Alberta Nonprofit Leaders’ Summit and the Future of Nonprofit Funding
We gathered more than 100 nonprofit leaders from across the province to discuss challenges and opportunities, share learnings, strengthen connections, and spark meaningful conversation.
The second pilot of the Alberta Nonprofit Leaders’ Summit took place May 8th and 9th in Edmonton. Attendees heard from Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women Tanya Fir, Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, and pollster Janet Brown. We discussed topics including funding (more on that below), workforce strategy, changemaker wellbeing, and retirement benefit plans for the sector.
Our Friday panel discussion on the Future of Nonprofit Funding was especially powerful, with four speakers bringing bold and thoughtful perspectives. Our President & CEO, Angie Gélinas, has highlighted key takeaways from this discussion. Have a read and let her know what resonates with you. Let’s keep this conversation going. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
A Broken Model in Need of Repair(?)
Christi Cruz challenged the inefficiency of our current foundation funding model, estimating that $1.1 billion (yes, billion!) is spent annually on unsolicited grant applications, with a 99% rejection rate. Her perspective is a call to action: What if we redirected that $1.1 billion in wasted administrative costs back into the communities that need it most?
Confronting the Charity Gap
John Hallward spoke about Canada’s widening charity gap and proposed systemic solutions. His idea: a Social Sector Fund seeded by foundations contributing just 0.025% of their assets annually. That small amount (essentially a rounding error for many large foundations) would generate $40 million a year, without government involvement. It’s a sustainable, strategic approach that empowers the sector to invest in its own capacity, free from policy shifts or legislative delays.
Reimagining Philanthropy
Paul Nazareth highlighted the surge of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)—vehicles for giving that often sit idle rather than being directed to communities that need them most.
This is not just a logistical hurdle; it’s a profound disconnect between wealth and impact. He also emphasized the inequity of a system in Canada where 80% of donations go to just 2% of charities. His call is simple but powerful: Philanthropy must evolve to meet communities where they are, unlocking resources for those closest to the work.
The Future Is Here (and Fast!)
Liban Abokor brought the conversation into the future, asking us to look hard at the impact of AI and technology on our sector. He urged us to think not only about how technology will reshape our work but also about how we can leverage it to build radical resilience in our communities. He identified three essential ways nonprofits must evolve: anticipatory thinking, systems change over service delivery, and radical resilience. Liban also asked a profound question: Who will we be serving in the future?
Our speakers at the panel on the Future of Nonprofit Funding made it clear that while the work happening right now is incredible, there’s still room to think bigger and act bolder to really strengthen our collective impact. What do you think?