CharityVillage Connects

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May 2026

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About the show

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.

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May 19, 2026Episode 411 hr 22 min

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.comAbout 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 EpisodeWe'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

May 15, 2026Episode 412 min

Trailer: AI Adoption

What does responsible AI adoption look like for nonprofits? AI is reshaping nonprofit work, from fundraising to communications andeverything in between. Sector experts will provide practical advice on setting guardrails, building internal capacity, using AI thoughtfully, and keeping human judgment at the center of mission-driven work.#podcast #AI

April 13, 2026Episode 401 hr 18 min

Navigating the New Lobbying Rules: Avoiding Pitfalls and Accelerating Advocacy

Did you know Canada's lobbying guidelines changed earlier this year? In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we break down what’s new, what it means for organizations engaging with government officials, and how to stay compliant while advocating effectively. Hear insights from the Lobbying Commissioner, legal and advocacy experts, and sector leaders.Meet Our Guests in Order of AppearanceNancy Bélanger, Canada’s Commissioner of LobbyingSean Moore, Founder and Principal, Advocacy SchoolGerald Chipeur, Partner, Miller ThomsonBarbara Cartwright, CEO, Humane CanadaTim Richter, President & CEO, Canadian Alliance to End HomelessnessJackie Neapole – Executive Director, Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement ofWomen/ l’Institut canadien de recherches sur les femmes (CRIAW-ICREF)About 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 EpisodeWe've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:Lobbying Act (Government of Canada)Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada – Significant part of duties registration threshold for organizations and corporationsOffice of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada – Lobbyists RegistryVavilov Decision – Supreme Court of Canada (Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration)v. Vavilov, 2019 SCC 65)A Canada Housing Accord: Bringing governments together to fix housing and homelessness (Jan 2026)Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.#podcast #charity

April 10, 2026Episode 402 min

Trailer: Lobbying

In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we break down what’s new, what it means for organizations engaging with government officials, and how to stay compliant while advocating effectively. Hear insights from the Lobbying Commissioner, legal and advocacy experts, and sector leaders.

March 13, 2026Episode 392 min

Trailer: How do DAF’s Work?

In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we take an in-depth look at donor-advised funds (DAFs), a method for Canadians to give to charity that is increasing rapidly in popularity. Do DAFs provide valuable flexibility for donors, or do they delay urgently needed support for charities facing rising demand? Join us as we explore how DAFs work, the benefits they offer, and the growing calls to ensure every donated dollar makes a timely difference.#podcast #charity

March 10, 2026Episode 391 hr 21 min

The Surge in Donor Advised Funds: How They’re Reshaping Canadian Philanthropy

In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we take an in-depth look at donor-advised funds (DAFs), a method for Canadians to give to charity that is increasing rapidly in popularity. With more than $20 billion sitting in DAF accounts across the country — funds that donors have claimed tax credits for, but that have not yet been distributed to the charities they were meant to support — important questions are emerging about their role in Canada’s charitable landscape. Do DAFs provide valuable flexibility for donors, or do they delay urgently needed support for charities facing rising demand? Join us as we explore how DAFs work, the benefits they offer, and the growing calls to ensure every donated dollar makes a timely difference.Meet Our Guests in Order of AppearanceJohn Hallward – Chairman, GIV3Malcolm Burrows, Head, Philanthropic Advisory Services, Scotia Wealth Management / Executive Director, Aqueduct FoundationJeff Golby, CEO, WellFunded PhilanthropyAndrew Chunilall – CEO, Community Foundations of CanadaChantelle Ohrling, Planned Giving Officer, Ecojustice Canada (Formerly)About 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 EpisodeWe've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:Influence, Affluence & Opportunity: Donor-Advised Funds in Canada (CAGP Foundation & KCI, 2023)The Blumbergs’ Canadian Donor Advised Funds Report (Blumberg Professional Corporation, 2026)Charitable Giving in Canada – Statistics and Data (Statistics Canada, 2025)DAF Data and Research Dashboard (WellFunded, 2025)The Giving Report: Trends in Charitable Giving in Canada (CanadaHelps, 2025)Unpacking DAFs, the fastest-growing way to give in Canada (The Philanthropist Journal, 2025) Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.

February 10, 2026Episode 381 hr 11 min

The 2025 Federal Budget: What Nonprofits Need to Know to Navigate 2026

On November 4th, the federal government released its latest budget. In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we explore what the new fiscal plan means for nonprofits and charities across Canada. Our guests break down the key measures affecting funding, employment, and social programs, and share insights on how organizations can prepare for the changes ahead. This conversation offers timely analysis and practical takeaways to help you navigate the budget’s impact with confidence. Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance Andrew Chunilall, CEO, Community Foundations of CanadaChris Holz, Principal, Campbell Strategies Jesse Clarke, Founder, JN Clarke Consulting Aline Nizigama, CEO, YWCA Canada Paul Farran, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Cooperation CanadaThis 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.About 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 EpisodeWe've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:Budget 2025: Canada Strong — Full Report (Government of Canada, 2025)9 in 10 Canadians are Concerned About the State of Housing in Canada Today (Abascus Data, 2025)Police-reported hate crime and cybercrime, preliminary quarterly data, first quarter of 2025 (Statistics Canada, 2025)Social Policy Trends: Domestic Violence and the Housing Crisis (University of Calgary, The School of Public Policy Publications, 2025)Vital Signs Report (Community Foundations Canada, 2025)A Welfare Analysis of Universal Childcare: Lessons From a Canadian Reform (Sebastien Montpetit, 2025)New National Survey Finds Overwhelming Support for Affordable Child Care in Canada (YWCA Canada, 2025)CRIAW-ICREF’s Initial Reaction to Budget 2025 (CRIAW-ICREF, 2025)National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (Government of Canada, 2022–2032)National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Reports (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, 2015)National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Calls for Justice (MMIWG, 2019)Government of Canada Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) Strategy (Government of Canada, 2025) Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.

February 6, 2026Episode 381 min

Trailer: The 2025 Federal Budget: What Nonprofits Need to Know to Navigate 2026

The stake could not be any higher. In this episode of CharityVillage Connects we do a deep dive into the first Federal Budget of the Carney government and explore its impacts on the Canadian nonprofit sector as Canada continues to navigate economic and security challenges brought on by ongoing threats of an all-out trade war, threats to Canada’s national security, and even threats to our sovereignty – all of which are truly unprecedented in our lifetimes and are emerging from a previously unthinkable source – our closest trading partner and ally. What does the budget signal for Canadian nonprofits in 2026 and beyond?#podcast

January 5, 2026Episode 371 hr 24 min

The Dismantling of USAID: Impacts on Global Aid and Canadian Nonprofits

In this episode of Charity Village Connects, we examine the far-reaching consequences of the Trump administration’s sudden dismantling of USAID, which has created a $63-billion void in global aid funding. With essential programs in health, education, food security, and disaster relief now at risk, what does this seismic shift mean for organizations already stretched thin? Canadian nonprofits are grappling with increased demand as they work to fill the gap left behind by disrupted partnerships. Tune in to hear sector experts reveal the challenges ahead and Canada’s potential path forward.Meet Our Guests in Order of AppearanceDr. Samantha Nutt, Founder and President, War Child Canada and War Child USALauren Ravon, Executive Director, Oxfam CanadaLindsay Glassco, President & CEO, Plan International CanadaKate Higgins, Chief Executive Officer, Cooperation CanadaMark Blumberg, Owner, Blumbergs Professional CorporationJean-Marc Mangin, President & CEO, Philanthropic Foundations CanadaAbout 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 EpisodeWe've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:Oxfam outlines what the U.S. Agency for International Development did and the real-life effects of USAID cuts. (Oxfam, 2025)USAID shutdown has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths (Harvard University, 2025)A lifeline at risk: food assistance at a breaking point Refugees in Uganda country report (WFP, 2025)US destruction of contraceptives denies 1.4m African women and girls lifesaving care, NGO says (The Guardian, 2025)Cooperation Canada Statement on USAID Cuts and Canada’s Role in the World (Cooperation Canada 2025)Budget's $2.7B cut to foreign aid leaves international development in limbo, say NGOs (CBC, 2025)Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.

January 2, 2026Episode 371 min

Trailer: The Dismantling of USAID

What are the far-reaching consequences of the Trump administration’s sudden dismantling of USAID? What does this seismic shift mean for organizations already stretched thin? Tune to the next episode to hear sector experts reveal the challenges ahead and Canada’s potential path forward.#podcast #charity