From Our Vantage Point: Recent Episodes
Podcast by Vantage Point
Join Rowan King, Vantage Point’s Interim Communications Manager, every month as he interviews not-for-profit governance & management experts.
From Our Vantage Point discusses specific information to address the unique challenges and opportunities sector leaders face every day from tips for effective board meetings and strategic volunteer engagement, to creating inclusive workplaces and organizational systems.
The RBC team will be available at the conference on June 5th where attendees can connect with RBC, all our sponsors and partners who specialize in supporting non-profit sector leaders.
🎫Last call to get your tickets at bcnonprofitconference.ca
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
Vantage Point CEO, Zahra Esmail also highlights what to expect from the two-day conference which takes place across a virtual conference day on June 4 and an in-person gathering on June 5 at the Anvil Center in New Westminster. Learn more and get your tickets at [www.bcnonprofitconference.ca].
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
Tune in for thoughtful insights and inspiration on how the sector can leverage digital fundraising tools. Then register for the 2026 BC Non-Profit Leadership Conference here.
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
This conversation underscores a key message: climate resilience isn’t a side project, it needs to be woven into everyday operations, governance, and decision-making. Tune in for thoughtful insights and inspiration on how the sector can work together to meet the climate challenge. Then register for the 2026 BC Non-Profit Leadership Conference here.
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
In this conversation, Brad Offman of Greater Purpose and Zahra Esmail explore how purpose-driven businesses and non-profit leaders can come together to strengthen impact. They discuss the upcoming Greater Purpose West conference and the BC Non-profit Leadership Conference, highlighting themes of sector capacity building, collaboration, digital resilience, and the future of the nonprofit and care economies—offering listeners insight into why these gatherings matter and what participants can expect to gain.
REGISTER FOR GREATER PURPOSE WEST CONFERENCE
USE DISCOUNT CODE: GPC20 for a 20% discount
Don't Miss the British Columbia Non-Profit Leadership Conference 2026 (BCNPLC)!
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
In the bustling and challenging world of non-profits, effective communication can make all the difference. Recently, our CEO, Zahra Esmail, caught up with Nadia Tchoumi, the founder of New Hope Media, to learn more about her journey and insights into supporting Black-led and Black-serving non-profits through media and communications. Nadia will be one of the keynote speakers at our 2025 BC Non-Profit Leadership Conference on June 5 & 6, and her story is one of passion, transformation, and hope. Here’s a glimpse into their conversation! Grab your latte and join! Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Humanity Financial, for their support of these important conversations! 🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing realconversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector.Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation,and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programsthat support sector success through convening, facilitation, andadvocacy. Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
In this episode of Coffee Chat, Joyce Lin and Tyler Arnold from the Vantage Point team talk about the importance of the 2025 State of BC’s Non-Profit Sector Survey and why they’re inviting voices from across the province to take part. Now in its fifth year, the survey offers a crucial check-in on the realities non-profits in BC are facing. Joyce shares the story of how this initiative began during the pandemic and how it has become a powerful tool to support funding decisions, government relations, and sector-wide advocacy. Tyler explains how sector data is helping to shape submissions to government and why it’s essential for telling a clear, collective story of the sector’s needs and strengths. This year’s survey also includes new questions about funding, staffing, and organizational capacity to better capture the challenges non-profits are navigating right now. 📅 The survey is open until July 18 and takes about 20 minutes to complete. 📊 Results will be shared this fall through a summary report and new interactive data dashboards. Add your voice to the story of BC’s non-profit sector. Take the survey today: surveymonkey.com/r/SOTS2025 🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing realconversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector.Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation,and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programsthat support sector success through convening, facilitation, andadvocacy. Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
Correction: At approximately 50:12 in this episode, Mita intended to say “Rest is Resistance” instead of “Rest is Revolutionary.”
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
Collaboration Lab: Bridging People, Organizations, and Sectors: https://thevantagepoint.ca/training/all-labs/collaboration-lab/
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
Resources
🎥🎞️ Watch the From our Vantage Point episode and presentation on Vimeo here:
🎧 🎙️Listen to the episode on the From our Vantage Point podcast here: https://from-our-vantage-point.simplecast.com/episodes
️🖥️📚 The presentation used in the episode, can be found and downloaded separately here: Misconceptions about Rules of Order, Governance, and Minute Taking .pdf
🎁The full episode resource pack can be found here: Misconceptions about Non-Profit Governance - Resource Package - Vantage Point.pdf
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
Guests:
Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon | University of British Columbia
Kevin McCort | Vancouver Foundation
Walter Pela | Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
Host:
Zahra Esmail | Vantage Point’s Chief Executive Director
Resources:
Vantage Point State of the Sector Reports
BC Non-Profit Network
Vancouver Foundation
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade AI Adoption Program
University of British Columbia
UBC Community Engagement
BC Non-Profit Leadership Conference
Humanity Financial
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
Guests:
Chrissy Bennett | Kidney Foundation of Canada
Host:
Maria Turnbull | Vantage Point’s Associate Executive Director
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
Guests:
Hildy Gottlieb | Creating the Future
Host:
Maria Turnbull | Vantage Point’s Associate Executive Director
Editor:
Paul Wang
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
Guests:
Gordon Holley | Humanity Financial
Host:
Rafik Karwa | Vantage Point’s Director of Finance
Editor:
Paul Wang
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
Guest:
Alex Wilson | Big Sisters BC Lower Mainland and the Association of Fundraising Professionals
Host:
Zahra Esmail | Vantage Point's Chief Executive Officer
Editor:
Paul Wang
🎙️ From Our Vantage Point is a podcast by Vantage Point, sharing real conversations and practical insights from BC’s non-profit sector. Vantage Point provides high quality, practical education, facilitation, and consulting support to BC’s non-profit sector as well as programs that support sector success through convening, facilitation, and advocacy.
Because when non-profits thrive, communities do too.
Generously supported by our partners at Humanity Financial.
Watch this podcast with closed captions here.
Guests:
Christopher T. Sutton | Wavefront Centre for Community Accessibility
Shelagh Levangie | Harbour West Consulting
Host:
Maria Turnbull | Vantage Point's Associate Executive Director
Editor:
Elijah Walsh
Guests:
Megan Dykeman | British Columbia’s Parliamentary Secretary
Prairie Chiu | Vantage Point's Director of Engagement and Advocacy
Host:
Zahra Esmail | Vantage Point's Chief Executive Officer
Editor:
Paul Wang
Guests:
Dr. Delbar Niroushak | Dr. Delbar's LinkedIn | Coaching for Change Enterprise
Hassan Pardawalla | Hassan's LinkedIn
Host:
Rachelle Smalldon | Vantage Point
Resources:
2023 State of the Sector Report: thevantagepoint.ca/sector-reports/
Guests:
Christoph Cloudius | The Discovery Group
Carol Hall | Victoria Foundation
Lynette Milkashen | YMCA – Northern BC
Host:
Cherie Payne | Vantage Point
Resources:
Tamarack Institute’s Resources: Collaboration Spectrum Tool and A Guide for Building a Sustainable and Resilient Collaboration
Adrienne Mare Brown’s Holding Change: The Way of Emergent Strategy Facilitation and Mediation
Sustained Collaboration Network tools for non-profits: https://www.sustainedcollab.org/for-nonprofits/
Resource on effective mergers and amalgamations: Merging for Good
Resources on co-location/shared space: https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-files/documents/PDF/Non-profit-SharedSpace-Toolkit.pdf
Strengthening the capacity of the Non-profit sector is a primary focus at Vantage Point. Through all our work we seek to support, convene and uplift non-profit organizations in British Columbia. That’s why this conversation is so important to us. How can we use effective fund development practices and efficient technology to support our sector? The tools are out there. How can we use them best? Why are inclusive fundraising practices important? Who is responsible for financially supporting the sector? In this episode, our host and CEO of Vantage Point, Zahra Esmail, talks with Bryna Dilman, the Senior Director of Growth and Marketing at Keela, exploring the importance of strong and inclusive fund development and how data-driven technology can help us in building a stronger non-profit sector.
- Warrior Life Podcast
- Squeaky Wheel Podcast
- Bryce, P.H. (1922). The Story of a National Crime. James Hope & Sons Ltd, Ottawa.
- The Gift Of Sacred Being. In L.B. Brown, "Two Spirit People: American Indian Lesbian Women And Gay Men by: D. Champagne
- Daschuk, James. (2013). Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics or Starvation, and the Loss of Aboriginal life. University of Regina Press, Regina.
- Geddes, Gary (2007). Medicine Unbundled. Heritage House, Victoria.
- Joseph, Bob. (2018). 21 Things you May not Know about the Indian Act. Indigenous Relations Press, British Columbia.
- Manuel, Arthur & Derrickson, Ronald. (2017). The Reconciliation Manifesto: Recovering the Land, Rebuilding the Economy. James Lorimer and Company Ltd, Toronto.
- Palmater, Pamela. (2015). Indigenous Nationhood: Empowering Grassroots Citizens. Fernwood Publishing, Nova Scotia.
- Reynolds, Jim. (2018). Aboriginal Peoples and the Law. Purich Publishers, UBC Press, Vancouver.
- Teillet, Jean. (2019). The Northwest is our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel’s People, The Metis Nation: HarperCollins Publisher’s Limited, Toronto.
- Out Saskatoon, Two Spirit
- Missing and murdered indigenous womens report
This episode we speak with Kevin McCort, CEO of the Vancouver Foundation, and Katie Clogg, Executive Director of the Sunshine Coast Resource Centre about the new Recovery & Resiliency Fund – $34 million of new funding available for not-for-profits and open for applications until September 30.
It is an eye-opening conversation about what these two leaders have learned about good practices in past funding models, and what this new Fund can seek to correct with novel approaches, innovative evaluation criteria, and commitment to multi-year funding to ensure sustainable staffing and projects.
BC not-for-profits and charities can apply for a grant from the Recovery and Resiliency Fund at this link: https://www.vancouverfoundation.ca/grants/recovery-and-resiliency-fund
This episode we speak with Kevin McCort, CEO of the Vancouver Foundation, and Katie Clogg, Executive Director of the Sunshine Coast Resource Centre about the new Recovery & Resiliency Fund – $34 million of new funding available for not-for-profits and open for applications until September 30.
It is an eye-opening conversation about what these two leaders have learned about good practices in past funding models, and what this new Fund can seek to correct with novel approaches, innovative evaluation criteria, and commitment to multi-year funding to ensure sustainable staffing and projects.
BC not-for-profits and charities can apply for a grant from the Recovery and Resiliency Fund at this link: https://www.vancouverfoundation.ca/grants/recovery-and-resiliency-fund
Timestamps
00:08 | Intro
01:36 | Hello, Darrell!
05:46 | What is coaching?
10:19 | Why is coaching an essential leadership skill?
16:14 | Coaching stories
23:26 | Ad
24:21 | Choosing your timing
29:36 | Ethical concerns & common mistakes
35:07 | Final suggestions & resources
36:24 | Outro & BOSS Conference Info
Resources
- Organizational Coaching Certificate (UBC)
- Introduction to Coaching (Vantage Point)
- See next available in our events calendar
- Love + Work by Marcus Buckingham
- Oak Management Consulting
- Essential Impact
The Community Engagement office at UBC supports university and community partners to work together, bringing the full force of combined experiences, expertise, and knowledge to advance a more just and sustainable society. This episode features Kat Cureton, Advisor at Community Engagement, and Katie McCallum, who is the Manager of the Community Engagement office. It was great to talk to them both about where possible opportunities lie for not-for-profits and universities to work together towards their common goals. Before we jump into the conversation, I’d like to introduce you to our guests.
Timestamps
00:00 | Intro
03:00 | Self introductions: Kat & Katie
05:51 | What part can universities play?
10:07 | Navigating the university system
14:29 | Stories from the Help Desk
17:43 | Funding opportunities & hiring students
23:12 | Resource re-cap
23:35 | Humanity Financial Ad
24:28 | Making the ask
28:14 | How can universities listen?
33:12 | Reciprocity
35:28 | Accessible learning opportunities
38:45 | Closing reflections
40:40 | Outro
Resources
- Community Partner Help Desk
- Contact email: community.engagement@ubc.ca
- Twitter: @ubcCommEngage
- Funding for community partners:
- Partnership Recognition Fund
- Community University Engagement Support Fund
- Mitacs
- UBC Arts Amplifier
- UBC Centre for Community Engaged Learning
- Social Impact Lab
- UBC CareersOnline
- Community Scholars Program
- EdX
- UBC Extended Learning
- events.ubc.ca
Timestamps
00:00 | Intro
01:37 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 1
04:07 | Warning Signs of Stage 1
04:35 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 2
07:47 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 3
08:48 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 4
11:54 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 5
16:30 | Most Common Barriers to Financial Liberation
19:20 | Outro
Resources
https://humanityfinancial.ca/
https://www.charitydata.ca/
Timestamps
00:00 | Intro
01:52 | How it all began
04:28 | How boards can make a difference
06:39 | Who is Our Kids Climate for?
07:43 | What action looks like
11:37 | Does keeping up mean “going green”?
12:30 | Mitigation and Adaptation
16:06 | Ad
17:01 | Exploring Our Kids Climate Sessions
20:06 | Strategic planning for climate justice
21:23 | Scoping sector interest in climate action
26:26 | Getting started
27:56 | Expecting the unexpected
31:25 | Outro
Resources
ourkidsclimate.ca
Ep. 63: Democracy, Equity, and Climate Change - oh my!
Summary
Not-for-profit leaders are uniquely situated in the fight against the climate crisis – regardless of their organizational mission. Michael Davis of Our Kids Climate joins for our third episode of the year to discuss how boards can integrate meaningful environmental sustainability dialogue into their work and act towards climate justice within their own organizations. We also talk about how a focus on climate is a matter of keeping up with social innovation and being a leader in inevitable public policy changes.
Leah Coss of Build a Biz Kids joins the podcast this month to talk about the benefits of engaging skilled volunteers. Rowan and Leah discuss what it can look like to take the leap and re-envision volunteerism in your organization, and how organizational leaders can get creative with volunteer engagement.
Resources
Build a Biz Kids bit.ly/3vfkN8Y
Episode 55: “A For-Profit Lens in Not-for-Profit Organizations” bit.ly/3vdtHUq
Book: The Lean Startup bit.ly/3JSvwdD
Book: Lean Impact bit.ly/3IiuB5L
Engaging Skilled Volunteers Workshop bit.ly/34YKpwo
Customized Training at Vantage Point bit.ly/3JSYAlq
Timestamps
00:00 | Intro 02:10 | A for-profit lens 06:37 | Volunteerism at Build a Biz Kids 19:12 | Why volunteer? 24:52 | Ad 25:33 | Volunteer recognition 29:45 | A closer look at group interviews 37:08 | Re-evaluating your volunteer program 41:50 | Outro
Jennifer Walowic of SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue returns to From Our Vantage Point to expand on democratic engagement and introduce her new workbook, Where to Start? A Workbook for Evaluating Democratic Engagement Impacts. This is a sequel to our February 2020 podcast, The 5 Principles of Democratic Engagement.
Resources:
Podcast – The 5 Principles of Democratic Engagement https://bit.ly/3H6PvV1
Workbook: Where to Start? A Workbook for Evaluating Democratic Engagement Impacts https://bit.ly/3rUYTVo
Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue https://bit.ly/3KZYB8u
Participedia https://participedia.net/
Time stamps:
00:00 | Intro 02:40 | About the Workbook 04:36 | Five Principles Re-Cap 08:22 | Unpacking Dialogue 11:00 | “Yes, And...” 12:00 | Ad 12:42 | Choose Your Own Adventure 15:07 | Step 1 17:17 | Step 2 21:08 | Step 5 23:37 | Humanity in Research 26:08 | Wrap-up & Outro
Celebrate the end of 2021 with us Vantage Point staff members as Rowan interviews fellow colleagues Cherie Payne, Maria Turnbull, and Shagun Bhanot. After what was a turbulent year for many of us in BC and the not-for-profit sector, we thought it would be nice to come together, enjoy each other’s conversation, and celebrate the challenges we surpassed in 2021 as well as look ahead to the future. We also had a great discussion on where Vantage Point is at and what our most recent changes might mean for you, our community members.
We hope you enjoy our farewell to 2021 and we’re looking forward to the work to come in the new year.
To find out more about the staff behind the scenes at Vantage Point, go to www.thevantagepoint.ca/about/our-people/
Episode moments:
00:00 | Intro 01:06 | Guest intros 01:52 | A Vantage Point memory from 2021 03:45 | A sector memory from 2021 06:15 | Looking ahead with Vantage Point’s new leadership 10:26 | Reflections on the AGM 16:28 | -------- Ad --------- 17:19 | Reflecting on a year of change in the sector 22:20 | What keeps us motivated 27:50 | 2021 inspirations for 2022 30:33 | Online shopping or online meetings? 33:44 | Thank you’s and farewells
This month’s podcast features Mark Friesen, a familiar face at Vantage Point for his work on the team as a consultant for many years. Mark was instrumental in the development of our Capacity Lab, a series of learning opportunities designed for not-for-profit leaders to apply the Lifecycles Model. It allows them to take a step back from the day-to-day to identify where their organization’s growing pains exist and strategize how to move forward. In this episode, Mark explains the Lifecycles Model and how Capacity Lab came to be out of a need for this overarching self-evaluation, and a space where leaders can convene to support each other in their assessments and strategic planning.
This month’s podcast shines a light on fat employees and how leaders can build safe working environments for employees of any size!
Sasha Burden joins From Our Vantage Point for a great discussion on what inclusion in the not-for-profit (and for-profit) workplace looks like when it comes to employees of size: What are some things to consider when planning team building activities? How do we account for fat employees’ needs in HR policies? We even discuss healthy ways to talk about health.
We hope this episode answers some of your “taboo” questions relating to culture and policy planning.
In a special edition podcast, Director of Government Relations and Sector Development Cherie Payne guest hosts a conversation with Parliamentary Secretary of Community Development and Non-Profits, Niki Sharma. Niki was appointed her role as a first for BC’s provincial government in 2020 and has lots to say about her work bridging the connection between not-for-profits and government.
Together, Cherie and Niki cover an array of topics, from emerging gender inequality trends and insights in the work force since the start of Covid-19, childcare funding allocation and unique community needs, and how decisions around funding the not-for-profit sector are made in government at all levels.
We hope you enjoy!
We centre food insecurity in the Lower Mainland with Zahra Esmail, Executive Director of South Van Neighbourhood House, and Upkar Singh Tatlay, Executive Director of Engaged Communities Canada Society in this very special podcast.
While food insecurity is the theme, Zahra, Upkar, and podcast host Rowan discuss how racial biases impact the lives of immigrants, refugees, and street-entrenched individuals and how ECCS and Neighbourhood House support the work to meet their needs.
Meet Our Sponsor: Humanity Financial [https://humanityfinancial.ca]
Anna Whelan, Executive Director of the HiVE, and Board Member Juliana Craig, join us to introduce Vancouver’s only not-for-profit coworking space. Here we discuss what the HiVE’s pandemic recovery looks like and how collaboration and community have bolstered and uplifted staff, members, and the sector in general throughout times of change.
HiVE Vancouver is a not-for-profit social enterprise serving the social venture community. Their space is a unique coworking space located in the Gastown neighbourhood of Vancouver, BC. They are home to change makers, social enterprises, environmental sustainability groups, and other creative class individuals that support social and environmental sustainability. With over 100 desks, three board rooms and 9,000 square feet of space, there’s a home for just about everyone at the HiVE.
This week, Nav joins the podcast from the other side of the From Our Vantage Point table and discusses her work at Vantage Point, her vision for the podcast, and what’s next. Nav is the new Marketing & Communications Manager at Take a Hike Foundation, although many know her as the voice of the Vantage Point podcast. Listen in on this brief chat to mark the end of an era and join Rowan as he picks up where Nav leaves off as the third host of From Our Vantage Point.
Take a Hike Foundation engages vulnerable youth in a full-time program of intensive and continuous clinical counselling, outdoor adventure, academics, and community. They partner with public school districts who provide a high-quality education, and together empower youth with the skills and resilience they need to graduate high school, build healthy relationships, and navigate their own path to success.
Our April podcast brings an in-depth conversation with Elodie Jacquet, Manager of Knowledge and Practice at SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. We chat about democracy, equity, climate change, and how they come together to form many intersections within the sector. We chat about what must change, how systems can be addressed, and building the future.
The SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue The Centre uses dialogue and engagement to facilitate transformative conversations and create real-world impact for society’s most pressing challenges. They strengthen Canadian democracy by promoting democratic values and innovation, spread best practices by providing dialogue training and tools, and help governments to engage citizens and stakeholders through our consulting services.
In this in-depth conversation with Kris Archie, Chief Executive Officer of The Circle, we discuss the colonial nature of philanthropy and how it upholds white supremacy in the not-for-profit sector and affected communities. Then, we imagine how a decolonized philanthropy model could look and explore the necessary steps to reach an equitable funding system.
The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada (The Circle) transforms philanthropy and contributes to positive change between Philanthropy and Indigenous communities by creating spaces of learning, innovation, relationship-building, co-creation, and activation. The Circle works alongside Indigenous-led organizations, Indigenous informed organizations, organizations with Indigenous beneficiaries, our members, and philanthropic signatories of The Declaration of Action to encourage individuals and organizations to learn, acknowledge, and understand more about reconciliation and the decolonization of wealth.
Dorla Tune, Organizational Consultant at Vantage Point, joins us to chat about philanthropic narratives and the impacts they can have on our communities, how funds are allocated, and who works within those narratives. We have a frank and honest discussion about what needs to change and why philanthropic narratives matter.
Hildy Gottlieb, co-founder of Creating the Future, and Omar Dominguez, Director of Government Relations and Sector Development at Vantage Point, join us to chat about catalytic thinking and how it can be used to create the future through uncertainty. We will use our upcoming revamped BOSS conference as a case study as we dive into an innovative new way of thinking.
This month we are joined by Sam Bradd, Principle of Drawing Change, to chat about Graphic Recording. We go into depth about what Graphic Recording is, how to utilize it within an organization, and how it acts as a tool for inclusion in meetings and convening sessions.
This month we are joined by Jennifer Wolowic from SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and Alisha Masongsong from Exchange Inner City. Together, we dive into SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue’s “Five Principles of Democratic Engagement” and chat about how these principles can function well within an organization.
Mark Friesen, Executive Director of the Columbia College Society, joins us to chat about public policy and how an organization can begin this work and what it means to get into advocacy work. We also chat about how Vantage Point is taking on public policy and what we hope will come from it.
Margaret Mason, a Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright joins us this month to chat about why you shouldn’t start that charity you’ve been mulling over. We talk about partnership opportunities, how to cultivate collaboration for your mission, and much more.
This month we are joined by Bob Wang, senior advisor at Deloitte, to find out how using a corporate lens can help further the impact of your organization. We chat about programs, services, and financials - and how assessing them differently can elevate the way we do our work.
Ruby Ng, Executive Director for the Disability Foundation and Vantage Point board member, joins us this month to discuss the impact a branding strategy can have on an organization. We explore how to approach branding, what to do when getting started, and how often organizations should reassess their strategies.
Gordon Holley, Vantage Point board member and Humanity Financial’s CEO joins us this month to explore how to leverage financial systems to maximize organizational impact. We discuss how efficient and effective financial systems can make all the difference when considering the impact of an organization both internally and externally.
This month we sit down with Vantage Point’s Consulting Manager, Lisa Torreggiani to chat about why client relations matters and what can happen when organizations take on client relations management thoughtfully and what can happen when they don’t. Lisa takes from her experience not only at Vantage Point and other not-for-profit organizations but also from her work in private sector sales and management.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
This month we sit down with Sherry Small to discuss what we mean when we speak about Truth in Truth and Reconciliation. Through her work with MVAEC, as an educator, and as an advocate Sherry empowers individuals and communities by strengthening the spirit first. In this podcast, Sherry speaks about Truth and how we as people living in the Coast Salish Territories interpret this Truth and what we can do to learn more throughout our journey to Truth and Reconciliation.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
We are excited to be reach the big 5-0!
To celebrate this special occasion, our podcast host Nav Nagra sat down with Vantage Point's former podcast host, Maria Turnbull. Maria tells us how From Our Vantage Point got started, tips for new podcasters, and some funny stories from behind the scenes!
A BIG thank you to our listeners. Whether you've listened to one episode, all 49, or something in between, we're so pleased you've come on this journey with us!
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
This month, Bhupie Dulay, a registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology joins us to discuss safe spaces in organizations and the meaning of safety. This episode explores what can be done to create safety from both an organizational standpoint but also as an individual. Bhupie reminds us that safe spaces exist along a continuum, not a binary. Listen in to explore this thought-provoking topic and learn how you can apply these practices in your organization.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Mary Childs joins us this month to share her insights on changing your not-for-profit’s constitution and bylaws. Mary is a lawyer at the Vancouver chapter of Miller Thompson LLP and Board Chair of the BC Board of Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. In this episode she shares what to keep in mind when changing your constitution or bylaws in accordance with the BC Societies guidelines. Tune in to learn these best practices!
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
This month, Deb Abma-Sluggett, Director of Philanthropy and Government Relations at Take a Hike Foundation, discusses the possibilities of board giving within an organization and dives into common misconceptions around giving. Whether you’re pro or con, Deb helps us break down the argument and explore what board giving is all about.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
This month, speaker and thought leader, Daryl Hatton discusses the emerging not-for-profit trends in digital fundraising and what organizations can do to stay on top and innovate. Daryl uses his expertise as the CEO and founder of FundRazr to break down how organizations can rethink the relationship between digital media and fundraising.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
This month, Director and Founder of Intercultural Strategies, Jessie Sutherland, brings forward thoughtful practices for creating belonging and unity on our boards and in our organizations. Jessie uses the Belonging Lens theory discussed in her TEDx talk to explore strategic ways we can transform polarized positions on boards to create deeper unity through a sense of belonging.
We would also like to introduce our new podcast host! The wonderful Nav Nagra, Communications & Events Manager at Vantage Point is the new voice behind - From Our Vantage Point.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Join Maria Turnbull and Jodi Rai for a fresh and energetic discussion about how to engage your most significant asset – volunteers and staff!
Jodi Rai is a people strategist; Free Agent with the Federal government; founder of Humantis Consulting; board member & facilitator with Vantage Point; and board member of Check Your Head: the Youth Global Education Network.
Jodi shares practical ways to embark on Strategic Human Resource Management (HRM) Planning, explores how the process can support your strategic plan, and how you can best engage with your people plan to lift those working within your organization.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Esther Jang, Senior Consultant with Global Philanthropic, returns as a podcast guest to share her passion for planned giving as a key fund development strategy. Whether you are new to this form of giving, or keen to understand it better – this is the podcast for you! Listen in, to learn what planned giving is all about. Discover how to create a truly donor-centred approach and integrate a planned giving strategy with major gift cultivation.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Alison Brewin, Vantage Point’s Executive Director, shares her thoughts on the importance of not-for-profit organizations considering their role in advocacy. She defines advocacy and provides examples of how it can achieve mission impact and address societal challenges.
This month’s topic is inspired by the book, Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits by Leslie R. Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant.
*Please note: the information shared in this podcast may be out of date as it was recorded before recent changes to advocacy law.
Philip Manzano is a seasoned technology professional with a passion for not-for-profit impact, and Head of Marketing & Communications at Keela. In this podcast, he shares his thoughts on how technology provides opportunities to small and medium-sized not-for-profits.
He outlines practical questions your organization can ask to identify your technology investment priorities. Philip shares key insights on the value of accessible Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and key resources to explore!
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Nav Nagra, a dedicated arts sector volunteer, received an exciting opportunity her inbox – a board role with the Vancouver Art/Book Fair. She took the leap into this board position in early 2018, leveraging her passion for the sector together with her writing skills.
Now 6 months into her role, Nav shares tips to find a great board role, prepare for your first board meeting, and how to contribute as a new board member.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
For our very first panel podcast we are joined by: Veronika Bylicki, Co-Founder and Co-Director of CityHive; Vincent Gonsalves Manager, Communications and Engagement of Mobility Pricing; and Brad Roberts, Director of HR at MPA Society, to share their expertise on engagement strategies for the next generation of not-for-profit leaders.
Our panelists challenge assumptions and recommend practical insights to leverage the perspective, experience, and technical know-how of today’s emerging leaders.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Gordon Holley, President and CEO of Humanity Financial Management, brings his expertise as a CPA, CA, and Certified Professional Bookkeeper Fellow to this month’s podcast. He provides clarity on how to distinguish between financial governance, financial management, and financial reporting – and why it’s important to see the differences. Come away from this podcast with a foundational understanding of each topic, and ideas on how to strengthen each area in your organization!
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a CPA firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
As a non-Indigenous organization, Vantage Point has continued to explore appropriate ways to engage with Reconciliation efforts. Kevin Barlow, CEO of the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council (MVAEC), joins us for this month’s podcast to discuss the topic of Urban Indigenous Engagement. Kevin shares his perspective on suggested approaches for non-Indigenous groups and individuals to increase understanding and knowledge, offering up practical ways to build positive relationships.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
With Manning Elliott partners Navroz Janmohamed and Catherine Miller in the studio, our podcast host Maria Turnbull realized just how much she still has to learn about charitable receipting!
Hear their expert responses to a number of key questions such as, when should a charity issue a receipt? And when is a gift not a gift? Learn answers to these questions and more.
Tune in to brush-up on your charitable receipting knowledge.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
This month, Vantage Point’s Executive Director, Denise Baker, brings forward examples of her personal self-awareness journey throughout her career. She highlights how self-awareness comes from an understanding of our individual strengths, motivations, and values. Personal goal-setting is a valuable learning process. When we have a deeper sense of self awareness, we can more successfully support ourselves and our teams!
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Esther Jang joins us from Global Philanthropic, an international fundraising consultancy, to share recommendations for developing and executing capital campaigns. She highlights why organizations must have strong internal capacity to launch a successful campaign. Esther provides key steps to access your internal capacity – including a feasibility study, understanding your current donor relationships, and uncovering the knowledge of your staff and board.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
An inspiring pair of performance arts leaders join Maria this month to share reflections from their experience in partnering, as staff and board, to drive Boca del Lupo’s evolution.
Building on a deep commitment to the organization surviving its founders and a culture that’s clearly comfortable with ambiguity, Jay Dodge, Co-Founder and Artistic Producer, and Carmen Stossel, board member of Boca del Lupo, discover insights as to how their team has navigated the many challenges along the way to mission impact.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
This month, Mark Giffford shares some compelling tips for navigating a new executive director role - such as using baked goods to win over your board of directors! Mark is the executive director of Kiwassa Neighbourhood House and he shares insights from his long career in the sector and his new adventure as an executive director.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Podcast host, Maria Turnbull, engaged thousands of volunteers in her 20-year not-for-profit journey, while also serving as a volunteer herself. She has often considered what impacts a volunteer’s ability – and willingness – to lead, rather than follow. For this month’s podcast, Elijah van der Giessen, NetSquared Community Organizer, and TechSoup Global Community Manager joins Maria to talk about and share effective practices that support true volunteer leadership.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
With this year’s BOSS – Building Organizational and Sector Sustainability conference just 3 months away, we are talking a lot as a team about sustainability. Kylie Hutchinson, principal consultant with Community Solutions, a small Vancouver-based firm that specializes in evaluation and program sustainability planning, shares key factors that point to greater success in program sustainability in this month’s podcast. Kylie draws on the considerable research and findings she presents in her book Survive and Thrive: Three Steps to Securing Your Program's Sustainability, nominated for the Alliance for Nonprofit Management’s 2017 Terry McAdam Award.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
This month we venture into the Millennial “spotlight” with David Puterman, a seasoned leader, planner, and advocate for a variety of social change initiatives and programs. David has conducted research on the engagement of young adults in charitable and not-for-profit organizations. He provides some great insights such as how to bring young staff, volunteers and donors into your succession planning.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Who better to provide perspective on key approaches to finding and engaging a Treasurer than a past and current Treasurer – and passionate board member – Gordon Holley, President & CEO of Humanity Financial. Leveraging his professional designations as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and a Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB), Gordon outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Treasurer and how the role intersects with book-keeping and/or Finance staff or contractors. He shares tips on sourcing quality candidates for this critical board role. During the interview, Gordon mentions two resources Humanity Financial has created related to the topic: A Treasurer Roles and Responsibilities Summary and a Treasurer Position Description Template, available at www.humanityfinancial.ca.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Sector leaders are in for an interesting conversation in this month’s podcast: Not-for-Profit Salary Surveys: Striving for fair compensation in the sector. Trina Isakson, independent researcher and consultant, draws on her recent experience in championing an effort to reveal current not-for-profit salary levels here in the Metro Vancouver area. Trina shares her insights from that project, providing some suggested implications for sector leader’s consideration. Please note: podcast listeners are offered a 20% discount to the Metro Vancouver Nonprofit Sector Salary Survey, using discount code VANTAGEPOINT.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
We have legal expertise in the recording studio for this month’s podcast, Tips on Running an Effective Annual General Meeting (AGM). Michael Blatchford, lawyer with Norton Rose Fulbright, shares his depth of knowledge on the most frequent questions we receive on AGM-related issues: AGM agendas and preparation, requirements of notice to members, impact of the new Societies Act, quorum, proxy voting, taking AGM minutes, and required filings after the AGM.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Vantage Point’s own Engagement Manager, Dana Osiowy, joins me to share her tips in designing high impact volunteer engagements for, who we call, knowledge philanthropists. Dana remembers her first time learning about the concept of knowledge philanthropy, during her time as ED of Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Cranbrook, as a “game changer”. Find out why!
Presented by Humanity Financial Management From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Mark Friesen, experienced not-for-profit strategic planner and Consulting Manager with Vantage Point, walks us through key practices to impactfully engage stakeholders during strategic planning. Mark explains the value of surveys, interviews, and focus groups while sharing different tactical approaches, including having board members participate in stakeholder outreach.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
In this month’s podcast, find out how single malt Scotch can teach us a thing or two about designing successful employee engagement surveys. Maureen Simons, Principal with Verita HR Services, brings to the topic over 30 years’ professional HR experience and specific knowledge designing and administering employee engagement surveys, from the very customized to “off-the-shelf” solutions. She shares practical advice for designing, preparing for participation in, and employing your employee engagement survey data effectively.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Brad Beattie, founder of POP The People Agency, invites us to imagine achieving all of our aspirational community goals without “mission fatigue” through innovative workforce models that enable teams to thrive as people and project leaders. Brad’s expertise in bringing ALL the available talent together to make change happen is built on previous experience as Greater Vancouver Regional Director, Canadian Cancer Society; Manager of Workforce Operations at VANOC, and Manager of Business Services here at Vantage Point.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
This month we consider ways to deepen our learning from formal professional development through social connections. Gayle Farrell, our guest, is the President of Siena Consulting, providing multi-stakeholder facilitation, strategic and operational planning, and cross-sectoral partnership development. Gayle describes the unique benefits of “social learning” in the workplace and encourages us to intentionally show up as both learner and teacher in our everyday interactions with our peers.
Presented by Humanity Financial Management From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management. Humanity Financial Management’s part-time controllers and CFOs provide support for budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, policies and procedures, and internal controls. Their results: Financial risk reduction and asset protection. Visit Humanity Financial Management online at humanityfinancial.ca.
Juliana Laing, one of our local governance experts, brings the Board Chair and ED Partnership to life in this month’s podcast. She emphasizes the importance of treating this partnership like many other key relationships in life, beginning with a strong foundation of trust with a willingness to tackle tough issues in a timely and open way. Juliana shares, in closing, that the best Board Chair – ED partnerships are like those of strong dance partners who know who is leading, when – and how not to step on each other’s toes!
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
With the drive towards increasing transparency in the governance realm, the use of in-camera board meetings is a hot topic. Shawn Mitchell, expert in not-for-profit governance and leadership, joins me to share his thoughts on how to employ in-camera board meetings to strengthen organizational governance. Shawn is the Executive Director for the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association, and a three-term member of the board of MEC, where he also chairs the governance committee.
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
In this month’s podcast we consider the topic: Making the “To-Get-Done” List: Operational Plans That Work with Catarina Moreno, Program Director at QMUNITY - B.C.'s Queer Resource Centre. After a few years of observing a disconnect between strategic plans and work plans, Catarina led QMUNITY's operational planning process that translated the organization's strategic plan into one succinct operational plan that covers 12 multi-disciplinary staff. In this podcast she highlights the importance of moving away from the “tyranny of activities”, team engagement in the process, and openness to an iterative (and sometimes lengthy) journey.
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
We are often asked by boards that we work with: do we really need Director and Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance? We’ve finally had a chance to go to the experts on this one for this one: Director and Officers Liability Insurance: A Necessary Cost? Kawkab Jamal, agency owner of The Co-operators office at 5564 Cambie Street, Vancouver, leads us through the key benefits of D&O insurance, the issues to consider when exploring or revisiting your coverage, and the risks of not having this type of insurance (because neither ignorance nor resignation is a defence!).
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
For our virtual interview, Kelly Allder, Vice President for Human Resource Programs at Ceridian, joins me to share her HR expertise on the topic: Show Me the Money! Getting Clarity on Compensation. Kelly is familiar with the not-for-profit context through her role as Executive Director of Ceridian Cares, Ceridian’s philanthropic foundation (www.ceridiancares.ca). Kelly emphasises the importance of starting with your organization’s values in articulating a clear compensation philosophy that then serves as the key foundation for making compensation decisions across the organization.
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
As we launch our Year of Abundance, I invited Stacy Ashton, Executive Director of Community Volunteer Connections, to explore the topic: Abundance in the Not-for-Profit Sector: A Powerful Paradox. Together we explore what “abundance” looks like in the context of the not-for-profit sector – and what it makes possible to nurture a culture of abundance over scarcity. Stacy shares how she brings abundance thinking to her diverse community roles, through both a belief that the resources required to effect positive change will come together and an understanding that it’s not all up to her!
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From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
This month’s podcast guest, Kathi Irvine, gets out her dance shoes to walk us through the steps of Mastering the Governance Foxtrot: Effective Board/ED Relations.
Kathi is a long-time knowledge philanthropist here at Vantage Point and a skilled consultant and facilitator. She is Co-Founding Partner of Watershed Organizational Development Group Inc., where she supports for-profit and not-for-profit organizations with strategic planning, leadership development, knowledge transfer and succession planning. Kathi has brought her skill in not-for-profit governance to her own board role with Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver, as well as to many of her own client organizations.
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
Gordon Holley, CEO of Humanity Financial Management, joins me this month to contribute to Imagine Canada’s national efforts to put the “overhead myth” to rest. Gordon highlights recent studies that indicate strong investment in overhead will drive greater positive change in our communities. These studies directly contradict the perspective that many funders and donors continue to have that organizations should seek to spend less on overhead and more on programs and projects. Gordon offers key tips on what we can each do as leaders in the sector to end the overhead myth, once and for all!
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
Carol Neuman, Vantage Point’s Director of Learning, shares her insights on the topic: Board Committee Structure: Going Lean. From Carol’s vantage point, “going lean” on committees means paring back to the key essentials and taking intentional care to regularly review terms of reference, while reserving task forces for project specific work, as needed.
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
This month we finally get to the topic that inspired the idea for this podcast: What's the deal with Robert's Rules of Order? I’ve personally worked with not-for-profit boards for over a decade and I’ve never opened the 700+ page Robert’s Rules of Order. I’ve dismissed the whole idea as being overly complex and simply too overwhelming for the typical board member to digest and, ultimately, a deterrent to effective board member engagement. My guest, Eli Mina, a Vancouver based consultant on board effectiveness and a registered Parliamentarian, was definitely up to the task of challenging my thinking.
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
Maria is in highly skilled company for this podcast, focused on best practices in volunteer engagement in a unionized workforce.
Jill Wurflinger has built her knowledge in volunteer engagement through her current role as National Director of Volunteer Engagement at the Canadian Diabetes Association, as well as past roles as Manager, Volunteer Engagement, BC-Yukon Division of the Canadian Cancer Society; Manager, National Olympic Committee/National Paralympic Committee Assistants Program for Vanoc - Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games; and Field Executive for Scouts Canada.
Chilwin Cheng, Managing Partner of Ascendion Law, invites board chairs and executive directors to consider how they can nurture a culture that supports every board member to show up to board meetings – in body and in mind (i.e., having prepared for the meeting and ready to engage in conversations that govern!).
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
In the fifth episode of From Our Vantage Point, Michael McKnight, President & CEO of United Way of the Lower Mainland, joins Maria to talk metrics: ones that speak to mission impact. From Michael’s vantage point, it’s tough to determine the metrics that truly reveal mission impact and he acknowledges the imperative in figuring it out. When we are successful, the governance conversations at our board tables turn to a genuine focus on what matters – improving the lives of those in our community.
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
In this month’s podcast, Carol Dixon, Director, Mission Services & Volunteer Resources at Providence Health Care, joins Vantage Point to share tips and perspective on the topic: Volunteer Recognition: Just say No to Years of Service Awards.
Drawing on over 35 years in volunteer engagement (and a healthy sense-of-humour!), Carol provides us with a number of examples of high-impact volunteer recognition that won’t break the bank. From Carol’s vantage point, the key is to invest in thoughtful, individualized volunteer recognition.
Consent agenda are a potentially powerful tool to carve our space and energy for board members to have the most engaging and relevant conversations, allowing the board to spend more time governing, rather than managing, the organization.
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
Join guest speaker, Gordon Holley, President & CEO with Humanity Financial Management, to dive into the topic - Walking the Tight-rope: Employees vs. Independent Contractors. Gordon provides insights on the perceived benefit to individuals and organizations to engage in a contractor relationship, rather than as employer-employee.
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.
Join guest speaker, Michael Blatchford, lawyer with Bull Housser, to dive into the topic: Board Term Limits: Friend or Foe? When I approached Michael about the possibility of bringing his expertise to this podcast, and provided him with a list of potential topics, Michael looked at today’s topic, Term Limits: Friend or Foe, and said…I’ve got a lot to say about that one!
From our Vantage Point is brought to you by Humanity Financial Management, a Chartered Accounting firm dedicated to helping Canadian not-for-profit, charitable and social enterprises build capacity for strong internal financial management.