Introduction:

Welcome to the Cause Leadership Podcast with host Dave Hutchinson. In this episode, Dave is joined by Allen Davidov.

Allen is the Senior Vice President, Sales Practice & Marketing Leader at Environics Analytics, where he focuses on the not-for-profit, energy, transportation, and public sectors. With nearly two decades of experience in marketing, analytics, and fundraising, Allen has a proven track record of helping organizations unlock the value of information for smarter decision-making and strategic growth.

Before his role at Environics Analytics, Allen led impactful marketing and fundraising initiatives at esteemed organizations like the Sinai Health Foundation and Habitat for Humanity GTA, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Ontario Region, St. John’s Rehab Hospital Foundation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and North York General Hospital Foundation.

He’s not only a dedicated professional in his field but also an active contributor to the community, serving on the Canadian Marketing Association’s Not-For-Profit Council, volunteering with the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, and a member of Seneca College’s Marketing Advisory Council.

Allen holds an MBA from the University of Liverpool, a Bachelor of Commerce from Toronto Metropolitan University, and a Creative Advertising diploma from Centennial College, and a Chartered Marketer certificate from the Canadian Marketing Association, showcasing his commitment to excellence in marketing.

Summary:

In this insightful episode, Dave sits down with Allen to explore his career journey through the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. They discuss the unique challenges and opportunities facing emerging leaders in the charitable space, focusing on how they can make a meaningful impact.

• Importance of Mentorship: Allen emphasizes the significance of mentorship in personal and professional development, especially for those entering the nonprofit field.
  
• Data Analytics in Nonprofits: Dave and Allen discuss the pivotal role of data analytics in understanding donor behaviors and refining fundraising strategies.
  
• Canada Helps Giving Report Insights: Key takeaways from the report are examined, including the decline in donor numbers and evolving giving behaviors, prompting charities to rethink their approaches.
• Connecting with Donors: The importance of personal connections with donors is highlighted, with a focus on effective messaging and visual cues to engage and retain attention.
• Talent Shifts: The conversation addresses the shifting talent landscape in the charitable sector and the emerging opportunities for young professionals.
• Partnerships for Impact: Allen discusses the importance of collaborations between charities and corporations, particularly regarding sustainability and social impact initiatives.
• Reasons for Hope in the Charitable Sector: The episode wraps up with a reflection on the rewarding nature of working in the nonprofit sector and the critical need for career development and mentorship.
  
  

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background

07:13 Challenges and Opportunities for Emerging Leaders

15:18 Environics Analytics and Data Analytics in the Nonprofit Sector

22:11 Key Takeaways from the CanadaHelps Giving Report

27:00 Rethinking Fundraising Strategies and Building Connections

30:27 Understanding Donor Base and Connecting to Their Values

32:19 Talent Shifts and Opportunities in the Charitable Sector

46:23 Partnerships for Sustainability and Social Impact

51:43 Investing in Career Development and Mentorship in the Sector

Resources Mentioned:

Canada Helps Giving Report: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/the-giving-report/

Environics Analytics: https://environicsanalytics.com/en-ca/home

Connect with Allen:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allendavidov

E-mail: Allen.Davidov@environicsanalytics.com

Introduction:

The Cause Leadership Podcast with host Dave Hutchinson. In this episode, Dave is joined by Andy Harrington, the Executive Director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 15 Canadian church denominations and agencies with a goal to end global hunger. Partnering with locally based organizations in majority world countries, the organization seeks to meet emergency food needs in crisis situations, achieve long term sustainable solutions to hunger, and works to foster informed action by Canadians and governments to support relief and development efforts around this international cause.

Andy has over thirty five years of experience working in international development and with youth and young adults around the world. Prior to joining the Foodgrains Bank, he was the CEO of the Wellspring Foundation for Education, an organization with a mission to transform education in East Africa and to foster vibrant communities that address poverty in all its forms. He and his wife Helen along with their two children spent two years during the conflict in Croatia and Bosnia, working with children traumatized by the war, and he has led projects in a number of other countries, including as part of the relief efforts for the Asian Tsunami disaster.

Andy, writes and speaks extensively on a number of issues including the need for a just society and respectful leadership. He has a Masters degree in Missiology and can regularly be found motorbiking or hiking in places like Alaska and Africa.

Summary

Our guest, Andy Harrington, the Executive Director of the Canadian Food Grains Bank, discusses his role and the organization's mission to end global hunger. He shares his career journey in the charitable sector, from working with at-risk youth to leading education initiatives in Africa.

Andy highlights the challenges and opportunities in the charitable sector, including the breakdown of civil discourse and the need for flexibility, authenticity, and trust in organizations. He also emphasizes the importance of engaging younger generations in leadership roles and board positions to ensure the future success of charities.

Dave and Andy discuss the importance of leadership in the nonprofit sector. Andy emphasizes the need for leaders to engage their teams and build trust, especially during times of crisis. Harrington shares his experiences in Sri Lanka and Bosnia, highlighting the importance of caring for the team while dealing with a crisis.

Dave and Andy also speak about the significance of self-care for leaders and offer advice on transitioning into a new leadership role. Harrington concludes by discussing the value of mentorship and how younger leaders can seek guidance and support.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Andy Harrington's Role and Canadian Food Grains Bank

13:03 Challenges in the Charitable Sector

15:47 Opportunities in the Charitable Sector

18:15 Engaging Younger Generations in Leadership Roles

21:38 The Importance of Flexibility, Authenticity, and Trust in Leadership

25:39 Diversity and Effective Governance in Charities

28:19 Engaging Teams and Building Trust

30:07 Leadership in Extreme Situations

34:29 Caring for Staff in Charitable Work

36:44 Creating a Supportive Work Environment

39:18 The Importance of Self-Care

42:56 Transitioning into a New Leadership Role

50:56 The Value of Mentorship

Introduction

The Cause Leadership Podcast with host Dave Hutchinson. In this episode, Dave is joined by Duke Chang, President and CEO of CanadaHelps.

Duke is an accomplished executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in financial services and technology, transforming businesses through innovation and product-led growth. Before joining CanadaHelps, Duke served as the Worldwide Head of Product, Business Development, and Customer Experience for Lenovo Solutions and Services Group where he built and scaled the broad solution portfolio to support Lenovo's $3 billion business.

Duke He has endless enthusiasm to diversify the impact of CanadaHelps’ technologies and drive innovation. He focuses his priorities at CanadaHelps on enhancements that will empower Canadians to easily support their favourite causes and delivering real value in particular to small- and medium-sized charities, allowing them to grow their fundraising results and advance on their digital transformation journeys.

Summary

Our guest, Duke Chang, President and CEO of CanadaHelps, discusses his transition from the corporate space to the charitable sector and the challenges and opportunities he has encountered.

Dave and Duke speak about the need for collaboration and centralization in the charitable sector, and the goal of CanadaHelps to assist with economies of scale for charities. Duke also highlights the importance of digital skills and capabilities in the sector, particularly in terms of cybersecurity.

Dave and Duke discuss the talent pool in the charitable sector and the need for organizations to offer meaning, purpose, and work-life balance to attract and retain talent. They also address the leadership transition from Boomers to Millennials and the role of mentorship in developing emerging leaders.

In this conversation, Duke discusses the challenges and opportunities in the charitable sector. He emphasizes the importance of leadership during times of adversity and highlights the need for leaders to have a clear North Star for their teams.

Dave and Duke also review the key elements of success for fundraisers, including the ability to communicate the impact of donations and the importance of diversifying revenue streams. They explore the value of corporate partnerships and the alignment between sustainability and the charitable sector.

Duke concludes by sharing his excitement about CanadaHelps' mission to build generosity in Canada and make the sector more operationally efficient.

Canadahelps.org

Canadahelps LinkedIn

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the Transition: Corporate Space to Charitable Sector

02:25 Challenges and Opportunities in the Charitable Sector

06:15 The Impact of Technology and Digital Skills

12:40 Talent Market Dynamics in the Charitable Sector

25:30 Navigating Adversity: Leading Teams Through Tough Times

29:00 The Future of Fundraising: Key Elements of Success

30:30 Corporate Partnerships: Building True Alliances

35:15 Revenue Diversification and Talent Development in the Charitable Sector