CharityVillage Connects

CharityVillage

Welcome to CharityVillage Connects – a series that highlights topics vital to the nonprofit sector in Canada. CharityVillage is a resource to over 170,000 charitable and nonprofit organizations in Canada. This series, hosted by President Mary Barroll, will provide in-depth conversations with experts in the nonprofit sector. We’ll examine diversity, equity and inclusion, innovations in fundraising, the gap in female representation in leadership and many other subjects crucial to the growth and development of charities throughout Canada.

  1. 9h ago

    Fewer Volunteers, Higher Stakes: Can Canada Rebuild a Culture of Giving?

    In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we explore Canada’s growing volunteer challenge and what it will take to rebuild a stronger culture of giving time and contributing to community. With demand for charitable services rising while organizations struggle to recruit, retain, and support the volunteers they depend on, how can the sector adapt to changing expectations around volunteering? Join us as sector leaders discuss how organizations can rethink the way they engage volunteers and why a strong culture of volunteerism may be essential to Canada’s social and economic resilience. Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance ·         Dr. Tara McWhinney, Postdoctoral Fellow, Charity Insights Canada Project (CICP), Carleton University ·         Sara Lyons, Chief Strategy and Programs Officer, Volunteer Canada ·         Alyssa Brierley, Executive Director, National Institute on Ageing ·         Olga Stachova, CEO, MOSAIC ·         Adam Janes, CVA, President, Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC) ·         Michael Burns, Chair, Engage Canada   About your Host Mary Barroll, president of CharityVillage, is an online business executive and lawyer with a background in media, technology and IP law. A former CBC journalist and independent TV producer, in 2013 she was appointed General Counsel & VP Media Affairs at CharityVillage.com, Canada’s largest job portal for charities and not for profits in Canada, and then President in 2021. Mary is also President of sister company, TalentEgg.ca, Canada’s No.1, award-winning job board and online career resource that connects top employers with top students and grads. Additional Resources from this Episode We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list: ·         Volunteering and charitable giving in Canada, from 2018 to 2023 (Statistics Canada) ·         New Results from Statistics Canada’s Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating – Volunteer Vibe | Parlons Bénévolat (Volunteer Canada) ·         CICP 2026 Survey on Volunteer Workforce Trends & Challenges·         CICP 2025 Survey on Volunteer Recruitment and Retention ·         CICP 2024 Survey on Volunteer Recruitment Post COVID ·         CICP 2023 Survey on Volunteer Recruitment ·         National Action Strategy on Volunteering (Volunteer Canada) ·         2025 Ageing in Canada Survey (National Institute on Ageing) ·         Young Volunteers, Big Opportunity: What the 2023 Data Tells Us About Youth and Volunteering (Canadian Knowledge Hub for Giving and Volunteering, 2026) ·         National Profile for the Volunteer Engagement Profession (VMPC, 2026) ·         Announcing the relaunch and expansion of Volunteer Success (2026) Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here. #podcast #charity

  2. Jul 28

    The Spring Economic Update: Where Does the Nonprofit Sector Fit in Canada’s Future?

    In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we examine what Canada’s 2026 Spring Economic Update means for the nonprofit and charitable sector. Where do the federal government’s priorities lie? Where does the care economy fit within Canada’s future? Sector experts explore the opportunities and challenges ahead, including potential impacts on funding, regulation, service delivery, and community wellbeing. Tune in to The Spring Economic Update: Where Does the Nonprofit Sector Fit in Canada’s Future? Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance  Nicole D'Aoust, Charity and Non-Profit Lawyer, Partner, McCarthy TétraultTyler Meredith, Founding Partner, Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips Policy AdvisorsArmine Yalnizyan, Economist and Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers, Atkinson FoundationDr. Susan Phillips, Professor Emerita, Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton UniversityAbout your HostMary Barroll, president of CharityVillage, is an online business executive and lawyer with a background in media, technology and IP law. A former CBC journalist and independent TV producer, in 2013 she was appointed General Counsel & VP Media Affairs at CharityVillage.com, Canada’s largest job portal for charities and not for profits in Canada, and then President in 2021. Mary is also President of sister company, TalentEgg.ca, Canada’s No.1, award-winning job board and online career resource that connects top employers with top students and grads. Additional Resources from this Episode We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list: Spring Economic Update 2026: Canada Strong For All (Government of Canada, 2026)Registered Charity Information Return T3010 (Canada Revenue Agency)Charity Insights Canada Project (Carleton University)Million-Dollar Murray (The New Yorker, 2006)Dunn House Social Medicine Housing Model (University Health Network, 2026)Charities and Giving: Guidance CG-032 – Registered charities making grants to non-qualified donees (Canada Revenue Agency, 2023)Disbursement Quota Calculation (Canada Revenue Agency)Canada Strong Fund (Government of Canada, 2026)Build Canada Homes (Government of Canada, 2026)Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.#podcast #charity

  3. Jun 23

    The Future of Fundraising: Digital Giving, AI, Securities & Legacy Gifts

    In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we explore the changing landscape of Canadian philanthropy and the new fundraising trends that are shaping the future of the sector. Drawing on insights from the 2026 Giving Report, we look at how donor behaviour, technology, AI, legacy giving, and collaboration are reshaping the way nonprofits fund their work. What does it take to build stronger donor relationships, reimagine giving, and create resilience in such a volatile environment? Join us as we dig into the data, unpack the opportunities, and explore what charities and nonprofits can do now to prepare for the years ahead.Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance Julie Fiorini, General Manager, Donor Services & Brand Marketing, CanadaHelpsWen-Chih O’Connell, Executive Director, PayPal Giving Fund CanadaAllen Davidov - Senior Vice President and Practice Leader, EnvironicsAnalyticsKelly Cole, President & CEO, Sunnybrook Hospital FoundationAlain Mootoo, Chief Operating Officer, CAMH FoundationDeepa Chaudhary, CEO, GrantOrb.comAbout your Host Mary Barroll, president of CharityVillage, is an online business executive and lawyer with a background in media, technology and IP law. A former CBC journalist and independent TV producer, in 2013 she was appointed General Counsel & VP Media Affairs at CharityVillage.com, Canada’s largest job portal for charities and not for profits in Canada, and then President in 2021. Mary is also President of sister company, TalentEgg.ca, Canada’s No.1, award-winning job board and online career resource that connects top employers with top students and grads.Additional Resources from this Episode We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list: The Giving Report 2026 (CanadaHelps, 2026)The Future of Giving: Looking Beyond the Selfie – Unveiling Philanthropic Trends Among Canada’s Generation Z and Millennial Donors (PayPal Giving Fund Canada and AgentsC, 2023)Increase Your Fundraising with Securities Donations (CanadaHelps, 2026)Donor Activation Toolkit (Environics Analytics, 2026)PRIZM Segment Explorer (Environics Analytics)GrantOrb.comLearn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.

  4. May 19

    Responsible AI Adoption for Nonprofits

    In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we explore what responsible AI adoption looks like for nonprofits. AI is reshaping nonprofit work, from fundraising to communications and everything in between. This shift raises urgent questions surrounding privacy, trust, equity, wellbeing, accountability, and mission alignment. Join us as sector experts provide practical advice on setting guardrails, building internal capacity, using AI thoughtfully, and keeping human judgment at the center of mission-driven work. Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance  Alexandra Samuel, AI & Digital Workplace ExpertAlain Mootoo, Chief Operating Officer, CAMH FoundationTina Crouse, AI Ethics & Strategy SpecialistDianne Clark, Founder and CEO of Trendspire and ProEdventures AcademyDeepa Chaudhary, CEO, Grantorb.com About your Host Mary Barroll, president of CharityVillage, is an online business executive and lawyer with a background in media, technology and IP law. A former CBC journalist and independent TV producer, in 2013 she was appointed General Counsel & VP Media Affairs at CharityVillage.com, Canada’s largest job portal for charities and not for profits in Canada, and then President in 2021. Mary is also President of sister company, TalentEgg.ca, Canada’s No.1, award-winning job board and online career resource that connects top employers with top students and grads. Additional Resources from this Episode We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list: Assess Your AI Maturity (Info-Tech Research Group, 2023)Transform (Flourishing Systems / IslamicFamily, 2025)Grant Orb (Grant Orb, 2025)Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here. This episode of CharityVillage Connects is brought to you by the WUSC. For more than 50 years, WUSC has been working alongside communities around the world to catalyze positive education and economic outcomes for young people. Now, Canadians have the chance to join us by volunteering internationally. As a WUSC volunteer, you’ll collaborate with local organizations, share your experience, and help co-create initiatives that expand opportunities for young people. For more information about how you can use your expertise to improve economic opportunities for young people, visit volunteer.wusc.ca. #podcast #charity

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Welcome to CharityVillage Connects – a series that highlights topics vital to the nonprofit sector in Canada. CharityVillage is a resource to over 170,000 charitable and nonprofit organizations in Canada. This series, hosted by President Mary Barroll, will provide in-depth conversations with experts in the nonprofit sector. We’ll examine diversity, equity and inclusion, innovations in fundraising, the gap in female representation in leadership and many other subjects crucial to the growth and development of charities throughout Canada.