Globe & Mail

In a recent presentation to the Banff Community Foundation we discussed how information flows to donors thereby influencing charitable giving and social investing decisions.

Yesterday I was at a meeting with a major bank and there was a discussion around the staff Secret Santa program.  This individual wanted to move away from the $10 - dollar store purchase to make the Secret Santa program more meaningful. I suggested that she purchase a $10 charity gift card that her recipient could designate to a charity of choice.  She had never heard of such a program.  Which leads me to think that there are lots of people who don't know about giving charity as a gift of choice.

My career has been shaped in the charitable sector. It spans two countries, several sub-sectors and a lot of fundraising time. When I decided to launch my own company it was at the begining of the formal social enterprise discussion in the States. I realized early on that what the charities value as their business and revenue models is not what the traditional markets value.  This seems obvious, when charities talk about their business, they talk about the lives that they have saved and how they do it on so few dollars.  When companies talk about their business, they talk about profit and commodities and consumers.  So it was with great interest that I read this past week's issue of the Globe & Mail on renaming the sector from non-profit to Social Profit.

In response to the Globe & Mail article published yesterday, "Charities see alarming trends as donors become older, fewer" I think this Paul Waldie is crying fire in a crowded theatre.  Read more »

In response to the Globe & Mail article published yesterday, "Charities see alarming trends as donors become older, fewer" I think this Paul Waldie is crying fire in a crowded theatre.  Read more »

The following is in response to the Globe & Mail piece on how to make an informed decision on charities in Canada. Read more »

In yesterday's Globe & Mail Carly Weeks asks the question, "Are Canadians up to the [Giving Pledge] challenge?" Read more »

The Globe & Mail published a report on charitable sector CEO compensation.  My thoughts on CEO compensation, for what they are worth... Read more »