Trust and Accountability in Canada’s Charitable, Philanthropic and Regulatory/Public Sectors

For focus groups for this study, we鈥檙e looking for individuals or employees from four sectors:

1) operating charities and/or nonprofit organizations
2) grant-making foundations
3) government agencies and/or regulatory bodies
4) members of the Canadian public with an interest in civil society and institutional accountability

Participation is voluntary and confidential, and all responses will be de-identified before analysis. Also, you may withdraw from the study at any time within one month after your session鈥檚 conclusion.

Focus groups

Single Audience Focus Groups (SAFG): structured peer discussions among representatives from the same sector (1.5 hours each).

Multi-Audience Focus Groups (MAFG): cross-sector, guided dialogues with representatives from four sectors: charities/nonprofits; foundations; government/regulatory; and the public (2.5 hours each).

As a token of appreciation, SAFG participants will each receive a $75 gift card per session and MAFG participants will each receive a $125 gift card per session.

Dates & times (2026)

All groups will take place at the Metcalfe Hotel (123 Metcalfe St., in Ottawa). Virtual groups will also be offered (see below, in “How to express your interest in participating”).

Monday June 22 (all times are EDT)
9:30-11:00 am: SAFG for charities/nonprofit representatives
1:00-2:30 pm: SAFG for government employees
3:00-4:30 pm: SAFG for foundation reps

Tuesday, June 23 (times are EDT)
11:00 am to 12:30 pm: SAFG for members of the general public
2:00-4:30 pm: MAFG session 1 for individuals from a mix of four sectors. Note, to maintain research integrity, participants who participate in this session must commit to participating in the next two sessions on July 27 and August 24.

Monday, July 27
2:00-4:30 pm: MAFG session 2

Monday, August 24
2:00-4:30 pm: MAFG session 3

This study has received ethics clearance (protocol #125374) from the 杏吧原创 University Research Ethics Board (CUREB).

How to express your interest in participating

In the subject line of an email to TAPCanada@cunet.carleton.ca, please indicate which of the following focus groups you wish to participate in: (1) SAFG Charities; (2) SAFG Foundations; (3) SAFG Government; (4) SAFG Public; or (5) MAFG. Also, provide a brief description of your involvement with the sector. A member of our research team will follow up with more information, including ethical considerations, and will confirm your interest before registering you in the study.

If you鈥檙e interested in attending virtually, rather than in person, please note this in your email. More information about virtual sessions will be provided.

We look forward to hearing from you, and thank you for supporting this important study.

Nathan Grasse, PhD
Principal Investigator,
School of Public Policy & Administration,
杏吧原创 University

The post Call for Research Participants: Trust & Accountability in Canada’s Charitable, Philanthropic & Regulatory/Public Sectors appeared first on MPNL.

Please :

The post Our Recent Newsletter appeared first on MPNL.

Centre for Philanthropy and Civil Society

Canada’s only graduate program in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership, the MPNL program, would be the ideal home for Canada’s first Centre for Philanthropy — and would multiply the focus on important initiatives, such as Women in Philanthropy. Dr. Susan Phillips, CM, explains:

Chair in Philanthropy

Housed at 杏吧原创 University, the Chair in Philanthropy builds on the successful MPNL program and is key in establishing a Centre for Philanthropy and Civil Society. Below, Linsey Sherman-Zekulin speaks on behalf of a collaborative group of anonymous donors who recognize that 杏吧原创 is uniquely situated for a Chair and Centre: MPNL is the only graduate program of its kind in Canada; it has a depth of expertise developed over the 13 years of its existence; it’s located in the nation’s capital and serves the entire country; and it links the philanthropic and nonprofit elements of our sector through research, scholarship and thought leadership. She’s introduced by Brenda O鈥橬eill, Dean of the Faculty of Public and Global Affairs (FPGA), at 杏吧原创 University, during the MPNL program’s “Celebrating Philanthropy” event on June 26, 2025.

The post Centre for Philanthropy and Civil Society appeared first on MPNL.

“Philanthropic Response to Disasters: Gifts, Givers and Consequences”

Edited by Alexandra Williamson, Diana Leat and Susan Phillips (2023)

(2023) is a pioneering effort to collect established knowledge about all aspects of philanthropic responses to disasters in one condensed, informative and readable volume. Published by Policy Press, the book is a step toward curating our existing knowledge in the emerging field of 鈥榙isaster philanthropy鈥� and to building a robust base for future research, practice and public policy.

Contents of the Book

1. Introduction — Diana Leat, Susan D. Phillips and Alexandra Williamson
2. The Public鈥檚 Philanthropic Response to Disaster: Plus Ca Change? — Diana Leat
3. Disaster Fundraising: Readiness Matters — Wendy Scaife
4. Roles of Philanthropic Foundations as Funders and Distribution Agents in Disaster Response — Alexandra Williamson and Diana Leat
5. The Private Sector and Disasters: From Reactive Response to Disaster Resilience — Michael Moran, Graham Dwyer and Krystian Seibert
6. Fundraising, Grant Making and Regulatory Issues: Regulating Good in Bad Times — Myles McGregor-Lowndes
7. Doing Good Better: Public Policy for Disaster Philanthropy — Susan D. Phillips and Kristen Pue
8. Philanthropy鈥檚 Place in Community-Based Capacity Development for Disaster Resilience — Megan Conway
9. Nonprofit Collaboration and Coordination in Disaster Response: Lessons from the September 11th Recovery — Gregory R. Witkowski
10. The Promise and Reality of Philanthropy in Disasters — Jeffrey Schlegelmilch
11. Conclusions and Looking Forward — Alexandra Williamson, Diana Leat and Susan D. Phillips

Alexandra Williamson is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the (ACPNS) in the Faculty of Business & Law at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She has more than a decade of experience working in the philanthropic sector in Melbourne, first with one of Australia鈥檚 largest private foundations, and then within the charitable trusts team of a national trustee company. She was also part of the research team working on Giving Australia 2015-2016, the largest ever Australian study into philanthropic giving.

Diana Leat is a board member for and the . Based in the UK, she has more than 30 years of experience as an academic specialist in philanthropy, and as a consultant and board member, including with the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and the Big Lottery Fund. Leat is the author of more than 100 articles and books on the non-profit sector and social policy, specializing in philanthropic foundations.

Susan Phillips is a Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration and Founder and Supervisor of the Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Graduate Program at 杏吧原创 University. She’s researching “Models of cross-sector leadership,” “The responses of foundations during COVID-19,” and “Strategies for enhancing the financial sustainability of Canada鈥檚 charities,” among other research projects, and she’s the Policy Lead with the Charity Insights Canada Project.

Recording of the book’s launch in May 2023

The post Book: “Philanthropic Response to Disasters” appeared first on MPNL.

The MPNL program signed a Memorandum of Understanding with and to collaborate in the advancement of philanthropic research, teaching and practice in Canada and explore the changing roles of philanthropy in addressing Canadian social insecurities and climate change.

PFC, with its rich history of supporting philanthropic foundations, is launching its as it celebrates its 25th year.

“The MOU between PhiLab, PFC and the MPNL program is an important milestone in our commitment to sharing research, translating knowledge, providing education for practitioners, and developing the next generation of philanthropy researchers,” says Jean-Marc Mangin, President & CEO of PFC. “This collaboration aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice in philanthropy, fostering deeper understanding and more impactful philanthropic efforts.”

At the same time, PhiLab鈥檚 renewed national structure will continue to bring together philanthropic researchers across the country and raise the profile of philanthropic research.

The three-way partnership will enable research collaborations on:

• sector data access and analysis;
• the evolving impact of sector regulation;
• monitoring of grantmaking and investing practices; and
• exploring new philanthropic vehicles, and the changing roles of philanthropy in addressing Canadian social needs.

The partnership builds on several years of ad hoc collaboration.

The post A Three-Way Partnership with PFC, PhiLab & MPNL appeared first on MPNL.

The Charity Insights Canada Project / Projet Canada Perspectives des Organismes de Bienfaisance (CICP-PCPOB) is an ambitious data-collection and data-distribution initiative about the nonprofit sector in Canada 鈥� and it鈥檚 now into its second year. In March, 2024, Callie Mathieson, the Chief Project Officer, spoke to PANL Perspectives about year two of the CICP-PCPOB. Click here for the story.

The post Plans for the Charity Insights Canada Project in Year Two appeared first on MPNL.

The MPNL program and TD Bank Group hosted “The Power of Women in Philanthropy鈥� event on Nov. 22, 2023.

A video recording of the event and links to Canadian and US research about women in philanthropy are below

Post-pandemic, women are a stronger force within the charitable and philanthropic sector in supporting grassroots initiatives, funding unpopular causes and driving systemic change. Our three panellists elaborated.

Panellists

Jo-Anne Ryan, Vice President of Philanthropic Advisory Services at TD Wealth and Executive Director of the Private Giving Foundation, presented the results of a TD report, Jo-Anne develops strategies to help clients incorporate philanthropy in their overall financial and estate plans. As a certified “21/64 advisor,” she works with multi-generational families to guide them along their philanthropic journey. She’s also led TD’s leadership role and initiatives around Women and Philanthropy since 2014, producing ground-breaking research and hosting events across the country highlighting the vital role that women play in driving social change. She’s a sought-after speaker and media spokesperson on philanthropy and the charitable landscape, and is the architect and Executive Director of the Private Giving Foundation, the first donor-advised fund to be launched by a financial institution in Canada. Jo-Anne is a member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planner’s government relations committee and is also the Vice Chair of the Board for Bishops University Foundation and a member of the MPNL program’s Advisory Council.

Jeannie Infante Sager, Director of the , at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, spoke about research findings from the US and the benefits of research on women in philanthropy. is a compilation of annual research reports that explore unique questions about the factors that shape gender-based giving patterns, including age, religion, income and marital status. Some of the research reports listed in the series are “Women & Girls Index 2023 Research Brief” and “Women Give 2021.” WPI envisions a world where women donors understand and use their growing power and influence supporting causes they care about; where fundraisers and nonprofit leaders take women seriously and approach them in ways that appeal to them; and where both women and men are giving, giving more, and giving more intentionally and effectively. Jeannie advances WPI鈥檚 efforts to translate research to practice, guides WPI鈥檚 national advisory council and serves on the school鈥檚 executive leadership team. She’s been quoted in an array of media outlets and is an active speaker on topics related to women鈥檚 philanthropy. She’s an associate professor with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and teaches with The Fundraising School. She serves as the past chair of the Indiana University Alumni Association鈥檚 board of managers and on the advisory council for WOC 鈥� Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy. Jeannie earned her master鈥檚 degree in philanthropic studies from Indiana University and was recognized with the distinguished alumni award from Rollins College.

Linsey Sherman-Zekulin, a lawyer and nonprofit leader with more than a decade of experience working with families in conflict, spoke about personal and observed experiences of women philanthropists. In 2019, she co-founded , an Ottawa-based charitable organization dedicated to doing philanthropy differently and with a specific focus on infant and early childhood mental health. Since 2020, through relationship-building and trust-based partnerships, Happy Roots has invested over $2 million into early childhood mental health in Ottawa, supporting community programming, research and the launch of an infant and early childhood mental health clinic — the first of its kind — at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. As a writer and speaker, Linsey is a long-standing advocate for gender equality, family justice reform and innovative approaches to philanthropy. She’s also the co-founder of , a social enterprise with a mission to use the power of travel to advance gender equality and fight gender-based violence in every part of the world. Linsey holds a Master鈥檚 degree in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University, a law degree from the University of Ottawa, and an undergraduate degree from 杏吧原创 University. She serves on the Board of Directors at and is an active member at her daughters鈥� school and dance studio.

Dr. Susan Phillips, Graduate Supervisor of 杏吧原创 University’s MPNL program and Professor in 杏吧原创’s School of Public Policy & Administration, moderated the panel. Her research focuses on comparative public policy for the third sector; philanthropy and nonprofits; and public management. She recently published a book, 鈥淧hilanthropic Response to Disasters: Gifts, Givers and Consequences,鈥� with Alexandra Williamson and Diana Leat.

Banner photo is courtesy of Chris Czermak.

The post “The Power of Women in Philanthropy” Recording, Reports & Resources appeared first on MPNL.