In the bustling and challenging world of non-profits, effective communication can make all the difference. Recently, our CEO, Zahra Esmail, caught up with Nadia Tchoumi, the founder of New Hope Media, to learn more about her journey and insights into supporting Black-led and Black-serving non-profits through media and communications. Nadia will be one of the keynote speakers at our 2025 BC Non-Profit Leadership Conference on June 5 & 6, and her story is one of passion, transformation, and hope. Here’s a glimpse into their conversation! Grab your latte and join! Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Humanity Financial, for their support of these important conversations!

In this episode of Coffee Chat, Joyce Lin and Tyler Arnold from the Vantage Point team talk about the importance of the 2025 State of BC’s Non-Profit Sector Survey and why they’re inviting voices from across the province to take part. Now in its fifth year, the survey offers a crucial check-in on the realities non-profits in BC are facing. Joyce shares the story of how this initiative began during the pandemic and how it has become a powerful tool to support funding decisions, government relations, and sector-wide advocacy. Tyler explains how sector data is helping to shape submissions to government and why it’s essential for telling a clear, collective story of the sector’s needs and strengths. This year’s survey also includes new questions about funding, staffing, and organizational capacity to better capture the challenges non-profits are navigating right now. 📅 The survey is open until July 18 and takes about 20 minutes to complete. 📊 Results will be shared this fall through a summary report and new interactive data dashboards. Add your voice to the story of BC’s non-profit sector. Take the survey today: surveymonkey.com/r/SOTS2025

Breaking the Ceiling, Building the Future Leadership often asks you to walk paths no one made for you. In this episode of From Our Vantage Point, host Maria Turnbull brings three extraordinary voices together: Zahra Esmail, Pablita Thomas, and Paromita (Mita) Naidu. What emerges is a raw, urgent, hopeful conversation about what it takes for racialized women to lead—and to remake the systems around them. Pablita Thomas, Vantage Point's Board Chair, brings the precision of a seasoned executive. As the Executive Director of the BC Hospice Palliative Care Association, she is known in the sector as a “non-profit fixer,” someone who steps into complexity and forges clarity. With experience in advocacy, public health frameworks, and fund development, she shows how leadership is both a craft and a calling. Paromita (Mita) Naidu, Board Member at Vantage Point, offers a voice rooted in intersectionality. A scholar-practitioner, writer, and thinker, she has spoken and written widely about equity, justice, and how workplaces can become sites of belonging, not just inclusion. She challenges us to see leadership not as individual ascent, but as collective transformation. Zahra, our CEO, has more than 15 years in the non-profit sector spanning governance, community development, homelessness, and international work. Her journey—from neighbourhood houses in Vancouver to leading a provincial capacity-building organization—anchors this conversation in both experience and vision. Together, Zahra, Pablita, and Mita open up about moments of doubt and defiance, the invisible rules that push back, and the surprising allies they’ve found along the way. They challenge us to move from equity as idea to equity as action—where systems shift so leaders don’t just enter spaces, but thrive in them. 🎧 Tune in to Challenging the Glass Ceiling for Racialized Women in Leadership and sit with both the struggle and the possibility. Proudly supported by Humanity Financial

Grab a coffee and join JP Baker and Gretchen Ferguson for a collaboration conversation about what collaboration really looks like in BC’s non-profit sector—and why it matters now more than ever. From creative partnerships to shared wins (and a few lessons learned), JP and Gretchen dig into how organizations are teaming up to do more with less, strengthen their impact, and spark real change together. They share a behind-the-scenes look at what inspired the upcoming Collaboration Lab: Bridging People, Organizations, and Sectors, how it’s different from a typical workshop, and what participants can expect to take back to their own organizations. Whether you’re already working across organizations or just curious how collaboration could help your team, JP and Gretchen offer a thoughtful—and practical—glimpse into what’s possible when we lean into the power of “we.” "Because more is possible together than it is alone." Collaboration Lab launches November 4, 2025! ☕ Watch the conversation, then save your spot in Collaboration Lab. 👉 Learn about Collaboration Lab and Register Here: https://thevantagepoint.ca/training/all-labs/collaboration-lab/

This episode of From our Vantage Point, a podcast hosted by Vantage Point—Misconceptions about Non-Profit Governance—features host Maria Turnbull in conversation with governance expert and Parliamentarian Eli Minas. They explore myths around Robert’s Rules of Order, decision-making, and minute taking, with Eli sharing practical advice to support common sense, inclusive, and effective governance. Thank you to our sponsor, Humanity Financial, for making this conversation possible.

Hosted by Vantage Point’s CEO, Zahra Esmail, this episode takes a close look at the challenges of the non-profit sector in our current climate. Zahra meets with President Bacon from UBC, Kevin McCort, CEO of Vancouver Foundation, and Walter Pela, Board Chair of Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, who provide perspectives from the academic, philanthropic, and business sectors. Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon is the 17th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia. With a PhD in neuropsychology from the University of Montreal and a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Glasgow, Dr. Bacon has held several academic leadership roles, including President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University. His research focuses on the neurophysiological and cognitive bases of visual and multisensory perception. He is also a national advocate for open conversations about mental health and substance use. Kevin McCort has been the CEO of Vancouver Foundation since 2013, following 25 years of international development work with Canada’s leading global charities. Under his leadership, the Foundation has significantly increased its granting and charitable programs, reaching $2 billion in cumulative grants. McCort also serves on the federal advisory committee on the charitable sector and the Conference Board of Canada. Walter Pela is KPMG's Regional Managing Partner and the Board Chair of Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. With a 30-year career at KPMG, Walter leads conversations on digital transformation, business model disruption, and sustainability. He is recognized as a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants and has been honored as one of BC's Most Influential Leaders. Walter also serves on several boards, including the BC Achievement Foundation and the Pacific Autism Family Network. Together, they discuss the struggles of the non-profit sector, how their respective sectors are being impacted, and what they are doing to support community organizations. *Note that this podcast was recorded before the federal election in Canada that was held on April 25, 2025 Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Humanity Financial, for their support of these important conversations!

It’s coffee time! ☕ Welcome to the Vantage Point Coffee Break, our new series where we connect with fellow non-profit collaborators to chat about key current topics, upcoming events and engagement opportunities, and introduce you to inspiring leaders and organizations making a meaningful difference in communities across BC. Pour yourself a latte and join the conversation! 🌊This week, Maria Turnbull from Vantage Point and Chrissy Bennett, Director of Volunteers and Community Development at the Kidney Foundation of Canada chat about their personal volunteer experiences, current trends in volunteerism in Canada, and how they see "Volunteers [Making] Waves" leading up to National Volunteer Week! Maria and Chrissy recognize the crucial role of volunteers in adapting to the evolving needs of non-profits. They discuss how volunteerism is shifting towards more flexible and virtual roles, making it easier for people to contribute, and emphasize the importance of involving youth and new Canadians to promote active citizenship. Maria and Chrissy acknowledge challenges faced by volunteer managers, stressing the need to build strong relationships with volunteers and reduce barriers to participation. 🎉With gratitude to all the volunteers who are making great waves in their communities, we celebrate you this National Volunteer Week! #VolunteersMakeWaves #NVW2025 Thanks to Humanity Financial for their commitment to sharing non-profit stories “From our Vantage Point”

In this episode of From Our Vantage Point, Maria Turnbull speaks with Hildy Gottlieb from Creating the Future about the concept of catalytic thinking for non-profit boards. Maria and Hildy explore how this innovative framework emerged from the realization that traditional approaches to social change often leave organizations feeling frustrated and underachieving, despite their hard work and dedication. Catalytic thinking shifts the focus from merely changing actions to transforming the underlying thoughts and questions that drive those actions. By changing the questions we ask, we can unlock new possibilities and create a future that differs from our past experiences. Join Maria and Hildy as they discuss the common challenges faced by non-profit boards, the concept of collective enoughness, and a variety of approaches and resources boards can use to rethink their approach to governance and to embrace the power of asking transformative questions. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Humanity Financial, for their support of these important conversations!

In this episode, Rafik Karwa, Vantage Point’s Director of Finance is joined by our partner and collaborator Gordon Holley from Humanity Financial. Together they explore importance and impact of strong financial strategies. Gordon shares a framework and some key questions for consideration that can help organizations diversify their revenue and utilize their finances to better achieve their missions. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Humanity Financial, for their support of these important conversations over many years! We were glad to have Gordon as a part of this season’s episodes!

In this episode of From Our Vantage Point, Vantage Point CEO, Zahra Esmail is joined by Alex Wilson, the Senior Director of Philanthropy and Campaigns at Big Sisters BC Lower Mainland, and the VP of Community Engagement and Board Director of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Vancouver Chapter. Their conversation revolves around the evolving landscape of philanthropy, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the challenges and opportunities facing the nonprofit sector. Zahra and Alex discuss key trends in philanthropy, with Alex highlighting the significant digitalization of fundraising efforts and a trend towards major giving strategies, an emphasis on DEI efforts in philanthropy and some predictions for the future of philanthropy, including the rise of donor-advised funds (DAFs), the importance of planned giving, and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on fundraising practices. Vantage Point is proud to support and celebrate the upcoming National Philanthropy Day and the Giving Hearts Awards hosted by AFP Greater Vancouver Chapter, which recognize the contributions of individuals and organizations in the philanthropic community. We hope you will join us at this event for a moment to come together, share successes, and inspire one another in our collective mission to serve our communities. Get your tickets to the event now at https://afpgreatervancouver.org/national-philanthropy-day/

In our latest episode of From Our Vantage Point, our Associate Executive Director, Maria Turnbull, joins Wavefront Centre for Community Accessibility’s Christopher T. Sutton and Harbour West Consulting’s Shelagh Levangie in conversation about the Accessible British Columbia Act. Together, our guests share some of the key milestones that led to the Act's development, key features of the new legislation relevant to BC non-profit organizations, and significant considerations for non-profit leaders to support alignment with the Act. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Humanity Financial, for their support of these important conversations!

In this first episode of our podcast season, British Columbia’s Parliamentary Secretary Megan Dykeman joins Vantage Point’s Zahra Esmail and Prairie Chiu in an exploration of the growth of a stronger relationship between government and non-profits in our province, what we’ve seen so far and what we might expect and look forward to with future initiatives and the development of a non-profit network in BC. The opportunities abound and we are glad to be on this journey together!

Coaching is a powerful way for non-profits and leaders to go deeper into their core values and beliefs to determine their “why”. A coach approach can help organizations identify the cultural values they want to uplift in their organizations that in turn helps them strategize more effectively. Dr. Delbar Niroushak and Hassan Pardawalla join our host, Rachelle Smalldon, to explore how coaching can help set up individuals, teams, and entire organizations with a growth mindset to help them succeed. Dr. Delbar Niroushak is a PhD psychologist and a behavior expert for designing Indicators to measure change and success. Delbar has more than 18 years' experience as a Leadership and Executive coach for performance improvement and its alignment with the vision and mission of a company. Delbar is a strategic HR developer and a professional trainer creating opportunities for intentional employee engagement in organizations. Hassan Pardawalla’s progressive cross-functional career path has been non-linear and divergent; a path that has been driven by curiosity, broad-mindedness, adaptability, grit, and diversity. Hassan works to create great organizational cultures, developing and nourishing talent through servant and authentic leadership, open communication, growing relationships based on trust and integrity, and being a boundary-spanning connector leader.

On May 30, 2023, Vantage Point, together with Vancouver Foundation, Victoria Foundation, City of Vancouver, Vancity Community Foundation, and United Way BC, released “Safety Net” the 2023 State of the Non-Profit Sector Report. The report finds that British Columbia’s non-profits continue to be a safety net for communities, providing services and bridging gaps between government and the private sector. But the safety net is under pressure. BC’s non-profits continue to be driven by hopeful future-oriented visions, but human resource concerns remain prominent. While BC’s non-profits are doing more for communities and for their staff by meeting increased service demands and improving working conditions across the sector, during a time of increasing costs and staffing pressures, the SOTS report signals that even optimistic organizations are unable to thrive in the face of constant uncertainty about operational and funding sustainability. Our panel of human resources professionals in our sector, join host Cherie Payne, Director of Sector Development and Government Relations at Vantage Point, to explore the results of the sector report, the human resource concerns within, and what is needed to help these organizations survive.

What is a collaboration continuum? How does it start? How does it work? What makes a successful collaboration? In this episode, Maria Turnbull hosts David Lee from MOSAIC and fellow Vantage Point consultants JP Baker and Dorla Tune in a roundtable conversation about the power of collaboration and, based on their own experiences, the key elements and systems for impactful working partnerships. Hear more about what they think contribute to powerful collaborative experiences and where they suggest you could start!

Strengthening the capacity of the Non-profit sector is a primary focus at Vantage Point. Through all our work we seek to support, convene and uplift non-profit organizations in British Columbia. That’s why this conversation is so important to us. How can we use effective fund development practices and efficient technology to support our sector? The tools are out there. How can we use them best? Why are inclusive fundraising practices important? Who is responsible for financially supporting the sector? In this episode, our host and CEO of Vantage Point, Zahra Esmail, talks with Bryna Dilman, the Senior Director of Growth and Marketing at Keela, exploring the importance of strong and inclusive fund development and how data-driven technology can help us in building a stronger non-profit sector.

Joining us to discuss Truth and Reconciliation in the Workplace with Roy Pogorzelski and Carol Robinson from Harbour West Consulting. In this episode our guests bring diverse perspective to the conversation, from Roy’s lived experience as an Indigenous leader and educator, to their breadth of joint HR and leadership work across sectors in positive and impactful approaches to integrating truth and reconciliation in the workplace. With authenticity and openness, Roy and Carol invite Vantage Point’s listeners to learn, reflect, and be inspired by strategies to activate the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action in the hearts, minds, and behaviours of ourselves, our teams, and our workplaces.

This episode we speak with Kevin McCort, CEO of the Vancouver Foundation, and Katie Clogg, Executive Director of the Sunshine Coast Resource Centre about the new Recovery & Resiliency Fund – $34 million of new funding available for not-for-profits and open for applications until September 30. It is an eye-opening conversation about what these two leaders have learned about good practices in past funding models, and what this new Fund can seek to correct with novel approaches, innovative evaluation criteria, and commitment to multi-year funding to ensure sustainable staffing and projects. BC not-for-profits and charities can apply for a grant from the Recovery and Resiliency Fund at this link: https://www.vancouverfoundation.ca/grants/recovery-and-resiliency-fund

If you have been considering developing your coaching skills or have heard of coaching but aren’t entirely sure what it is, this is the episode for you! Darrell Lim, coach extraordinaire, joins From Our Vantage Point's host Rowan King this month to discuss what is really behind the word “coaching”: what it looks like and why it’s an imperative skill to have as a leader.

When we think of not-for-profit collaboration, we don’t often look beyond the borders of our sector. Well, lying just beyond the not-for-profit sector is a world of opportunities — especially when it comes to universities! Kat Cureton and Katie McCallum from UBC Community Engagement joined this month’s podcast to share the plethora of resources universities have to offer not-for-profits, how to access them, and why they can be so mutually beneficial. This episode is full of great resources to discover and opportunities to unfold.