Philanthropy and the Common Good: Renewing our Practices, Strengthening our Impact

Coinciding with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada holding its closing events in 2015, a group of leading Canadian philanthropic organizations prepared the Philanthropic Community's Declaration of Action in an effort to commit to ensuring that positive action on Reconciliation will continue. The declaration now lives as a call to action that continues to invite our sector to move forward in an atmosphere of understanding, dignity, and respect towards the shared goal of Reconciliation, using its philanthropic resources in service toward this goal. While the TRC and the Declaration set in motion a path for Reconciliation in Canada for philanthropy, how can we keep up the momentum and accomplish tangible change?

Hear from the Honourable Murray Sinclair as he shares his reflections on how we should be thinking about our work and implementing changes that will lead to meaningful results.

Keynote: The Honourable Murray Sinclair LLB MSC IPC

Moderator: Justin Wiebe, Mastercard Foundation

A conversation with the Foundation for Black Communities

Equity benchmarks are increasingly a topic of discussion in the Canadian philanthropic space. But what does it mean and what would it look like? How can we turn this concept into tangible actions that help BIPOC communities thrive across Canada?

Join Foundation for Black Communities and other Canadian leaders for an interactive workshop to learn more about equity benchmarking and to collectively identify ways of making this happen in the philanthropic sector.

Facilitator: Liban Abokor, Foundation for Black Communities Panelist: Carl James, York University

Many foundations support non-qualified donees through trusteeship agreements with charitable partners. But increasingly, philanthropic leaders are recognizing why these arrangements can be barriers to supporting some of the most impactful work happening at the grassroots level, often led by those who are racialized and other groups that are underrepresented and underfunded in philanthropy.

Join this session with grantmaking and sector leaders as we demystify foundations funding non-qualified donees directly, by exploring why directly supporting non-qualified donees is critical for advancing equity, how it can be done, what needs to change

Panelists: Phylicia Davis-Wesseling, Toronto Foundation
Tamer Ibrahim, Laidlaw Foundation

Moderator: Tina-Nadia Chambers, Amadeusz

Do you have something in mind that you would like to share with your peers or would like to ask their perspectives on a specific topic? We invite you to explore our Social Lounge!

Reserved for PFC members only

The ‘Philanthropic Foundations and Commitments to Fight Inequality’ is a new pledge that invites foundations to look at their “inequality footprint” by assessing the positive, negative, and neutral effects of all its activities related to social and economic inequalities and implementing concrete commitments to increase the coherence and impact of their action on inequality. Join us to learn more about the initiative and identify concrete steps for your foundation to decrease its inequality footprint.

Co-facilitators: Johanne Beauvilliers, Fondation Dufresne-Gauthier
Nancy Pole, le Collectif des fondations québécoises contre les inégalités

What does investing in the future look like for foundations and philanthropy? This session will explore perspectives from key leaders in the impact and responsible investing space, starting with a presentation of the findings of the PFC 2021 Investment and Disbursement survey, which examines the investment performance and practices of PFC members.

Panelists Milla Craig, Millani
Rehana Nathoo, The Equality Fund

Moderator: Nourhane ElGarhy, Millani

Jointly hosted by PFC, CFC, EFC, the Circle If left unaddressed, the impacts of climate change can undo our work to advance health, equity, poverty, migration, economic prosperity, human rights - and all other issues on which we hope to have a positive impact. In this launch event for the Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change, and jointly hosted by Philanthropic Foundations Canada (PFC), Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), Environment Funders Canada (EFC) and the Circle, hear from peer foundations about their experiences and challenges applying a climate lens to their work - regardless of their core focus area.

We will hear from foundations at the start of their journey considering climate change in their investment and granting strategies, and foundations that have built momentum toward climate leadership. In the second part of the session, participants will be broken up into groups to discuss the Climate Commitment Implementation Guide, where they may identify themselves on the path to climate action, and how they might be supported in that work.

Panelists: Jean-Marc Chouinard, Chagnon Foundation
Lorne Johnson, Ivey Foundation
Sheila Muxlow, Indigenous Climate Action
Sherry Yano, Real Estate Foundation of BC

Moderator: Devika Shah, Environment Funders Canada

We are in an era of exponential data growth and digital transformation, as well as one defined by entrenched and growing social and economic disparities, laid bare by a pandemic that has upended our world, impacting some communities more than others. As a sector seeking to advance social change and contribute to the common good, questions over the collection, use, and ownership of all sorts of data are increasingly becoming top of mind for many. How can the sector handle data more openly, responsibly, efficiently, and for greater impact? Starting in 2020, Philanthropic Foundations Canada (PFC) and Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), with the support of Powered by Data (PbD), engaged in a consultative process with foundations and key stakeholders on these issues. Join us in this interactive session to learn more about the findings and how to better engage in building a shared data strategy as funders.

Co-facilitators: Ines Chaalala, Philanthropic Foundations Canada
Stacey McDonald, Ontario Trillium Foundation

A healthy democracy and a healthy information ecosystem are intimately intertwined. Globally, the Forum on Information and Democracy calls for immediate and sustained action in favour of independent journalism. The Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) is a global initiative that aims at creating a healthier information space. In Canada, some funders are supporting public interest journalism. For some it is part of a broader strategy to support their missions, for others, it is a path to narrative power for equity-seeking groups. What role can philanthropy play in building a more just, equitable, and inclusive Canada through media? How can we de-risk journalism for funders? Join us as we hear from Canadian and international leaders in this space.

Panelists: April Lindgren, Ryerson University
Christophe Deloire, Reporters Without Borders
Sadia Zaman, Inspirit Foundation

Moderator: Chad Lubelsky, McConnell Foundation

The Wellbeing Project will host a session for funders who are curious to deepen their understanding of the connection between inner wellbeing and sustainable social change. The Project will provide an experiential session that equips participants with tools to start exploring more on their own and motivates them to do so. This will include a deep dive into the power of inner work, a look at The Wellbeing Project’s research and the effects that this work has on changemakers, interwoven with live participatory wellbeing practice(s).

Co-facilitators: Dana Preston, The Wellbeing Project
Nancy Mortifee, The Wellbeing Project

Jointly hosted by PFC and CFC

Drawing from interviews with more than 200 philanthropy executives, practitioners, donors, board members, experts, and grantees from around the world, the Monitor Institute by Deloitte's recently released report, What’s Next for Philanthropy in the 2020s explores what emerging social, economic, and political shifts may mean for the future of philanthropy, charitable giving, and social innovation. Join The Monitor Institute by Deloitte and Canadian sector leaders for a presentation and interactive discussion on the future of philanthropy.

Panelists: Andrew Chunilall, Community Foundations Canada
Djaka Blais-Amare, Foundation for Black Communities
Gabriel Kasper, Monitor Institute by Deloitte
Jean-Marc Mangin, Philanthropic Foundations of Canada
Jennifer Holk, Monitor Institute by Deloitte
Wanda Brascoupé, Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund

Moderator: Danielle Clarke, Royal Bank of Canada

Co-facilitators: Sarah Midanik, The Philanthropist Journal and Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund
Sylvia Parris-Drummond, The Philanthropist Journal and Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute