PFC Guest Blog

Interview with Adwoa K. Buahene, Board Member at PFC

"Since ‘necessity is the mother of invention’, I believe we will see more rapid movement on matters that were already beginning pre-pandemic."

Find It Here 

Data Mapping Series - August Report

Philanthropy in Canada is undergoing a major shift in response to the pandemic and many funders have adapted to this crisis and adjusted their support to grantees. To capture this response, we are collecting data to produce an interactive mapping tool that will provide a snapshot of activities and funding gaps and which will enable collaboration between funders. Here's an extended August report on our findings.

Find It Here 

How Two Non-Profit Leaders Joined Forces to Promote Black Philanthropy Month

Michael DeVaul, a strategy leader at YMCA of Greater Charlotte, stepped in to SHARE Charlotte’s decision to engage the city’s philanthropic community around Black Philanthropy Month 2020. Their commitment to incorporating racial representation drove them to connect the SHARE Charlotte team with the Black-led team of New Generation of African American Philanthropists (NGAAP). Read More

Coronavirus Accelerates a Mental-Health Crisis for Canada’s Indigenous Youth

CNN reports that the pandemic is adding a layer of risk to indigenous youth, as they were already at higher risk of mental illnesses before the shutdown for COVID-19 in March. This article emphasizes that experts have warned for years that mental health support needs improvement, with at-risk youth coping with intergenerational trauma, addiction, food and shelter insecurity, and domestic violence. Read More

Mark Zuckerberg’s Effort to Disrupt Philanthropy Has a Race Problem

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative received criticism about its policies, internal practices, and its approach to giving, as its Black employees suggest that the organization’s goal of advancing justice has been compromised. Read More

Black and Indigenous Communities of Fredericton Uniting for Future Advocacy 

The Black and Indigenous communities in Fredericton are mobilizing themselves to aid one another in standing up against common systemic issues. Their mission in Fredericton is mostly related to community support, defunding the police, and making sure the most vulnerable people have the support from the government - and not just criminalized. Read More

Ottawa to Provide Additional $305M to Indigenous Communities for COVID-19 Support 

This funding will support community initiatives that aim to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. CBC reports that in addition to preparedness measures for the spread of COVID-19, such as supporting elders and vulnerable community members, addressing food insecurity, educational, and other supports for children, mental health assistance and emergency response services are still in an urgent call for support. Read More

Will Philanthropy Invest in a Sustainable Food System for the Long Haul?

Multiple funder networks and foundations have stepped during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing emergency relief funds to small farms. As the pandemic has made visible some of the downsides of traditional corporate agriculture and the benefits of local agricultural production, questions arise around philanthropy and its capacity to invest in systems necessary to make the gains of local producers last. Read More

10 Steps to Effective Philanthropy During A Crisis: What Five Great Funders Can Teach Us

Talia Milgrom Elcott runs a non-profit and supports a funder’s collaborative of numerous philanthropic, corporate, and family foundations. Her article explores what funders are doing to support their grantees and strengthen the field during this time of instability. Read More

Call Auntie Hotline for Indigenous People in the GTA Offers Support During Pandemic

This hotline connects callers to a range of support options like Indigenous midwives, family doctors, health care teams, and with information about COVID-19 and testing procedures. It’s a product of an existing project, Seventh Generation Midwives and Well Living House called the Baby Bundle Project. The goal of this research project is to learn about barriers facing pregnant Indigenous women with the aim of improving services for Indigenous families. Read More

Philanthropy: Generous Quebecers During The Pandemic

At a time when the We Charity (UNIS) is drawn into political controversy, the tragedy in Beirut moves the world already struck by the pandemic, organizations of mutual aid and charities are mobilizing themselves to react to urgent needs. Although questions arise on the giving culture in Quebec, this article explores how Quebecers respond to those needs and support philanthropic organizations in a multidimensional crisis. Read More 

How is COVID-19 Impacting Justice for Women? 

This report draws on the Georgetown Institute of Women, Peace, and Security’s investigation on the difficulties women face in seeking justice in light of COVID-19. It examines common themes of fighting the pandemic, mass layoffs, closure of businesses aligned with troubling themes in women’s justice, such as intimate partner violence (IPV) and not limited to the lack of access to information via the internet. Read More

Uganda Looks Online for Answers to COVID Economic Crisis

From banking to food delivery, and taxi bookings, Uganda became accustomed to many of the online tools which do not rely on face-to-face interactions. The UN, part of their economic development mission, is supporting Uganda in this shift as a way to help developing economies during the global economic crisis brought about by the pandemic. Read More

Polio Vaccination Campaigns Restart in Afghanistan and Pakistan after COVID-19 Hiatus

Polio vaccination campaigns have resumed in Afghanistan and Pakistan, months after having been severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In these last two polio-endemic countries in the world, COVID-19 left 50 million children without their polio vaccine. Vaccination drives in July reached about 780,00 children and three provinces in the two countries, respectively. Read More

UN and Partners Launch $565M Appeal for Lebanon

The impact of the explosions has been catastrophic in Lebanon, a country already facing serious economic, social, and health pandemics. The UN and its aid partners are addressing the overwhelming needs in Lebanon following the deadly explosions that demolished large areas of Beirut around two weeks ago to support relief and recovery efforts. Read More