This year, graduate students in the MPNL program flew from Canada to Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of an MPNL course, Philanthropy and the SDGs, run in conjunction with the at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University).

“The course attracted me because I don’t know a lot about African philanthropy and the SDGs,” says MPNL student Katelyn MacCormac. “A lot of my background in the nonprofit sector is connected to accessibility organizations — but I know there’s so much more to the sector. This was a good opportunity for me to grow into roles involving international development, and it was cool to spend a semester online learning with the South African professors and students.”

The online course was conducted for both the Canadian and South African students, who, like the MPNL students, are also completing a masters degree in philanthropy.

“I’d never heard of the Sustainable Development Goals, and taking the course was my first in-depth look at what they mean and how they’re part of an international agenda,” says MPNL student Emma Murgida.

The to end poverty, improve health, reduce inequality, tackle climate change and attain other goals before 2030.

“I learned what different parts of the world are doing to address the SDGs, especially because the 2030 goal is approaching,” Murgida says. “The field visits in South Africa helped with that, as did the academic analyses from the South African instructors in class. It was a holistic experience.”

MPNL student Meghan Maack agrees. “Via Zoom, we’d had three or four sessions, led by professors at Wits University, and meeting the students and profs in person in Johannesburg was exciting.”

“We visited a farm and learned about sustainability practices there, such as growing indigenous Africa crops and using local seeds,” MacCormac adds. “The woman running the farm, Siphiwe Sithole, was focused on , which is about ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture globally. Her programming empowers other farmers, who she partners with, so that they can expand their operations. There’s an educational component for kids and people who don’t know about sustainable farming.”

MPNL student Katelyn James visited the same farm, run by , a nonprofit organization that supports small-scale farmers to grow indigenous African crops.

“Siphiwe Sithole, the founder, explained that her goal is to decolonize food and create sustainable businesses for farmers,” James explains. “Education and advocacy are a big part of her work. The indigenous crops are nutritious and drought-resistant, but knowledge about growing them has been mainly lost. As more and more farmers learn how to grow these crops and share their knowledge, the impact is multiplied.”

James was also impressed with , a South African women’s rights organization, especially with how it engaged graduate students and how it worked within feminist principles.

“When we were at Gender Links, the day started like we were in a classroom, sitting in a U shape, and everyone was engaged, both the Canadian MPNL students and the students at the Centre for African Philanthropy program,” James adds. “It was a bit like the MPNL’s Summer Institute, because of the high level of engagement and level of learning.”

“We visited one of Gender Links main locations, which was beautiful,” adds Katelyn MacCormac. “The location is for conferences and women who meet to discuss their experiences. The organization also provides women with entrepreneurship training, so that they can work to be economically independent.”

“It’s been interesting to think about growing into this area, as it’s not one that I would have seen myself working in before the course,” MacCormac says. “And since I’ve been back, I’ve met many people who tell me that African philanthropy and the SDGs, or the links between Canada and the sustainable development that’s happening in Africa, are part of their work.”

“The course was great,” Katelyn James adds. “It was the highlight of the MPNL program for me.”

Photos are courtesy of Katelyn MacCormac, Meghan Maack, Emma Murgida and Katelyn James.

The post Students Fly to South Africa as Part of MPNL Course appeared first on MPNL.

Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology and a minor in French from Mount Allison University in 2020. During her undergraduate, she took active leadership roles with several groups on campus, including serving as co-chair of the Relay for Life chapter, Vice President Public Relations of the Habitat for Humanity chapter, and serving on the Graduate Executive, among others.

Lisa’s passion for volunteerism and nonprofits led her to the MPNL program. She has a passion for criminal justice reform and incarceration-related programs, which she hopes to further explore during her time in the program. She hopes to learn how nonprofits can play a role in improving the reality of the criminal justice system and how nonprofits can be used as a tool for public policy and advocacy.

Lisa is excited to continue her education at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University and looks forward to learning from her peers about the current and future trends of nonprofits, all while strengthening her leadership skills.

In her spare time, Lisa is often found with her Australian Shepherd, Bandit, and going on hikes, baking and cooking.

The post Lisa Hanselmann, Student appeared first on MPNL.

When Laura (she/her) completed her undergraduate degree at Western University in 2013, she knew she wanted to one day pursue further education. She just didn’t yet know where her passions lay. Thankfully, her patience paid off and led to ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´â€™s MPNL program.

Laura launched her career in digital marketing and communications at the Ivey Business School. Eager to dedicate some of her free time to her community, she started volunteering. It was through her volunteer work with Anova, a nonprofit that provides shelter, counselling, and resources for abused women and their children, that she fell in love with the philanthropic sector and discovered a passion for ending gender-based violence.

Laura has spent five years volunteering on Anova’s crisis support line, working directly with the abused women. Through the MPNL program, Laura hopes to gain the leadership skills and strategic insights to make a larger impact in this sector.

Originally from Sarnia, Ontario, Laura is thrilled to relocate to Ottawa this fall. In her free time, she enjoys baking cookies, logging too many hours on her Nintendo Switch, and spending time outdoors. She’s also looking forward to dusting off her passport once it’s safe to travel again.

The post Laura Haggart, Student appeared first on MPNL.

Clarke completed his BA Combined Honours in International Development Studies, Political Science and Gender Studies from Dalhousie University in 2013. He began his career in the nonprofit world shortly after at CAWST, a water-and-sanitation, capacity-development organization based in Calgary. Clarke spent the next three years learning the nuances of monitoring and evaluation fieldwork in Zambia, as well as learning more about international program management, and training and facilitation.

He worked Operation Eyesight and the United Way of Greater Victoria. Looking to have a greater impact on the systemic funding issues facing nonprofits, Clarke moved further up the philanthropic stream and began as a Client Manager at Benevity, a tech company that facilitates the corporate philanthropic programs of many of the largest enterprise companies in the world. Working with clients like Microsoft Global, TELUS, Intuit and Macquarie, Clarke developed a complementary understanding of the charitable landscape through the lens of corporate social responsibility (CSR), donor-advised funds, and corporate purpose.

Clarke is now the Enablement Advisor for Client Success at Benevity and is responsible for educating CSR program managers on social impact strategy, impact measurement, and effective nonprofit partnership.

The post Clarke Foster, Student appeared first on MPNL.

After touring full time as a jazz singer-songwriter for several years following her university studies, Ellen moved into programming in the arts, which then naturally led to fundraising. While she’d been grant writing and crowdfunding for her own music activities for many years, she’d never considered fundraising as a career path.

Fast forward a few years: she now works as the Interim Associate Director in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta and is passionate about connecting donors with meaningful opportunities to make a lasting impact in the community. She believes in advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion, not only in fundraising but in every facet of our lives.

Ellen also volunteers with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Edmonton), with a jazz foundation/concert series, and runs an annual holiday fundraiser supporting different charities in Alberta.

Ellen is signed to record labels in Canada and Japan and is currently writing for her next album. When it’s safe to do so during the pandemic, she also still tours and performs regularly. She’s thrilled to be in the MPNL program at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ and looks forward to returning to campus at some point to catch a basketball game (she’s also a former Raven).

The post Ellen Doty, Student appeared first on MPNL.

Kelly (she/her) is a passionate nonprofit professional with over fifteen years of experience managing people and programs. From a place of warmth and with a good amount of fun, Kelly is happiest when working alongside diverse stakeholders and staff to create meaningful change.

In her career, Kelly is driven by a desire to improve programs and processes in order to strengthen organizational efficiency and help organizations better deliver on their missions. Her past experience includes leading 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion training with Egale Canada, managing community engagement programs with Volunteer Toronto and managing a large program staff at the Nishnawbe Gamik Friendship Centre.

In her current role, she leads the national volunteer engagement strategy for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, driving organizational change and strengthening programs to increase community engagement and exceed fundraising targets.

Kelly believes that organizations thrive when staff, volunteers and donors are empowered, supported and clearly understand the impacts they’re making. Kelly looks forward to applying what she learns in the MPNL program to continue leading change in the sector and, ultimately, to help communities prosper.

On a sunny day, Kelly can be found at the beach, walking her dog or hosting a picnic with friends.

The post Kelly Devries Harbour, Student appeared first on MPNL.

Leigh Ann is a graduate of the University of Toronto, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a specialization in Sociology. Originally from the Jane and Finch neighbourhood of Toronto, she’s always been passionate about being an agent of social change. During her undergrad, she volunteered with different nonprofit organizations in her community, which inspired to study Philanthropy and Leadership.

She’ now a health and community service volunteer at the Black Creek Community Centre, which provides health and educational services to people in low-income communities.

Leigh Ann’s mission is to empower people and be the help she never had. After coming back from a missionary trip in Africa, she decided to pursue the MPNL program. She one day hopes to create her own non-profit organization with the objective of contributing to social stability for women in low-income communities. Through this program, Leigh Ann hopes to gain knowledge to lead and run a successful nonprofit organization in the areas of policies and procedures, financial management, strategic planning and fundraising.

In her spare time, Leigh Ann enjoys travelling and learning about new cultures. She also enjoys spending time with her family and dog, June.

The post Leigh Ann Asare, Student appeared first on MPNL.

Hannah graduated with a BSc Honours in Health Science with a Minor in Business Management from the University of Ottawa. While growing up in a small town and studying at a Christian private school west of Ottawa, Hannah’s passion for serving others became instilled in her from a very young age.

Her work in this field is extensive but began with an organization called Casas Por Cristo, where she helped advocate for funds and built homes for families in need. Although her work with this organization is ongoing, her passion for health care led her to work with Medicine Education and Development for Low-Income Families Everywhere (MEDLIFE). What Hannah admires most about MEDLIFE is its local involvement and sustainability plan. She hopes to apply the same principles in her future work.

Hannah’s health and business background align her in a unique position within the nonprofit sector. Through the MPNL program, Hannah hopes to strengthen her leadership skills, broaden her understanding of the nonprofit industry, and prepare for a passionate career promoting a happier and healthier future.

When she’s not studying, Hannah can be found at the gym, or with family and friends, cooking or at the beach.

The post Hannah Van Hofwegen, Student appeared first on MPNL.

As a Risk Management Specialist for a Fortune 500 company in the financial industry, Ana has more than nine years of experience executing business strategies, optimizing operational procedures, and managing department risk. Ana joined York University’s Psychology Undergraduate Degree Program in January, 2020. She’d previously studied Business Administration in College.

Her experience as a Child Life Volunteer at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) allowed her to understand the benefits for both children and parents in having an additional adult caregiver engage in activities kids enjoyed while in a healthcare context. Ana’s teaching experiences in Nicaragua and Costa Rica sparked a vision in her to become an exemplary philanthropic leader. Ana’s fundraising experience in St. Michael’s Young Leaders (SMYL), at St. Michael’s Hospital, permitted her to learn about the impacts of fundraising from individual and community perspectives.

By studying in the MPNL program, Ana recognizes that she’ll be able to better understand the urgent issues within the philanthropic and nonprofit sector, with the aim of thinking of fresh ideas to tackle them.

The post Ana Talavera, Student appeared first on MPNL.

Michael Scholz is in his 15th season as a violist in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) and his 10th year as a Teaching Artist at Sistema Winnipeg, an after-school program that promotes social change through music.

Before coming to Manitoba, Michael completed undergraduate degrees in Music Performance and Political Science at the University of Calgary. While in Calgary he played in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He also spent a year as an Artist-in-Residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity.

While playing in the WSO, Michael completed a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg, and had the opportunity to work for two years in the Manitoba provincial government’s Agriculture Department in policy and administration.

He’d like to delve deeper into how arts organizations serve their communities through the intersection of public, private and individual giving and participation.

The post Michael Scholz, Student appeared first on MPNL.