The Discovery Pod

The continuous challenge of balancing advocacy, fundraising, and programs is a fundamental tension for leaders in the international development sector. Douglas Nelson explores this dynamic with Allison Alley, President and CEO of World Vision Canada, who oversees efforts to support the world’s most vulnerable children. Allison shares her unique perspective on leading through seismic shifts in the sector, detailing World Vision’s holistic and child-focused approach that encompasses emergency relief, long-term development, and critical advocacy work. She discusses her “bridge year” strategy to ensure the organization remains centered, clear, and cohesive, and reveals how fostering an attentive, “non-anxious presence” guides her leadership and commitment to continuous, incremental improvement.

Uncover the essential nonprofit fundraising insights needed to anchor your organization in abundance for 2026 and beyond. In a special “Ask Doug Anything” session, Douglas Nelson sits down with Samantha Gayfer, Director of Strategic Development at The Discovery Group, to tackle the sector’s most persistent challenges. They dive into critical shifts in donor behavior trends, discussing the intergenerational wealth transfer and the true “next generation” of donors. Doug outlines the most common campaign readiness gaps, emphasizing the focus on top gifts and mid-level giving, and dissects the “great irony” of internal structures that undercut fundraiser success. Finally, they cover strategies for CEOs to navigate board tension and foster deeper board engagement in philanthropy, providing clear guidance for leaders on shaping their next steps.

Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS) is dedicated to advancing the social, political, economic, and cultural well-being of the Black community in Metro Vancouver. Douglas Nelson sits down with their inaugural executive director, Djaka Blais, who talks about their place-making efforts focused on nonprofit housing development and community engagement. Djaka discusses how they embrace Afrocentric governance principles to push their efforts forward and explains how their Community Land Trust model works. She also breaks down the benefits of fostering a culture of care, which helps her team avoid burnout and remain committed to their core mission.

Whenever the economy stumbles or takes a moment to take a breath, the social profit sector gets concerned about what will happen with corporate philanthropy. Douglas Nelson delves into the current state of corporate partnerships in Canada with Adam Starkman, President and CEO of Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations. He offers valuable insights on building and driving meaningful change within your own organization while navigating the ever-evolving landscape of corporate philanthropy. Adam also emphasizes the importance of taking an intentional approach to culture building to unlock stability and growth in your team.

The donor community is one of the powerhouses of every philanthropic group, and therefore must be given proper support and appreciation. Covenant House Vancouver, a non-profit organization supporting young people living in “hidden homelessness,” aims to boost their fundraising efforts through their newly created role: Director of Donor Engagement and Operations. Talking about the responsibilities and requirements of this position is Tracy Brown, Covenant House’s Chief Philanthropy Officer. She breaks down how this role will be instrumental in scaling their operations, establishing a new donor engagement hub, and providing the needed financial support for their newly established three-phase strategic plan.

Raising money is one of the lifelines of any hospital foundation. It ensures the organization’s longevity and capacity to save many lives. Douglas Nelson offers a glimpse of what it takes to build successful fundraising models with Jennifer Molloy, CEO of the Royal University Hospital Foundation. She shares the challenges and successes of raising money for the largest clinical teaching and research hospital in Saskatchewan. Jennifer delves into the importance of building meaningful relationships with donors and engaging with the next generation of philanthropists. She also talks about their strategies for recruiting and retaining strong teams who can continue crafting and pushing for effective fundraising programs.

To make the social profit sector more equitable, inclusive, and effective, an optimistic vision from a committed leader is necessary. Tanya Rumble, executive director of the Toronto Metropolitan University, takes her social profit leadership approach to the next level to make this dream a reality. She joins Douglas Nelson to share how she promotes inclusive fundraising practices and restorative philanthropy to foster collective community-centered action. Tanya also talks about the importance of constantly revamping your gift acceptance policies to avoid fishy donations and dismantle outdated fundraising practices once and for all.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder which is growing quicker in Canada than many other countries and Jessica Diniz leads the charge in unlocking brand-new health breakthroughs to accelerate the pace of its research. She joins Douglas Nelson to share her experiences and insights as the president and CEO of Breakthrough T1D, one of Canada’s top national health charities dedicated to treating Type 1 Diabetes. Jessica talks about what it takes to lead a distributed team of a global organization and how to maintain a strong community of donors. She also discusses how COVID-19 vastly changed their revenue sources and how she guides her team in staying open to constant change.

Are you ready to be the architect of B.C.'s most ambitious healthcare campaign? The VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is launching an unprecedented, comprehensive fundraising effort—a bold undertaking designed to elevate healthcare innovation across the province. At the heart of this monumental initiative is a critical new role: Director of Campaign Operations.

In this exclusive Opportunity Spotlight, we sit down with Vanessa Abaya, Senior Vice President for Philanthropy and Campaign, to discuss the foundation's culture, its expansive impact, and the pivotal responsibilities of this "air traffic controller" position. Discover how you can leverage your strategic vision and operational excellence to bridge fundraising strategy with tactical execution, working across all teams (from Major Gifts to IT) to drive success for a campaign that will redefine healthcare in British Columbia. If you thrive on complexity, collaboration, and the chance to leave a legacy, this is the deep dive you need to read.

For this episode’s Opportunity Spotlight, we are joined by Elissa Ming Morrissette, Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer of BC Cancer Foundation, who talks about their new Executive Director role. She explains what they are looking for in their future ED, who will play a pivotal role in the largest philanthropic funder of cancer research in British Columbia. Elissa also explores her collaborative leadership style built on trust, as well as some compelling reasons why a seasoned leader should join their foundation.