Next week: PFC Workshop - February 23, 12 - 2 PM (ET): Upscaling Support to Black Canadian Communities: What are the Opportunities for the Philanthropic Sector? (Exclusive to PFC Members)

Designed as a follow-up to the February 3 webinar for those members who want to engage further, this two-hour workshop will serve as an opportunity to dig deeper and to learn more about ways of actioning the report's main recommendations, notably the creation of a Foundation for Black Communities (FBC).  Open to PFC members only, participants will be provided with time and space to learn most about:

- Challenges and opportunities faced by Black Communities in Canada

- Practical ways to support and build lasting relations with Black Communities in Canada

The workshop encompasses a mix of plenaries and breakout groups that will allow participants to engage directly with the Foundation for Black Communities and other foundations already engaged in supporting its successful establishment. CEOs, EDs, and board directors are encouraged to participate. Register Here

Launch of the first PFC Cohort on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion - JEDI Accelerator for Foundations

March 3, 2021, 02:00 PM (ET) - Special Edition - PFC's JEDI Accelerator Information Session. Find It Here

Reminder: Early Bird rates will end in 3 days.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) have become pressing priorities for foundations in Canada. How do you start? How do you move from general commitment to action? PFC is offering a new program in 2021 for Foundations that want to bring JEDI to life throughout their organization - from governance to grantmaking. Who should participate? All foundations, whether small or large, with an internal commitment to advancing JEDI through policy and concrete steps in the coming year. How can my foundation participate? When possible, foundations are encouraged to designate 2 to 3 participants from their foundation boards, foundation leaders, or foundation senior program staff to form a team that will participate in the cohort. For those foundations that are unable to form a team, individual registration is also open. 

When? From April 2021 to February 2022. More details on program, cost, and facilitators here

Urban Indigenous Forum: Addressing Systemic Racism in Healthcare

The National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) released this report summarizing its forum, key themes and a list of recommendations to advance work in improving health care outcomes and addressing racism in healthcare for urban Indigenous people. Read More

Tax Law Governing Charities Perpetuates Systemic Racism and Needs to be Reformed

“When the systemic and intergenerational harm of racist policies continue to stay rooted in place, we see how the health, social and economic inequities faced by Indigenous peoples get entrenched.” This article argues that the Income Tax Act (ITA) needs to be amended to address systemic racism in Canada. Read More

Diversity of Charity and Non-Profit Boards of Directors: Overview of the Canadian Non-Profit Sector

Charities and non-profit organizations play a vital role in supporting and enriching the lives of Canadians. Statistics Canada released the findings from this crowdsourcing initiative. The objectives of the survey were to collect timely information on the activities of these organizations and the individuals they serve and to learn more about the diversity of those who serve on their boards of directors. Read More

Building Strength: Transformational Research in Adolescent Mental Health

Young people are more likely to experience mental health disorders than any other age group and yet have the least access to mental health care in Canada. This report provides an overview of the Graham Boeckh Foundation’s (GBF) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR) partnership to co-develop, co-fund and launch TRAM. Their experiences may help other organizations to build future partnerships in advancing and supporting patient-oriented health research. Read More

L’adaptation aux changements climatiques dans le réseau de la santé au Québec: les progrès, les facteurs facilitants, les barrières et les besoins (In French)  

This report, released by the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ), highlights Quebec’s progress in adapting to climate change in the health network as well as the political, legal, organizational and social barriers limiting further large involvement of the network in this area. The report also indicates the needs and potential solutions to overcome these constraints and ensure the continuity of the efforts already undertaken in the health sector to adapt to climate change. Read More

The Historic Opportunity to End Disability Poverty in Canada

Over the course of 2020, PFC, Ashoka Canada and seven Canadian foundations piloted the Foundation Academy for Collaboration. In September 2020, the first-ever commitment to a federal national disability benefit program was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his Speech from the Throne. While this news was welcome, concern was raised about the competing priorities and limited capacity for government to design and implement a benefit program. This poses an opportunity to put our learning into action. This new Community-led Collaboration Fund calls for visionary support to end poverty for Canadians living with disabilities forever, and to do so in a way that creates new levels of agency and capacity among this community. For more information, contact Ashoka Canada Director of Venture and Partnerships, Danica Straith, at dstraith@ashoka.org