Episode 32
In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we take a close look at the insights revealed in the 2025 CanadaHelps Giving Report about the landscape of charitable giving in Canada, and what these insights mean for your nonprofit or charity. Joined by sector leaders, we examine donor trends, shifting patterns of giving, and the broader implications for fundraising in today’s uncertain economic climate.
Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance
About your Host
Mary 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 Episode
We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.
In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we take a close look at the insights revealed in the 2025 CanadaHelps Giving Report about the landscape of charitable giving in Canada, and what these insights mean for your nonprofit or charity. Joined by sector leaders, we examine donor trends, shifting patterns of giving, and the broader implications for fundraising in today’s uncertain economic climate.
Episode 31 – Post-Election Wake-Up Call: What Canada’s New Federal Government Means for Nonprofits
It’s been about three months now, since Canada elected its new government. What will this new federal government mean for Canada's nonprofit sector? What policy shifts can we anticipate? How will funding be affected? And what should nonprofit leaders be watching for, in the months ahead? In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we speak with several nonprofit leaders and government relations experts to help us unpack what we might expect from our newly elected government and better understand what the nonprofit sector can do to work with this government to serve the needs of Canadians.
Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance
About your Host
Mary 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 Episode
We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.
#podcast
CharityVillage Connects you to the latest buzz for Canadian nonprofits. The hummingbird is Charity Village’s logo because we strive, like the industrious hummingbird, to make connections across the nonprofit sector and help make positive change. Over this series of podcasts, we’ll explore topics that are vital to the nonprofit sector in Canada, such as diversity, equity and inclusion, mental health in the workplace, the gap in female representation in leadership, and many other subjects crucial to the sector. We’ll offer insight that will help you make sense of your life as a nonprofit professional, make connections to help navigate challenges, and support your organization to deliver on its mission. Monthly episodes include interviews with nonprofit subject matter experts to provide a holistic discussion of the complex issues facing the nonprofit sector today.
#podcast
Episode 30 – Should Money Talk? Inequities in Funding and Influence in the Nonprofit Sector
They say money talks. Is this true for the nonprofit sector, where a relatively small number of large charities receive the lion’s share of available funding? Have well-funded charities dominated the public policy governing our sector, drowning out the voices of the vast majority of small charities and nonprofits across the country? In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we take a closer look at the impact this inequitable power dynamic has on the sector, the problems it causes, and what can be done about it.
Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance
About your Host
Mary 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.
Past CharityVillage Connects Episodes
Additional Resources from this Episode
We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.
Episode 30 – Should Money Talk? Inequities in Funding and Influence in the Nonprofit Sector
They say money talks. Is this true for the nonprofit sector, where a relatively small number of large charities receive the lion’s share of available funding? Have well-funded charities dominated the public policy governing our sector, drowning out the voices of the vast majority of small charities and nonprofits across the country? In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we take a closer look at the impact this inequitable power dynamic has on the sector, the problems it causes, and what can be done about it.
Episode 29 – Growing Pains: How Canada’s Population Boom Affects Nonprofits
In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we take a careful look at how recent, unprecedented population growth in Canada is impacting charities and nonprofits. With organizations already struggling to cope with a rising demand in services, does a surge in population add further strain to an already overstretched sector? Are there opportunities that exist to help organizations grow their staff, volunteers, and donors? Join us as we explore this topic with sector experts, who offer nuanced answers to the question: What does a significant population increase mean for the Canadian nonprofit and charitable sector?
Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance
About your Host
Mary 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 Episode
We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.
Episode 29 – Growing Pains: How Canada’s Population Boom Affects Nonprofits
In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we take a careful look at how recent, unprecedented population growth in Canada is impacting charities and nonprofits. With organizations already struggling to cope with a rising demand in services, does a surge in population add further strain to an already overstretched sector? Are there opportunities that exist to help organizations grow their staff, volunteers, and donors? Join us as we explore this topic with sector experts, who offer nuanced answers to the question: What does a significant population increase mean for the Canadian nonprofit and charitable sector?
Episode 28 – Navigating Political and Economic Upheaval: Advice from Nonprofits on the Frontline
In the last episode of CharityVillage Connects, we talked to government relations and fundraising experts about how nonprofits and charities can navigate the political change and economic impacts currently coming at us at such a dizzying pace. With the continued threat of tariffs from the US President Trump administration, and with both federal and provincial elections looming here at home, we thought it worthwhile to dig even deeper into the topic of governmental change and find out how nonprofit organizations across the country are coping with it all. In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, representatives from frontline organizations share their realities, concerns, and strategies for survival and transformation in these challenging times.
Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance
About your Host
Mary 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 CharityVillage Resources from this Episode
Additional Resources from this Episode
We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.
#podcast #economics #charity
Navigating the Stormy Waters of Political Uncertainty: Government Relations for Nonprofits
With elections happening across the provinces and the potential for a federal election at any time, how to navigate political change is top of mind for many nonprofit leaders. How can your organization engage in government relations, lobby for social change, and access government funding, especially during such an unprecedented time of uncertainty? Get insights and advice from sector experts in this episode of CharityVillage Connects.
#podcast #politics
Navigating the Stormy Waters of Political Uncertainty: Government Relations for Nonprofits
With elections happening across the provinces and the potential for a federal election at any time, how to navigate political change is top of mind for many nonprofit leaders. How can your organization engage in government relations, lobby for social change, and access government funding, especially during such an unprecedented time of uncertainty? Get insights and advice from sector experts in this episode of CharityVillage Connects.
Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance
About your Host
Mary 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 Episode
We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.
#podcast #charity
Government Relations and Change Elections
#podcasts Chartity
Episode 26 – Celebrating the 2024 CharityVillage Award Winners
Join us in celebrating the 2024 winners of the CharityVillage Awards! These winners were announced on November 20, 2024, at our annual conference, and now is your chance to hear more about their exceptional achievements. With winners in categories such as volunteer management, workplace mental health, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and overall staff and volunteer impact, it’s a great chance to hear more about why their programs, services, and organizations as a whole stood out to our panel of expert judges. Hear from our award winners, in this episode of CharityVillage Connects!
Meet Our Guests
About your Host
Mary 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 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 Episode
We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.
#podcast #charity
Celebrating the 2024 CharityVillage Award Winners
Join us in celebrating the 2024 winners of the CharityVillage Awards! These winners were announced on November 20, 2024, at our annual conference, and now is your chance to hear more about their exceptional achievements. With winners in categories such as volunteer management, workplace mental health, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and overall staff and volunteer impact, it’s a great chance to hear more about why their programs, services, and organizations as a whole stood out to our panel of expert judges. Hear from our award winners, in this episode of CharityVillage Connects!
Episode 25 – Accessible Workplaces: Is the Canadian Nonprofit Sector Falling Behind?
According to the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability, the employment rate for persons with disabilities
currently sits at 62%. While this figure has risen in recent years, it’s clear that more work can be done to
create more inclusive and accessible workplaces that welcome Canadians with disabilities. In this
episode of CharityVillage Connects, we talk to accessibility experts from across the sector to find out
about the challenges and barriers that contribute to this employment gap, along with what nonprofit
organizations like yours can do to address these barriers within workplaces, programming, and
communities.
Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance
Ryan Straschnitzki, Founder, Straz Strong Foundation
Ingrid Muschta, Director of Special Projects and Innovation, Ontario Disability Employment
Network (ODEN)
Wanda Deschamps, Founder and Principal, Liberty Co
Lorin MacDonald, Human Rights Lawyer and Accessibility Advocate
Anthony Frisina, Speaker, Author, and Consultant
David Lepofsky, Chair, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance
About your Host
Mary 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.
CharityVillage Resources from this Episode
CharityVillage eLearning: OHSA and AODA Compliance Training for Employees
CharityVillage eLearning: OHSA and AODA Compliance Training for Leaders and Supervisors
Additional Resources from this Episode
We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
Canadian Survey on Disability, 2017-2022 (Statistics Canada)
Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities (Government of Canada)
Canadian Income Survey, 2021 (Statistics Canada)
$956-million downtown Toronto courthouse plagued by accessibility issues, provincial report
finds (Toronto Star)
Billion-dollar Accessibility Bungle, Video by David Lepofsky, 14- min version, 49-min version
New Toronto Courthouse’s Disability Barriers Hit the Toronto Star’s Front Page (AODA Alliance)
Roadblocks on the career path: Challenges faced by persons with disabilities in employment
(Canadian Human Rights Commission)
Ontario Disabilities Employment Network (ODEN) Training Opportunities
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (Government of Ontario)
Will Toronto ever lose its basement bathroom problem? (NOW Toronto, 2017)
Workplace Accommodations: Low Cost, High Impact (Job Accommodation Network, US, 2020)
Canadian Human Rights Act (Canadian Human Rights Commission)
Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Professional Training
Canadian Association for Supported Employment
Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.
Accessible Workplaces: Is the Canadian Nonprofit Sector Falling Behind?
According to the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability, the employment rate for persons with disabilities
currently sits at 62%. While this figure has risen in recent years, it’s clear that more work can be done to
create more inclusive and accessible workplaces that welcome Canadians with disabilities. In this
episode of CharityVillage Connects, we talk to accessibility experts from across the sector to find out
about the challenges and barriers that contribute to this employment gap, along with what nonprofit
organizations like yours can do to address these barriers within workplaces, programming, and
communities.
Episode 24 – Reconciliation and the Nonprofit Sector: Where Are We Now?
To mark Canada’s 4th annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, in this episode, we’re checking in with Indigenous nonprofit leaders from across the country to hear what they have to say about whether any progress has been made in how the #nonprofit sector supports, funds and collaborates with Indigenous-led organizations. We’ll spotlight some powerful examples of how settler-led and Indigenous-led organizations are creating better working relationships, and hear from Indigenous leaders on what more the sector needs to do to advance reconciliation work.
Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance
With special comments from
About your Host
Mary 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.
CharityVillage Resources From This Episode
Additional Resources From This Episode
We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
Learn more and #listen to the full interviews with the guests here.
#charity #indigenous
Episode 24 – Reconciliation and the Nonprofit Sector: Where Are We Now?
To mark Canada’s 4th annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, in this episode, we’re checking in with Indigenous nonprofit leaders from across the country to hear what they have to say about whether any progress has been made in how the nonprofit sector supports, funds and collaborates with Indigenous-led organizations. We’ll spotlight some powerful examples of how settler-led and Indigenous-led organizations are creating better working relationships, and hear from Indigenous leaders on what more the sector needs to do to advance reconciliation work.
CharityVillage Resources From This Episode
· CharityVillage Connects: How Bill S-216 Could Transform the Canadian Nonprofit Sector Forever
Update: Bill S-216 has now been passed “in essence” via Bill C-19, the Budget Implementation Act. Bill C-19 included measures that changed the “direction and control” requirements that regulate charities who work with non-charities.
According to Senator Ratna Omidvar, sponsor of Bill S-216, “These are big and important changes. They provide a path to get rid of the deeply embedded form of systemic racism that was contained in the Income Tax Act. In its place will be strong, accountable and effective partnerships based on mutual respect.”
Bill S-216, otherwise known as the Effective and Accountable Charities Act, sought to amend the Income Tax Act to empower charities by allowing them to more effectively collaborate with a wider range of organizations, including those without charitable status, which the Act refers to as “non-qualified donees”. Proponents of the Bill said the amendments were necessary to get rid of burdensome and expensive redtape and outdated legal bureaucracy. But the key shift proposed by Bill S-216 is much more aspirational: to eliminate the deeply-rooted and historic paternalism that many see embedded in the current rules about how charities can operate.
In this episode, we speak with Senator Ratna Omidvar, sponsor of Bill S-216, and with other nonprofit sector experts to explore the pros and cons of this legislation, as well as the deeper implications of what it means for Canadian charitable organizations now that it’s become law.
· CharityVillage Connects: Indigenous Leaders Discuss Truth and Reconciliation in the Nonprofit Sector
Please note: This podcast discusses topics that may be distressing and awaken memories of past traumatic experiences and abuse. Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools or by related reports. The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides 24-hour crisis support to former Indian Residential School students and their families toll-free at 1-866-925-4419. Immediate emotional support is available by contacting the Hope for Wellness Help Line toll-free at 1-855-242-3310, or by online chat at hopeforwellness.ca.
In this episode, upon the first anniversary of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we’ll hear unique perspectives from Indigenous leaders from across Canada on what September 30 means to them, the painful legacy it symbolizes, and how, together, we can hopefully move forward. Underlying these discussions is the role that Canadian nonprofits can play in supporting Indigenous-led charitable activities. Considering that The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was established over 14 years ago, why has the sector failed to take a more meaningful role in an area where its support could make a real difference? Tune in to this special episode of CharityVillage Connects to hear from Indigenous leaders about how the nonprofit sector can better support, and ally with, Indigenous-led organizations and communities.
Additional Resources From This Episode
We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
· Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
· Canadian charities giving to Indigenous charities and qualified donees - 2019 (Blumbergs)
· Allowing the Community to Decide for Itself (Toronto Star, 2023)
· Calgary Foundation: Reconciliation
· The Declaration of Action (The Circle)
· McConnell commits $30M in capital transfers to Indigenous-led foundations (2023)
· National Indigenous Economic Strategy
Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.
Mary 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.
#charity #podcast #nonprofit
Episode 23 – Succession Crisis: Is the Nonprofit Sector Ready?
The challenges around leadership succession that the nonprofit sector is currently facing are nothing new. Back in 2019, the Senate Report, “Catalyst for Change: A Roadmap to a Stronger Charitable Sector” highlighted the issue and made recommendations calling on the federal government to work with the nonprofit sector to find solutions. Fast forward five years and what was already considered a serious problem has morphed into a full-blown crisis as many nonprofit leaders opted for early retirement during the pandemic. Is the sector prepared to navigate this crisis? Listen to sector experts discuss how organizations can better manage leadership transitions in this episode of CharityVillage Connects.
Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance
With special comments from:
About your Host
Mary 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.
CharityVillage Resources from this Episode
Additional Resources from this Episode
We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.
Episode 23 – Succession Crisis: Is the Nonprofit Sector Ready?
The challenges around leadership succession that the nonprofit sector is currently facing are nothing new. Back in 2019, the Senate Report, “Catalyst for Change: A Roadmap to a Stronger Charitable Sector” highlighted the issue and made recommendations calling on the federal government to work with the nonprofit sector to find solutions. Fast forward five years and what was already considered a serious problem has morphed into a full-blown crisis as many nonprofit leaders opted for early retirement during the pandemic. Is the sector prepared to navigate this crisis? Listen to sector experts discuss how organizations can better manage leadership transitions in this episode of CharityVillage Connects.
Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance
With special comments from:
About your Host
Mary 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.
CharityVillage Resources from this Episode
Additional Resources from this Episode
We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:
Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.
