From leadership milestones to community-led innovation, our features highlight the people, partnerships, and ideas driving positive change across the country.Â
Written by: Ian McDonald, Executive in Residence, Capacity Canada is an experienced executive, board leader, and strategic advisor who helps organizations navigate growth, innovation, and change while creating lasting community impact. TL:DR The inherent nature of AI technology, where outcomes are probabilistic instead of deterministic, requires a proactive approach to AI governance. We have...
If you’ve ever considered serving on a Nonprofit Board but weren’t sure where to begin, you’re not alone. For many first-time board members, knowing where to start, what’s expected, and whether they have the right experience can feel like a challenge. Capacity Canada’s ModernBoard program, delivered in collaboration with Conestoga College, is designed to help bridge that gap. Registrations...
Capacity Canada is pleased to welcome Gail Steckley as its newest Executive-in-Residence. After more than 30 years working in global health and international development, Gail knows what it means to lead through change. Her career has taken her from community health programs in Zambia to post-tsunami recovery efforts in Indonesia, along with leadership roles across Africa and Asia. Throughout...
Applications are now open for Capacity Canada’s annual initiative Creative Day for Social Good (CD4SG). For many Nonprofit organizations, there’s no shortage of ideas, just not enough time, staff, or budget to make them happen. Whether it’s refreshing a website, creating a stronger brand, launching a new campaign, or telling stories that inspire donors and volunteers, communications projects...
Written by: Ayomide Awesu, Co-op Student, Public Relations Assistant, Capacity Canada, aspiring communications and marketing professional, entrepreneur, and creative storyteller passionate about digital media and community engagement. Youth volunteering is becoming more important in our community and more in the nonprofit sector. I believe young people bring creativity, energy and fresh...
Written By: Colleen James, Executive in Residence, Capacity Canada, Regional Councillor for the City of Kitchener and champion for inclusive, community-driven leadership and Scott Williams (he/him), Executive in Residence, Capacity Canada, nonprofit professional, community volunteer, and advocate for inclusive and thriving communities Over the last year, we had the privilege of facilitating...
Written by: Hugh Munro Drawing on Capacity Canada’s work with nonprofit leaders and organizations across the sector, this article offers a transformation view of the COO role: one that moves beyond internal operations toward stewardship of people, programs, partnerships, and system resilience. Chief Operating Officers and operational leaders are navigating one of the most complex environments...
How do boards and the Executive Director ensure they are working well together? Boards often worry about their relationship with their single employee, the Executive Director (ED). Many times, when we speak individually with a board chair or an Executive Director, their greatest concern is a fear that they are not aligned and may be heading for trouble. In most cases, board meetings are run...
“I can’t ask people for money.” “I don’t want to ask my friends… what if they say no?” “Isn’t that the fundraiser’s job?” If you’ve ever heard (or thought) these things as a board member, you’re not alone. In fact, discomfort with fundraising is one of the most common barriers to building a strong, sustainable organization. But here’s the reality: in today’s climate of funding uncertainty,...
