Before launching Stronger Philanthropy and offering our services to multiple families, I used to work for our own family’s foundation. People would always ask, “What’s the best grant you’ve ever funded?” And I would reply with several examples that warmed my heart. But then I would offer, “Do you want to know the best grant we never funded?” In 2003 … Read More
Recovering the heart of philanthropy
A lot has changed during my 21+ year philanthropy career. In the beginning I was wowed by the alluring potential that seemed to exist to “change the world” (a phrase I’ve come to disdain). This belief seemed to be based on the idea that society could engineer the end to poverty and other human ills. Big, upstream solutions (involving money … Read More
Watch these interviews with major donors and charity leaders
Since we launched the new Stronger Philanthropy community app at the beginning of 2022, we’ve been intentional about connecting major donors with charity leaders. One of the ways we do this is by offering livestream interviews with major donors and charity leaders each month. If you have the app, the interview plays automatically when you log in. After the interview, … Read More
Welcome new clients!
We’re pleased to welcome two new families as clients of Stronger Philanthropy: The Park Family Giving Fund is based in Mississauga, Ontario and invests resources into projects that offer a holistic and creative response to communities in need. The Unterweger-Ramírez Fund offers grants to Canadian charities working towards healthy church leadership and faith formation in emerging Christian communities. Charities that … Read More
11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2022
The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy has just released their sixth annual compilation of trends in philanthropy for the year. As we hobble through pandemic protocols and societies are impacted, perhaps permanently, philanthropy will also be influenced. Trends they note include the rise of cryptocurrencies, growing culture wars, new engagement with indigenous communities, and the powerful use of data … Read More
Client and charity livestream interviews for January
In January we will begin a monthly series of video interviews with clients of Stronger Philanthropy and charities that we believe need to be highlighted for their unique offerings. January 11: We will interview long time client, John Horwood, whose investment work on Bay Street influences how he selects the charities he funds. POSTPONED to January 25. January 17: We … Read More
New birth in the darkness
In this tumultuous season of dark nights and raging viruses, our prayer for our readers is to find the promise and joy of new birth. We remember Jesus’ birth during Christmas and the light that pierces through the fog of the daily grind, bringing hope and peace to our weary souls. To all colleagues and companions on this journey to … Read More
Orientation to the new Stronger Philanthropy App
During this phase of our soft launch, we are excited to see new members joining our online community each day. Some may want a better overview of the features of our new Stronger Philanthropy app. Click below to watch our 34-minute video which responds to just about everything you’ve been wondering about the app. You may also download the notes … Read More
Changes in family philanthropy
While family philanthropy is frequently created as a vehicle to ensure the perpetuity of funding charitable causes, one should not think this means that a foundation never changes. Family philanthropy is ever-evolving. The foundation you knew a decade ago has shifted in the intervening years. In some cases, the foundation you knew even last year has also shifted significantly. Creative … Read More