September not only marks the start of school, but also the approaching deadline of September 27, 2024 for workplaces to implement the Law to Prevent and combat psychological harassment and sexual violence in the workplace. Just to clarify, prior to the September 27, 2024 deadline it had already been mandatory for employers to have a psychological harassment and sexual violence policy in place; however, from now on, there are also specifications available on what exactly has to be included in the policy and the accompanying procedures.

Congratulations, you have successfully met your fundraising goal! 

It is important to maintain the relationships you have built throughout your campaign. This is the time to fulfill any promises you made in terms of recognition, and to express your gratitude! Funders will want to receive news not only when you meet your goal, but as your project progresses. Consider identifying key moments for communication, such as the public launch of your scholarship program, the announcement of its first recipient, their first day of university, etc. You may also want to gather all contributing parties for an event to express your thanks. By building these connections, you may be able to create long term financial partnerships, and opportunities for expansion of your project in the future. 

What you need to know to run a successful capital campaign!

What is a capital campaign?

Capital campaigns are intense fundraising efforts designed to raise a specific amount of money within a defined time period. They typically raise much more than an organization has ever raised in a single campaign and are generally used for construction/renovation, property acquisition, or large equipment purchases. It can also be used for startup funding for new programs and services, or grant, scholarship, and endowment funding.

Executive Directors in non-profit organizations and charities have extremely demanding positions. In the average small to medium-sized organization, they wear many hats simultaneously. ED positions tend to attract people who aren’t afraid of taking on complex leadership roles, and people who are ambitious, visionary, charismatic, caring, creative, tenacious and very hardworking.

I`m Chris, one of the principal consultants at Social Impact Consulting and I have worked in several bilingual nonprofit community organizations over my professional career where we either already had, or where we chose put in place a 4-day work week (4DWW).

I wanted to share some of my experiences for those who consider implementing this 4DWWas a viable and preferred way of working. In this blog entry, we finish up the topic by sharing all the steps needed to proceed with a 4DWW model.

xplore a new way of working with our blog series, "Things to Consider Before Implementing the 4-day Work Week at Your Workplace" by Chris Lau and Marlo Turner Ritchie, Principal Consultants at Social Impact Consulting. In three concise parts, Chris and Marlo shares insights into the 4DWW, its impact, and practical implementation steps.

Discover why teams worldwide embrace this progressive work style for improved work-life balance and reduced stress. Explore innovative approaches like summer testing and staggered staffing.

My journey with feminism in the non-profit sector & an appeal for Gaza

My first non-profit experience was as a 19-year-old youth representative on the Board of Directors of my local women’s centre in Penticton, B.C. Given the feminist role models in my own family, I wanted to get together with others and organize to improve the quality of life and opportunities of women in my community. My friend, Jung-Mee Kim, was the other youth rep, and together, we helped pave the way for younger women to get involved with this organization. We helped to organize a Take Back the Night march downtown and an intergenerational festival for International Women’s Day.

Demystify and tackle Law 25 with Social Impact Consulting.

Have you heard of the new requirements for nonprofits and businesses in line with Law 25?

In a move to improve digital security for service users and clients, the Quebec government introduced this law in 2021. Deadlines for compliance are staggered, but the most recent list of requirements happened in September 2023.

Our comprehensive package simplifies legal complexities for nonprofits, providing essential templates and forms for compliance. We specialize in guiding nonprofits through different processes, saving valuable time for busy organizations. Our dedicated team ensures a smooth and straightforward approach to reaching compliance.

Empower your organization with expertise, support, and efficient solutions, allowing you to focus on making a positive impact rather than getting caught up in legal intricacies.

I decided to dedicate this blog to highlighting some of the challenges that Montreal’s Black community are currently facing and achievements that deserve to be celebrated. BCRC’s 2021 report Quebec’s Black English Speaking Community revealed that “Montreal (CMA) is home to around 85% of Quebec’s Black population and this community is the largest visible minority group in both Montreal and the province of Quebec.”

Melanie Olmstead

The Chinese/Lunar New Year is around the corner, marking the Year of the Dragon starting February 10th!

On our latest blog, we delve into the rich cultural celebration, sharing memories from growing up in Hong Kong and Montreal, where families gathered for good luck and prosperity.

This year, we're spotlighting non-profit organizations actively engaged with Chinese communities in Greater Montreal in a new blog by principal consultant Chris Lau!

Visit our blog (link in the bio) to learn more about the impact of the Chinese Family Service of Greater Montreal (CFSGM) and the Centre Sino-Québec de la Rive-Sud, providing essential services since 1976 and 1990, respectively.

Although the 4DWW was already in place for many organizationsbefore the pandemic, COVID-19 definitely made us all think about different ways of working.

4DWW means working 4 days a week instead of the conventional 5-day work week (5DWW) for full-time positions that most workplaces expect from their employees.

Upcoming Webinar with Grant Connect!

"Navigating Year-End Fundraising with Corporate and Philanthropic Partners"

This interactive online workshop, led by the fundraising experts at Social Impact Consulting, is for current Grant Connect subscribers who would benefit from additional guidance around year-end institutional fundraising.

Workshop attendees will also have the opportunity to apply for a limited number of free 1:1 coaching sessions with Social Impact Consulting beginning in November.

Organizations that are less equipped and/or by and for equity-seeking communities will have priority for the free coaching sessions, but this initial workshop is open to all Grant Connect subscribers.

How to retain your valuable team members during the Great Resignation

Since the pandemic, nonprofits have been experiencing what Imagine Canada has started calling The Great Resignation - a mass exodus of workers from the nonprofit sector into other sectors, entrepreneurship and retirement.

Hear from our professional consultants. Free consultation!

annual general meeting guide for board of directors at nonprofit organizations tips how to guide

ED evaluations are far too often not performed in non-profits. We have observed a few reasons for this. Often the Board doesn’t feel equipped or knowledgeable enough to evaluate the ED. Sometimes there aren’t policies and practices in place that promote regular evaluations of the ED. The absence of regular evaluations, with input from staff, can create unhealthy and unjust situations for staff and stakeholders who must choose between their individual and collective responsibilities, creating internal dilemmas like the one Alice is facing now. It is also a disempowering situation for an ED never to get formal, structured feedback on their performance and contributions. So how can your organization avoid this?