Rethinking Philanthropy and Community Change
Friday, November 29, 6:00-9:00 PM
Navigating the first snow day of the season, November 29th, 2024, over 50 community members gathered at the Simcoe Street Theatre for the screening of Uncharitable, a groundbreaking documentary by Dan Pallotta. Hosted by The Institute of Southern Georgian Bay, the event sparked engaging conversations around the fragility of the nonprofit ecosystem, the power of philanthropy, and the need to reimagine community change.
Who Was There?
The event welcomed a diverse audience, including nonprofit executives, board members, business owners, philanthropists, and engaged residents from across Southern Georgian Bay. Attendees represented a cross-section of sectors, underscoring the region’s shared commitment to tackling its most pressing challenges. Many described the film as “impactful” and expressed the sentiment that “everyone needs to see this film.”
Bold Statements by our Discussion Leaders
- Anne Brayley, The SGB Innovation Fund
- Catherine Daw, The Collingwood Climate Action Team (CCAT)
- Dale Biddell, Board Member- Escarpment Cooridor Alliance, Philanthropist
- Jordie Burton, Board Member- The Institute of Southern Georgian Bay, Philanthropist
Key Takeaways from the Evening
- The Nonprofit Sector as an Economic Driver
Nonprofits and charities are a significant part of Canada’s economy, contributing $192 billion annually, or 8.3% of GDP. However, this critical sector faces growing challenges, including declining donor bases and unequal distribution of resources.
- The “Too Much, Not Enough” Paradigm
Catherine Daw highlighted a recurring theme in the discussions:- Too much wealth is concentrated in large, national charities and not enough support is directed to smaller, regional organizations.
- Too much need exists for nonprofit services, yet there are not enough donors or resources to meet the demand.
- Too much emphasis is placed on nonprofits to solve societal problems, while not enough is being done by government to address systemic issues.
- Collaboration Barriers
Despite the benefits of resource-sharing and collective efforts, nonprofits expressed reluctance to collaborate due to concerns about losing their unique identities, autonomy, or donor bases. However, convening board members from diverse organizations to foster dialogue was seen as a promising step forward.
- A Call for Innovation in Philanthropy
Funders emphasized the need for greater transparency and impact reporting from charities to help align donor expectations with nonprofit work. Innovation in funding models, such as endowment funds and pooled resources, was also highlighted as a potential solution.
- Reframing Expectations
The conversations underscored the importance of reframing how we think about nonprofits and their capacity to create change. Attendees noted the need to provide charities with more time, trust, and resources to address complex challenges effectively.
- The Role of The Institute
Attendees identified The Institute of Southern Georgian Bay as a key player in fostering collaboration and driving systemic change. Suggestions included convening nonprofit leaders, facilitating resource-sharing conversations, and building stronger connections between funders and charities.
The event highlighted both the urgency and the complexity of transforming the nonprofit ecosystem in Southern Georgian Bay. As a response:
- Continuing the Conversation: The Institute may explore the possibility of convening a regional gathering of nonprofit board members to discuss collaboration and shared resources.
- Sharing the Film: Recognizing its impact, The Institute had the opportunity to share a viewing limited-time-only viewing link for Uncharitable to a wider audience, leveraging the opportunity to promote thoughtful dialogue about philanthropy and nonprofit innovation.
- Engaging Funders: Strengthening connections with funders and providing more transparent impact metrics for nonprofits will be a focus moving forward.
Postcard Highlights
Attendees shared their reflections and bold ideas for the future, including:
- Growing regional endowment funds to support social enterprises.
- Increasing collaboration among like-minded charities.
- Inspiring younger generations to engage in philanthropy and community-building.
- Forming a collaborative board committee to address shared challenges.
These postcards will be mailed back to the participants with registration information for the follow-up event.
Next Steps
As we look ahead to 2025, The Institute is committed to fostering the relationships, tools, and discussions needed to drive meaningful change in our community. The film screening was just the beginning. Together, we can reimagine philanthropy and build a resilient future for Southern Georgian Bay.
We heard you loud and clear: the conversation must continue. In response, we’re excited to announce an upcoming Human-Centered Design Thinking Workshop in January 2025. This hands-on workshop will build on the themes explored in Uncharitable and provide tools and strategies to:
- Reimagine the role of philanthropy in addressing local challenges.
- Collaboratively design bold pathways for a resilient, equitable, and sustainable Southern Georgian Bay.
Stay tuned for registration details and mark your calendars for this transformative event. Together, we’ll translate the ideas sparked at the screening into actionable steps for meaningful change.
A Special GivingTuesday Opportunity
As a follow-up to the event, the team behind Uncharitable has generously partnered with Gathr, Do Good Points, and ROCO Films to make the film available for free online. From December 3rd to December 17th, you can share the film with friends, colleagues, and family—because everyone does need to see this.
We believe that Southern Georgian Bay can meet today’s needs of the planet, its people, and economic vitality…without compromising the needs of future generations.
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