Video 1
Katharine Bambrick – Impact and Innovation
The need, not just to adapt but to innovate and demonstrate value, is critical for non-profits. Katharine Bambrick, CEO of the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), talks about how OTF was established, and its evolution over the last 37 years as one of Canada’s leading granting foundations and a vital funder of the non-profit sector in Ontario. Bambrick discusses how a focus on innovation and impact has continued to make the organization relevant for both communities across Ontario and its government funder.
Bio: Katharine Bambrick has more than 25 years of experience in leadership and organizational development for non-profits and charities locally, provincially and nationally. She was appointed in September 2017 to lead one of Canada’s largest granting organizations. OTF is an agency of the Government of Ontario; its mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Before joining OTF, Katharine was the Executive Director of Food Banks Canada, a national charity that supports a network of over 500 provincial and local food bank organizations. During her ten years there, she led the organization through transformational change and significant growth, enabling the organization to better achieve its mandate of relieving hunger in Canada. Prior to that, Katharine was the Executive Director of the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, and held positions at Food and Consumer Products of Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Katharine continues to be committed to the hunger cause—she currently serves on the Board of Directors and is the Chair of the Governance Committee for The Global FoodBanking Network. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Guelph.
Video 2
Kathy Knudsen – For Every Family
For Every Family is a collective initiative between 24 Family Resource Centres (FRCs), the Province of Manitoba, The Winnipeg Foundation, United Way and others. Kathy Knudsen, Vice President of Community Impact for the United Way of Winnipeg, discusses how these organizations are putting their talents and resources together to demonstrate the important role FRCs play in strengthening families. Together, FRCs and partners have designed a thoughtful and robust evaluation framework. They hope to clearly demonstrate the important difference this network of neighbourhood-based support makes for families in Winnipeg.
Bio: Kathy Knudsen is responsible for working with community investment and capacity building, and collective impact and sector engagement activities. These include the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council, Youth United, agency partner relations and community investment allocations. She is also responsible for innovation and learning centre activities in support of capacity building within the non-profit sector, organizational strategic initiatives such as PEG (community indicator system), and workplace and community engagement activities including Day of Caring, Living on the Edge Poverty Simulation and Koats for Kids. Kathy has an MPA from the University of Manitoba and The University of Winnipeg, and is a graduate of the York University Schulich School of Business Masters Certificate in Municipal Leadership.
Video 3
Rick Frost – Partnership for the Manitoba Heritage Trust Program
Administered by The Winnipeg Foundation, the Manitoba Heritage Trust Program offers provincial support with matching grants of one dollar for every two dollars raised by community museums and archives. Rick Frost, CEO of The Winnipeg Foundation, explains that the aim of the program is to create an endowment fund at the local Manitoba community foundation level that attracts public and private funding and provides long-term sustainable revenue for community projects and organizations, with a special emphasis on heritage organizations. The Winnipeg Foundation is Canada’s first community foundation and is helping strengthen philanthropy across the province by providing supports and services to engage and build capacity among Manitoba’s community foundations. Manitoba is home to 55 community foundations providing grants to community-based projects and organizations operating within a specific area of the province.
Bio: Rick Frost became The Winnipeg Foundation’s fifth Executive Director in 1997. For 25 years prior, Rick worked in municipal public service, as Chief Commissioner of the City of Winnipeg (1989–1997) and Chief Administrative Officer of the Regional Municipality of Peel in Ontario (1978–1989). Rick particularly enjoys working on The Foundation's leadership initiatives, like Downtown Green Spaces, Nourishing Potential and Literacy for Life. His interest is currently focused on building The Winnipeg Foundation's Centennial Awards in Canadian history. Rick has served as Chair of Community Foundations of Canada and on the boards of many local organizations including the WRHA and the Cancer Care Manitoba Foundation. He holds an MA (History) from McMaster University, an MPA from Queen’s University, as well as Honorary Doctorates of Law from both University of Winnipeg and University of Manitoba.
Video 4
Albert Brulé – Connecting for Community Impact: Pillar’s Epic Tale
Albert Brulé, Director of Resource and Business Development with Pillar Nonprofit Network, speaks about Pillar's Epic Tale—one community organization's journey from "innovative ideas" to "collaborative solutions." Brulé discusses: the establishment of Innovation Works, a 32,000 square foot social innovation shared space in the heart of downtown London; the launch of a $1,000,000 Community Bond; the founding of VERGE Capital, a $3.5 million impact investment fund; and the creation of Impact Consulting, Pillar’s social enterprise consultancy which specializes in social innovation, social enterprise, social finance, board governance and diversity training.
Bio: Albert Brulé heads up the Impact Consulting team at Pillar, which provides cutting-edge consulting services designed to amplify the social impact of non-profit organizations, social enterprises and social purpose businesses. Albert earned his MBA from the University of Alberta, with a special focus on the non-profit sector. He has held senior posts at Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Grande Prairie Regional College and Fanshawe College. He has presented at national and international conferences and taught fundraising, non-profit administration and voluntary sector management at the University of Alberta, Grant MacEwan University, Western University and Centennial College.
Video 5
Bruce MacDonald – Adaptation Activists
In an era of profound change, the non-profit and charitable sector needs to build a core competency in adaptation and change, but not from a resistance mindset; rather, as change activists, leading and seeking new solutions and approaches to ensure that communities continue to receive quality services. Bruce MacDonald, President and CEO of Image Canada, talks about the elements and characteristics that are inherent in becoming adaptation activists and invites organizational leaders to reflect on their readiness to move boldly forward in changing times.
Bio: When carnivals and social good got combined it pointed to a path, and for 30 years Bruce MacDonald has been walking that route. From having worked for organizations providing services to young people, older adults, persons with disabilities, community service clubs and sports and recreation groups, Bruce's experiences have led him to Imagine Canada. Most recently, he was the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada where he participated in a collective effort to bring mentoring programs to kids. Bruce holds a Bachelor Degree in Sports Administration from Laurentian University, a Masters in Management in the Voluntary Sector from McGill University and a Guinness Book of World Records.
