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Let's Imagine

Let's Imagine

Hosted by Imagine Canada

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Episodes

47

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-CA

About the show

'Let's Imagine' is a podcast series that invites listeners to explore topics and issues that matter to those who care about the nonprofit sector. Listen in as we explore a diverse range of topics such as policy priorities, decent work, social finance, the rise of trust-based philanthropy and more. Join us, and together, Let's Imagine a stronger future.

Listen to episodes

47 recent
June 9, 2026Episode 4229 min

Who We Fundraise With Matters: Representation in Philanthropy (with Alain Mootoo)

Across the nonprofit and charitable sector, organizations regularly talk about equity, community impact, and meeting people where they are. But there's a harder question that often goes unasked: who is actually doing the fundraising - and who isn't? Fundraising teams frequently don't reflect the diversity of the communities they raise funds for. That gap isn't just a moral concern - it has real consequences for trust, relationships, and the sector's long-term sustainability. In this episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald is joined by Alain Mootoo, Chief Operating Officer of the CAMH Foundation. Alain oversees the full operations of the Foundation - including the people, strategy, and systems that make fundraising possible. He has also drawn on his own lived experience as an immigrant to Canada, a foreign-trained professional, and a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community to launch award-winning programs and events for marginalized populations across the country. Together, they explore why representation in fundraising teams matters strategically, not just symbolically; how lived experience shapes the way trust is built with donors and communities; what structural and cultural barriers keep diverse talent from entering and advancing in the field; and what it looks like to create genuine pathways to fundraising leadership for people from marginalized backgrounds.   Read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/mj6UOYQadK3  Listen to pas episodes here: https://imaginecanada.ca/en/lets-imagine-podcast

May 4, 2026Episode 4136 min

Innovative community partnerships for northern education (with Willa Black and Paul Boucher)

Across northern Canada, geography, distance, and limited infrastructure have long made equitable access to education harder to achieve. Connected North was designed to change that - using interactive video technology to connect northern classrooms with scientists, artists, Elders, and other experts. Launched with support from Cisco Systems and now operated by TakingITGlobal, it is built on a foundation of deep community trust and partnership. But technology is only part of the story. What makes Connected North work is the way it was built - in relationship with communities, not just for them. That distinction matters, and it didn't come without hard-won lessons. In this episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald is joined by Willa Black, who founded the program while at Cisco and now serves as Volunteer Chair of Connected North's Advisory Board, and Paul Boucher, a member of the Rocher River people, residential school survivor, Knowledge and Language Keeper, and Language and Cultural Specialist at Paul William Kaeser High School in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. Together, they explore what it takes to build credibility and trust with northern communities, what genuine partnership looks like from inside the classroom, how Connected North keeps community voices at the centre as it grows, and what gives them hope about the future of equitable education in the North. This episode draws on insights from Imagine Canada's Partnering for Impact report, which features Connected North as a case study in why partnership-led models matter. Listen to past episodes here: https://imaginecanada.ca/en/lets-imagine-podcast  Read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/EVFjm6fOT4y

March 31, 2026Episode 4026 min

The state of the economy and what business transformation means for Canada's nonprofit sector (with Candace Laing)

Canada's economic landscape has shifted significantly in recent years. Businesses are navigating inflation, labour shortages, digital transformation, and growing geopolitical and trade uncertainty - including questions about the future of Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreements. As businesses adapt to these pressures, the effects ripple across the nonprofit sector.   Corporate donations, sponsorships, employee volunteering, and community investment strategies are closely tied to economic conditions. Understanding how businesses are evolving is essential for nonprofits seeking to build strong partnerships and plan for the future.   In this episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald is joined by Candace Laing, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Together, they explore the current state of the Canadian economy, how companies are rethinking community investment and social impact, the new energy around impact investing, and what these shifts may mean for nonprofit organizations.   They also discuss digital and AI transformation, how to "challenge ourselves to break up with the present", and what nonprofit leaders should watch for as corporate strategies evolve in an uncertain economic environment.   Read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/WZdNoLZ7uZA Listen to past episodes here: https://imaginecanada.ca/en/lets-imagine-podcast

March 3, 2026Episode 3933 min

Workplaces Were Not Built for Mothers (with Allison Venditti)

As International Women's Day approaches, we're invited not only to celebrate progress, but to confront the systems that still shape inequality in the world of work. One of the clearest examples is the experience of mothers in the workplace - a reality nearly every organization assumes it understands, yet few have truly designed for. For decades, workplace structures were built around outdated assumptions: that caregiving would happen quietly, outside the workday, and without disrupting professional life. While change has come, many of those foundations remain. Mothers continue to face discrimination, stalled advancement, pay gaps, and workplace cultures that treat caregiving as a complication rather than a contribution. In Canada's nonprofit sector - where 77% of workers are women - these challenges are especially urgent. In this episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald is joined by Allison Venditti, Founder and CEO of Moms at Work, Canada's largest community for working mothers and a leading voice on pay equity, caregiving, and workplace transformation. Allison is a Certified HR Leader, pay transparency expert, and a driving force behind national policy shifts aimed at creating more equitable workplaces. Together, Bruce and Allison explore the "motherhood penalty" (and subsequently, the "fatherhood bonus"), the persistent disconnect between workplace policies and real caregiving needs, and what it means to build leadership models grounded in trust, autonomy, and care. They discuss how nonprofits can take meaningful action on pay transparency, redesign pathways to leadership for mothers, and move beyond performative flexibility toward structural change and accountability. Make sure to check out our full episode list. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. https://imaginecanada.ca/en/lets-imagine-podcast  Read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/1vvy2SN7XVA

February 5, 2026Episode 3834 min

Celebrating Black Changemakers: Leadership, Culture & Community Care (with Nathan Hall)

As we mark Black History Month, we honour the vision, courage, and generosity of Black leaders whose work has long shaped Canada's nonprofit and charitable sector. From grassroots mutual aid to community organizing and philanthropy, Black leadership has powered social change - often without the recognition it deserves. At the same time, Black leaders and professionals continue to navigate workplaces where difference, power, and identity shape how leadership is experienced and supported. In this episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald is joined by Nathan Hall, CEO of Culture Check, an organization dedicated to helping workplaces confront racism, strengthen psychological safety, and create environments where Black, racialized, and marginalized employees can thrive. Nathan is also the creator of The Work of Us, a framework that reframes culture as shared movement and challenges teams to design better conditions rather than "fixing people." Throughout the conversation, Nathan invites listeners to rethink culture as the rhythm we move to together, and why learning to move in the same direction, in the same way, is essential for nonprofit effectiveness. He shares insights on creating spaces where disagreement is safe, individuals aren't pressured to represent an entire group, and shared movement keeps teams connected rather than pushed apart. Whether you're a nonprofit leader, board member, or someone committed to building healthier, more equitable workplaces, this episode offers thoughtful reflections and practical guidance on leadership, culture, and community care - during Black History Month and beyond. Make sure to check out our full episode list. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Read the full transcript here

January 8, 2026Episode 3724 min

Good Governance and Leadership in Founder-led Organizations

Founders are often the spark that launches nonprofit organizations - bringing vision, passion, and relentless drive to meet urgent community needs. But founder-led organizations can also face governance pressures such as blurred boundaries between board and management, over-reliance on a single leader, and the risks of "Founder's Syndrome." Without thoughtful structure, succession planning, and clear roles, even strong organizations can stumble. In this episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald is joined by Dr. Susanna Kislenko, a governance researcher and practitioner with the University of Oxford and Carleton University, and co-author of Imagine Canada's new guide, Good Governance and Leadership in Founder-led Organizations. Drawing on research and real-world experience, Susanna explores what makes governance in founder-led nonprofits different, how boards can provide effective oversight while supporting the founder's vision, and why succession planning should be seen as a measure of founder success - not a threat. Whether you're a founder, board member, or nonprofit leader, this conversation offers practical insights to strengthen accountability, prevent harm, and build resilient organizations that can thrive beyond any one individual. Make sure to check out our full episode list. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/N7vYzx6ysZf

November 26, 2025Episode 3625 min

Futureproofing the Nonprofit Workforce: Building Digital Skills for Resilience with Sampada Kukade and Max Palamar

In this special episode of Let's Imagine, guest host Wilfreda Edward, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR), explores how nonprofits across Canada are working to close the digital skills gap. Over the past 18 months, CCNDR—together with partners Imagine Canada, Blueprint ADE, The Dais, and the Digital Governance Council - led the Futureproofing the Community Service Workforce project. Through research, piloting, and collaboration with nonprofits across the country, the project developed resources and a practical toolkit to help organizations strengthen data practices, build digital capacity, and align staff skills with emerging needs. Wilfreda is joined by two leaders deeply engaged in this work: Sampada Kukade, Vice President, External Relations and Development at Skills for Change, one of the pilot organizations that tested the toolkit; and Max Palamar, Vice President of Data Capacity and Analytics at Blueprint, who played a lead role in the project's research. Together, they discuss the toolkit's step-by-step activities that make digital transformation practical, accessible, and aligned with day-to-day nonprofit realities. They share lessons learned from piloting, explore the challenges of building capacity in a resource-constrained sector, and highlight why digital skills are no longer a "nice-to-have," but essential to future resilience. For nonprofit leaders, staff, and funders alike, this episode offers both insight and encouragement: that strengthening digital capacity doesn't have to mean more work - it's about working smarter, creating sustainability, and building a stronger sector together. Visit https://futureproof.ccndr.ca/ to explore the tools and start your own journey. Make sure to check out our full episode list. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. And read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/gWVIEJFZOzP

October 30, 2025Episode 3535 min

Funding Movements in Times of Crisis: Building Trust and Power Amid Adversity

In this episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald speaks with Jess Tomlin, CEO of the Equality Fund, about reimagining how philanthropy can truly meet the urgency of our times. From rising authoritarianism and economic instability to shrinking civic spaces, climate emergencies, and entrenched social injustices, nonprofits and human rights movements are navigating unprecedented challenges. Too often, traditional funding models fall short—delivering short-term, restrictive support when what movements need most is trust, flexibility, and long-term commitment. The Equality Fund offers a bold alternative. As one of the world's largest organizations advancing human rights and justice, it is reshaping philanthropy by channeling resources and decision-making power directly to the communities leading change on the ground. Central to this vision is a commitment to long-term funding cycles—spanning 10 years, and even aiming toward generational grant cycles—so that movements can build resilience, shift power, and create lasting impact. For funders and nonprofit leaders alike, this episode is both a challenge and an invitation: to imagine a world where philanthropy doesn't just respond to crisis, but actively builds the conditions for justice across generations. Make sure to check out our full episode list (https://imaginecanada.ca/en/lets-imagine-podcast).   This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.   Read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/fqbXgrblqA8

October 7, 2025Episode 3440 min

Young Women Are Reimagining Leadership in Canada's Nonprofit Sector with Anjum Sultana and Emma Asiedu-Akrofi

In this special International Day of the Girl episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald sits down with two trailblazers who are reshaping what leadership looks like in Canada's nonprofit sector: Anjum Sultana, Director of Policy Advocacy, Partnerships, and Youth Leadership at Plan International Canada, and Emma Asiedu-Akrofi, CEO of FORA Network for Change. Women represent 77% of the nonprofit workforce, and young people make up 32%. Yet many of the structures and norms that govern the sector were not designed with young leaders in mind. From rigid hierarchies to outdated governance models, barriers still stand in the way of young women, girls, and gender-diverse youth who want to lead. In this episode, we explore what meaningful youth leadership looks like, how funders can better support youth-led initiatives, how youth advisory councils can be powerful vehicles for shifting decision-making, and what systemic changes are needed to share power equitably. They also share personal reflections on their journeys, the barriers they've faced, and the hope they carry for a future shaped by the next generation of changemakers. For nonprofits, this conversation is a call to action: if you say you value youth leadership, how are you proving it? Make sure to check out our full episode list. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. This podcast was made possible thanks to generous support from our sponsors. SUPPORTING PARTNER Knowledge partner: Carters   Read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/DLB5LW5yGBb Listen to past episodes here: https://imaginecanada.ca/en/lets-imagine-podcast

September 16, 2025Episode 3342 min

Questions Every Settler-Led Nonprofit Should Be Asking

In this episode of Let's Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald is joined by two powerful voices challenging settler-led organizations to move beyond symbolic gestures: Justin Wiebe of Mastercard Foundation and Alejandro Mayoral Banos of Indigenous Friends Association and Access Now.   As the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaches on September 30, many nonprofits are preparing statements, hosting events, or pausing operations. While well-intentioned, these actions alone do not constitute reconciliation. Justin and Alejandro call on the sector to dig deeper — rethinking colonial frameworks, building genuine relationships, and taking uncomfortable but necessary steps toward meaningful change.   Together, they explore the critical questions settler-led organizations must ask themselves: who holds power in their organizations? Why, as a settler-led organization, are you interested in reconciliation? And who is it for?   Importantly, they remind us that systems change is not only visionary — it is practical. It shows up in the day-to-day decisions about hiring and governance, in how funding is distributed, in the metrics organizations use to measure success, and in whether power is being shifted or merely symbolically acknowledged. Real transformation is built from these practical shifts, sustained over time.   This episode is an invitation for nonprofits — especially those in settler-led spaces — to act with humility, accountability, and courage. Real reconciliation requires more than a statement; it requires transformation.   Make sure to check out our full episode list. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. This podcast was made possible thanks to generous support from our sponsors. Read the full trancscript here

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