Seed grant - Application period July 23–August 20, 2025, 5pm EDT
- Grow grant - Application period October 8–November 5, 2025, 5pm EST
- Youth Opportunities Fund System Innovations grant - Open now
- Youth Innovations Test Grant, Youth Innovations Scale Grant, Family Innovations Test Grant, and Family Innovations Scale Grant - Application period opens January 6, 2025; Expressions of interest by April 9, 2025, 5pm EDT; Applications by July 9, 2025, 5pm EDT
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Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. Reaching Home is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. Organizations operating in rural and remote communities across Ontario are invited to to submit applications for projects starting in April 2025.
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Indigenous Programming Fund - Apply by December 19, 5pm EST
- Canada Summer Jobs Wage Subsidy - Apply by December 19
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Community Sport for All Initiative - Apply by December 23, 11:59pm local time
Nonprofits with a national reach are invited to seek funding for programs, projects and/or services relevant to the goals of the Canadian Sport Policy. At least 20 percent of the overall Community Sport for All Initiative budget will be devoted to activities focused on persons with a disability. -
Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative in Southern Ontario - Apply by December 20, 4:59 pm ESTNonprofits are eligible for this FedDev program through the Government of Canada's Solving the Housing Crisis: Canada's Housing Plan to address housing shortages across Canada.
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National Crime Prevention Strategy - Apply by Friday, December 20, 11:59pm PST
The NCPS offers funding to support direct interventions that target Indigenous and racialized youth, or those with repeated contact with the justice system, with an emphasis on evidence-based, community-led approaches. -
Library and Archives Canada’s Documentary Heritage Communities Program - Apply by January 9, 2025, 11:59pm PST
An organization can receive funding of up to $50,000 per year (up to $60,000 for a remote organization) to implement projects aimed at promoting their collections and making them more accessible, while strengthening their capacity to preserve Canada’s documentary heritage. -
Seniors Community Grant Program - Apply by January 16, 5pm EST. Funding for nonprofits to deliver projects, supports and resources that help older adults (aged 55+) live independently; live with safety and security; stay connected to their community; avoid isolation; and achieve greater financial security and social connections.
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Chamandy Foundation announces 2025 application period - January 20, 2025 8am-until January 29, midnight. The Chamandy Foundation has announced its next call for proposals with its online application form available from January 20, 2025 8am-until January 29, midnight. The Foundation partners with organizations supporting children and youth in health, education, poverty, research, and environmental education.
- Youth Mental Health Fund: Call for proposals - Apply by January 22. The Youth Mental Health Fund (YMHF) aims to improve the mental health of youth and their families, and to enhance access to, and navigation of, mental health services with a particular focus on equity-deserving groups.
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Ontario Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant (2024–25) - Apply by January 24, 5pm EST
Up to $10,000 for eligible faith-based, cultural, 2SLGBTQQIA+, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous organizations and communities to prevent and/or respond to hate-motivated incidents. Organizations that received funding for the grant in previous years are encouraged to apply for this new round. -
Intact Foundation Municipal Climate Resiliency Grants - Apply by January 31
Canadian charities and Indigenous bodies are elegible for this program that funds practical solutions in Canada that protect people from the effects of climate change and build more resilient communities. -
Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative - Apply by March 31, 2025A $30 million Government of Canada fund for projects that bring together community-based organizations, that provide new skills training opportunities for workers.
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RBC Future Launch - Applications on a rolling basis
RBC Future Launch supports initiatives targeting youth aged 15-29, focusing on work-integrated learning, bridging the skills gap, and leveraging mentorship and social media to guide young Canadians toward career opportunities. -
McLean Foundation - The McLean Foundation supports projects by charities and qualified donees in arts, environment, education, social welfare, and health that show promise of improving the wellbeing of people, communities, and our environment which may initially lack broad public appeal and are unlikely to be funded by others.
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CIBC Championing Inclusive Communities - Applications ongoing
CIBC Foundation funds Canadian charities and organizations that focus on inclusive education and employment initiatives for underserved communities. -
The Frank J. Flaman Foundation - Funding requests on an ongoing basisThe foundation funds Canadian charities with a specific focus now on the needs of families and children on a more local level in the following areas: food availability, shelter, supporting basic education, water and safety.
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The Trottier Family Foundation - Letters of Intent accepted on an ongoing basis
Funding for projects from registered Canadian charities and qualified donees related to climate and the environment, science, health, education, community, and international. -
CMHC Housing Strategies Solutions Lab - Applications ongoingThe National Housing Strategy Solutions Labs under CMHC is seeking proposals related to specific themes to achieve a broader impact. The 2024-2025 funding opportunity theme focuses on “Supporting the Community Housing Sector to Increase and Preserve the Affordable Housing Supply”. Successful solutions may be eligible for funding up to $250,000.
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Affordable Housing Fund - Applications ongoingThe Affordable Housing Fund provides capital to partnered organizations* for new affordable housing and the renovation and repair of existing affordable and community housing. Funds are provided as low-interest and/or forgivable loans and contributions and are available to organizations that have partnered with another organization or level of government and have secured some funding.
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Ontario Transit Investment Fund - Applications ongoing
The Ministry of Transportation has officially launched the Ontario Transit Investment Fund originally announced in the 2024 Budget. The $5 million fund is slated to address transit service gaps by supporting the start-up and growth of transit services in unserved and underserved communities across the province. Through the fund, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and nonprofit organizations will lead project teams consisting of key partners to develop integrated, coordinated, and sustainable transit services. -
Law Foundation of Ontario - Responsive - Applications on a rolling basis
The Law Foundation of Ontario is accepting applications for its 2024 Responsive program. This grant offers up to $250,000 over two years to nonprofits, charities, and Indigenous groups working to enhance access to justice in Ontario. The funding supports legal education, research, and programs that address gaps in the justice system, particularly for underserved populations. -
Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (New Builds/Signature New Builds stream) - Applications ongoing. Up to $10 million to invest in new, transformative community sport and recreation infrastructure, including assets that do not currently exist in a community or the replacement of existing assets that have reached the end of their lifespan.
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Tenaquip Foundation - Ongoing, next application review in OctoberGrants to Canadian charities to provide relief primarily in the areas of medical research, hospitals, children's welfare and humanitarian causes.The Peter Gilgan Foundation’s Children, Youth & Families grant - Applications ongoingSingle-year and multi-year grants to support work in the areas ofchildren, youth & families; Indigenous youth; climate change; and international development.
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Farm Credit Canada Community Funding – Applications ongoing
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Power Corporation of Canada - – Applications ongoing
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Limited Support to Endangered Arts Organizations - ongoingThe Government of Canada is accepting applications to the Canada Cultural Investment Fund - Limited Support to Endangered Arts Organizations stream. Funding is available for the restructuring of an arts organization, so it can continue to contribute to the community it is serving.
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RBC Future Launch - ongoing. RBC Foundation is accepting applications to their RBC Future Launch program, which supports charitable programs that target young people in their transitional years, specifically ages 15-29 that are focusing on one or more of their “solution areas”. Applications of $10,000 or more are accepted on a rolling basis, applications for grants greater than $100,000 should be discussed with the donations manager.
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Events — Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program - Applications on a rolling basis. The Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program aims to support Canadian communities in combating racism and discrimination while promoting diversity and inclusion. The Events component is to provide funding to community-based events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, promote discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination, or celebrate a community's history and culture such as heritage months recognized by Parliament.
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ONPHA STEP Grant. As part of the Ontario Non Profit Housing Association's Community Housing Transformation Initiative, the STEP program offers professional services to help all housing providers in Ontario prepare for End of Mortgage and/or Operating Agreement (EOM/EOA) negotiations with their service manager. This grant is designed to assist in using pre-qualified vendors within the STEP program and offers up to $15,000 for one community housing provider in each service manager area.
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Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP). Boost Your Business Technology grant gives you: up to $15,000 to develop a Digital Adoption Plan; up to $100,000 in 0% interest loan from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to implement your plan; and/or up to $7,300 to hire a skilled youth to implement the technologies that can propel your business forward.
- Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program - Applications ongoing. The Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program aims to support Canadian communities in combating racism and discrimination while promoting diversity and inclusion. The program includes three funding components: Events, Projects, and Community Capacity Building, as well as the Paul Yuzyk Youth Initiative for Multiculturalism. The program will provide grants of $250, $500, and $1,000 to support youth-led projects that address issues of racism and discrimination in local communities.
- Programming: Professional Arts Festivals and Performing Arts Series Presenters – Canada Arts Presentation Fund - Apply by April 1 for projects starting between April 1st and June 30th of the following year. The Professional Arts Festivals and Performing Arts Series Presenters sub-component of the Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF) supports existing professional arts festivals and performing arts series presenters to offer activities that connect artists with Canadians in their communities.
- Maytree Foundation Grants - Apply anytime. Maytree welcomes proposals at any time of year from registered charities and community-based nonprofits that have an explicit mandate to reduce poverty and build strong civic communities by advancing economic and social rights in Canada.
- Green Cities Foundation - Applications ongoing.The #GreenMyCity program seeks to help communities across Canada create or improve public green spaces in cities for recreation, education and enjoyment.
- Janssen Canada makes charitable contributions and community support donations to support nonprofit organizations that benefit patients and/or have a meaningful impact in local communities and the Canadian healthcare ecosystem.
- CN Stronger Communities Fund Canadian National Railway is now accepting applications for investment in the focus areas of Health and Safety; Environmental Sustainability; Diversity and Inclusion; Innovation; and Civic Engagement. CN provides funding for event sponsorships, donations toward community projects and initiatives, and annual memberships.
- National Emergency Survivor Support Fund - Applications ongoing. YMCA Canada has launched Canada's first National Emergency Survivor Support Fund (NESS Fund) to provide women, gender-diverse people, and their families with financial support to leave unsafe homes or emergency shelters/precarious housing situations and begin their healing journeys. YMCA's NESS Fund provides one-time financial support of up to $2,000 to survivors of gender-based violence.
- GreenShield Canada - Ongoing, for projects focused on mental health and oral health
- CIBC Foundation - Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
- The Cogir Foundation - Applications accepted on rolling basis
- The Trottier Family Foundation - Applications accepted on rolling basis
- McConnell Foundation – Applications accepted on a rolling basis (Focus areas: Climate, Reconciliation, and Communities)
- The Public Voice Fund's support for environmental charities to hire Government Relations help - accepting pitches
- Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund - now accepting loan applications
- The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation's Na-mi-quai-ni-mak Community Support Fund - Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
- NBA Foundation Grants - Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
- The Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation - Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
- Moez & Marissa Kassam Foundation - Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
- The Public Voice Fund - Applications are open and letters of intent can be filed any time
- R. Howard Webster Foundation - Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
- Molson Foundation Grants - Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
- SkipTheDishes "Partner with us" - Applications on a rolling basis
- BuySocial Canada Seal the Deal Fund
- Also from FedDev
- Business Scale-up and Productivity (supporting businesses to scale-up, expand and adopt innovative goods, services or technologies);
- Community Economic Development and Diversification (nonprofits and businesses generating inclusive growth and helping small and rural communities in SWO);
- Regional Innovation Ecosystem (nonprofits to fuel an entrepreneurial environment conducive to business innovation and growth); and
- Black Entrepreneurship Program (helping Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs grow their businesses).
- First Nations Infrastructure Fund
- Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative
- Small Business Lighting Incentive from Save ON Energy
- Tourism Economic Development and Recovery Fund (Ontario) - Applications Open
- Alterna Savings Collaborative Not-For-Profit Loan Fund
- Environmental Employability Pathways - New Job Funding from ECO-Canada
- Desjardins GoodSpark Fund Supporting Community Priorites
- Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program - Open
- Home Depot Canada Foundation Community Impact Grant Program - Open
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OTHER RESOURCES & SUPPORTS FOR NONPROFITS, SOCIAL IMPACT ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEIR COMMUNITIES
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Management Advisory Service offers pro bono consulting for nonprofit organizations. They also offer online workshops, publications, and articles that can help nonprofits run effectively. Their short but thorough Self-Assessment Survey is an especially useful tool to help organizations focus on their trouble spots.
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Neighbourhood Decision Making (City of London) allows Londoners of any age to propose and vote on ideas that will make their neighbourhoods better.
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Microsoft 365 Grants - Apply any timeMicrosoft 365 Business Premium grants are ideal for small and medium-sized nonprofit organizations that need email services, Office desktop applications, cloud-based file storage and sharing, and web conferencing. The plan is free for a maximum of ten users, and additional users can benefit from discounted pricing.
Emerging Futures: Recovery and (Re)building
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Transformational movements
- Localizing the UN SDGs to your organization (Green Economy London & rTraction), Recorded April 28, 2020
- Convening the Capacity Builders: Reflections on the Field of Systems Change (Illuminate)
- Cities for a Resilient Recovery (Global Resilient Cities Network)
- The New Economy Roundtable (Canadian Poverty Institute)
- The Economy we Want - Common Future
- A Feminist Recovery Plan for Canada (YWCA Canada and the Institute for Gender and the Economy)
- Transformational leadership, research, and public policy work
- Resetting Normal Report 1: Funding A Thriving Women’s Sector (Canadian Women's Foundation, ONN), May 2020
- The Curb-Cut Effect, and Why Race, Equity, Access, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) Are Even More Critical Now (Nonprofit AF) May 18, 2020
- Indigenous Innovation resources from Future of Good, including
- What will it take to support Indigenous innovation?
- Rebirthing an Indigenous Economy
- Here’s why the future of work needs to include Indigenous perspectives post-pandemic
- "We Cannot Accept Excuses": Cindy Blackstock on Justice for First Nations Children
- The Friendship Centre Movement, where women have always been at the forefront
- How Can We Decolonize Impact Investing?
- Edgar Villanueva: Decolonizing Wealth
- Beyond the Board Statement: How Can Boards Join the Movement for Racial Justice? Part Two (NPQ, Monday, June 29, 2020)
- Creating a Better World Means Asking Better Questions (Hildy Gottlieb, Stanford Social Innovation Review, July 24, 2020)
- How Philanthropy Fails To Support its Greatest Assets, BIPOC Leaders, And What it Should Do About it (Vu Le, Nonprofit AF, Aug 10, 2020)
- The Dawn of System Leadership: The deep changes necessary to accelerate progress against society's most intractable problems require someone who catalyzes collective leadership (Peter Senge, Hal Hamilton, & John Kania, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2015)
- Seven Years of Growth: BLM’s Co-Founder and incoming Executive Director reflects on the movement, Patrisse Cullors, Medium, Sept 11, 2020
- Building Movements, Not Organizations, Hildy Gottlieb, Stanford Social Innovation Review, July 28, 2015
- Reclaiming Context, Connection and Collectivity for Regenerative Cultures, Curtis Ogden, International Institute for Social Change, August 28, 2020
- Systems Change & Deep Equity: Pathways Toward Sustainable Impact, Beyond “Eureka!,” Unawareness & Unwitting Harm, An Interview with Sheryl Petty and Mark Leach, Change Elemental, July, 2020.
- The Future Is Now: Creating Decent Work Post-Pandemic, Sunil Johal, Public Policy Forum, June, 2020
- Welfare 5.0: Why we need a social revolution and how to make it happen, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, September 7, 2020