Alberta Nonprofit Leaders’ Summit: Listen Equip Advocate

By Angie Gélinas - President & CEO

First off, a huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the second pilot of the Alberta Nonprofit Leaders’ Summit on May 8th and 9th. Your energy, insights, and willingness to dig into the big issues made it an inspiring way to kick off my new role as President & CEO of the Nonprofit Chamber.

I’ll be sharing some of my takeaways from Friday’s Panel Discussion with the Chamber Board and thought I’d share them with you, too. The presentations were powerful, and they really got me thinking about both the challenges and the opportunities ahead of us, and we will be using the contributions you all shared to inform the Chamber’s work on appropriate funding as we go forward. Below are my key takeaways from each of the four incredible speakers who joined us. I’d love to hear what resonated with you, too—let’s keep this conversation going.

A Broken Model in Need of Repair(?)

Christi Cruz challenged us to confront the inefficiencies of our current foundation funding model. She estimated that $1.1 billion—an almost unimaginable sum—is spent annually on unsolicited grant applications with a 99% rejection rate. Christi raised the concern that we are chasing dollars through a broken system, investing in processes that yield little return. She urged nonprofits and funders to rethink how we engage with each other and explore smarter, more sustainable pathways that don’t drain our sector of its limited resources.

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 did not mince words when he spoke about the charity gap in Canada—the growing divide between rising community needs and the sector's ability to meet them. His solution? Systemic, policy-driven change.

John introduced the concept of a Social Sector Fund, a collaborative, sector-driven initiative that would draw a fraction of the $150 billion held by foundations to fund strategic capacity-building projects.

What stood out was John’s innovative funding formula to seed this Social Sector Fund. He proposed that all grant-making foundations contribute one-quarter of one-tenth of one percent (0.025%) of their assets annually. This minimal contribution—essentially a rounding error for many large foundations—would generate $40 million per year.

More importantly, this would be achieved without government intervention, representing a zero-cost solution to the public purse. It’s a sustainable, strategic approach that empowers the sector to invest in its own capacity, free from policy shifts or legislative delays.

John’s concept is daring yet elegantly simple: leverage existing assets to fuel sector-driven growth. It left me wondering: Could this kind of thinking move us from reactive to proactive?

Reimagining Philanthropy

Paul Nazareth spoke with unfiltered passion about the need to reimagine philanthropy. He highlighted the surge of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)—vehicles for giving that often sit idle rather than being directed to immediate community needs. His words were a reminder that generosity, not just giving, must be at the heart of our work.

Paul painted a vivid picture of how this model stifles community growth. DAFs now control significant amounts of capital—one in ten major gifts to registered charities come from these funds. Despite this, the funds often remain unspent, locked away from the communities that need them most. This is not just a logistical hurdle; it’s a profound disconnect between wealth and impact.

He urged us to move beyond traditional fundraising models and embrace community-based giving that allows donations to flow where they are most needed, rather than sitting idle for strategic dispersal. Paul’s challenge was clear: We need to rethink not just how much is given, but where it goes and who benefits.

Paul also emphasized philanthropic inequity, highlighting that 80% of donations in Canada go to just 2% of charities—primarily hospitals, universities, and large institutions. Meanwhile, grassroots nonprofits are left to scrape by with limited resources. 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 It’s Fast(!)

Liban Abokor brought the conversation into the future, asking us to look hard at the impact of AI and technology on our sector. His call was not just for adaptation but for anticipation. 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.

Liban framed his talk with a powerful reminder: The ground is shifting beneath us, and our sector must be ready to move with it. He identified three essential ways nonprofits must evolve:

1. Anticipatory Thinking: Look forward, not just react to crises. Analyze technological trends like AI and understand their impacts before they disrupt services.

2. Systems Change over Service Delivery: Challenge systems that perpetuate inequality and instability. Concepts like universal basic income and community wealth building should move from ideas to reality.

3. Radical Resilience: Reimagine community spaces and social ties. Build resilient, local ecosystems that support people through economic shifts and technological disruption.

Liban also asked a profound question: Who will we be serving in the future? Which prompts us to imagine who will be affected in the workforce by AI’s proliferation? Questions like these should guide our strategic thinking.

In Closing

Thinking back on the conversations we had during the Summit, I’m even more convinced of what’s possible when we come together. Our speakers 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.

And I want to recognize the amazing work that’s already happening across the nonprofit community. What you shared during the Summit was a testament to the strength and creativity of our sector. For just the second pilot of this event, it felt like we’re onto something special—there’s a real appetite for collaboration, learning, and growth in a more intimate environment with a few topics.

As I continue to settle (!?) into this new role, I want to hear from you. What stood out to you during the panel? What opportunities do you see for us to push forward together? I’m excited to keep this momentum going and make sure our sector isn’t just keeping up—but leading the way. A short 5-question survey is linked here. Also linked here are notes from the Alberta Nonprofit Workforce Council breakout session, slides from Janet Brown’s morning session , and slides from Christi Cruz’s funding presentation.

Thanks again for being part of this journey. I’m looking forward to what’s next.

Angie