Growth for Good Season 2 Recap
In 2022 Daniel launched a show called Growth for Good: Amplifying Impact for Non-Profits, Charities & Social Purpose Businesses to have more meaningful discussions and help others to amplify positive impact and bring communities together, building off of years of working in the worlds of marketing and social impact.
This show discusses challenges, wins, and best practices when it comes to communications, marketing, fundraising, and impact, through interviews with leaders at nonprofits and social enterprises, and the organizations that support them.
Recorded in Toronto with the support of CreatorClub, the show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and in video format on YouTube. As episodes are released, video clips are also shared on Instagram here.
All episodes from Seasons 1 and 2 are available.
If you are interested in being a sponsor or a guest for Season 3, please reach out.
Subscribe to be ready for Season 3 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Shannon Craig, CanadaHelps
A seasoned marketer with nearly 25+ years of experience, Shannon has led the marketing team at CanadaHelps for over seven years and brings experience from working at leading brands and technology innovators including eSight Eyewear, Kobo, WIND Mobile, FedEx, and LEGO. She is currently General Manager, Donor Services & Brand Marketing (formerly CMO) at CanadaHelps.
In this podcast episode, host Daniel Francavilla interviews Shannon Craig, General Manager at CanadaHelps. Shannon shares her path into the nonprofit sector and underscores the value of meaningful work for personal and professional growth. They explore philanthropy's role in systemic change, discussing strategic giving, power dynamics, and partnerships. Shannon concludes by advising those interested in the nonprofit sector to prioritize alignment with personal values, continuous learning, and passion-driven engagement.
Jason Egbuna, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation
Jason Egbuna has over 16 years in direct marketing, and has worked in hospital-based fundraising for a decade, specializing in annual and leadership giving. He is currently the co-chair of the Canadian Marketing Association’s Not-for-Profit Council, and has served on the council for the past 6 years. Outside of his nonprofit career he has worked on the creative side of marketing and sales, generating virtual ads for NFL and PGA broadcasts.
Daniel and Jason discussed the role of innovation in nonprofits, highlighting its broader scope beyond technology and its importance for driving social impact. Jason emphasizes the need for adaptability, overcoming barriers like limited resources and risk aversion, fostering a culture of innovation, and leveraging partnerships and data to enhance effectiveness.
Tonya Surman, Centre for Social Innovation (CSI)
Tonya Surman is fuelled by her belief in the power of collaboration and belonging. She knows that putting the right people in a room is only the first step in creating real change, and that you need to build a culture where everyone knows they have value and a voice to radically redesign our futures. She did this with the Constellation Model, an entirely new take on governance. She did this with the Centre for Social Innovation, which re-invented the workplace by collecting social purpose organizations under one roof. She did this with Community Bonds, an innovation that allows a nonprofit to turn their social capital into financial capital. She knows building relationships between people is the foundation for a better world.
Discussed social entrepreneurship and the role of spaces like CSI in fostering collaboration and innovation. Tonya emphasizes purpose-driven work, inclusive environments, the importance of embracing failure for learning, and the rise of new models like hybrid organizations in shaping the future of social impact.
Zahra Ebrahim, Monumental
Zahra Ebrahim is the Co-Founder of Monumental. She is a public interest designer and strategist, and her work has focused on community-led approaches to policy, infrastructure, and service design. She is an established bridge builder across grassroots and institutional spaces, and is a leading practitioner in surfacing key stories and narratives that build trust and connect communities. Prior to this role, she built and led Doblin Canada, focusing on engaging diverse sets of stakeholders to use design-led approaches to address complex organizational and industry challenges. In her early career, Zahra led one of Canada’s first social design studios, working with communities to co-design towards better social outcomes, leading some of Canada’s most ambitious participatory infrastructure and policy programs. Zahra has taught at OCADU, MoMA, and is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto. She is the Vice-Chair of the Canadian Urban Institute, and the Board Chair for Park People. She was recently named Next City’s Vanguard “40 under 40 Civic Leader”, Ascend Canada’s Mentor of the Year, one of “Tomorrow’s Titans” in Toronto Life, and one of WXN’s Top 100 Women in Canadian Business.
Zahra Ebrahim, co-founder of Monumental, discusses the interplay between incremental change and radical transformation in the social good sector. The episode scrutinizes the challenges of implementing both forms of change and analyzes the role of pivotal events like pandemic-induced lockdowns. Zahra highlights the importance of inclusive decision-making, addresses the evolving landscape of equity, acknowledges their organization's progress in diversity, and contemplates the role of social media in the sector.
Kavita Dogra, Ontario Nonprofit Network
Kavita (she/her) has been in the nonprofit sector for over a decade and possesses a variety of communications skills. She is currently the Communications and Development Manager at Ontario Nonprofit Network. Kavita has spent years developing her digital engagement strategy skills and learning how to build and grow digital audiences. She is an intersectional feminist, an avid volunteer, passionate about equity and social justice, and a proud aunt. Kavita also co-chaired the committee that organized the Women’s March in Toronto (2017-2019).
Daniel and Kavita discusses the unique roles of communications and fundraising in the nonprofit sector. The conversation covers Kavita's journey, challenges nonprofits face including funding cycles and pandemic impact, and strategies for effective communication. They stress tailoring messages to platforms and audiences, adapting to changing preferences, and staying relevant in social media conversations. The episode underscores meeting audiences where they are and simplifying messaging for greater impact.
Mike Prosserman, EPIC Leadership & Unity Charity
Michael ‘Piecez’ Prosserman is a bestselling author, professional B-Boy (“breakdancer”), university instructor, and certified coach who specializes in scaling start-ups, team culture, fundraising, and succession. In Michael’s book Building Unity: Leading a Non-Profit From Spark to Succession, he shares practical tools and stories to launching, leading and leaving a sustainable organization. He scaled a grassroots organization from the ground up as the Founder of Unity Charity, an organization using Hip-Hop to improve youth mental health. Over 15 years Michael grew Unity from a volunteer group to employing 80 staff, raising $7 million, and having an impact on 250,000 youth. By high school, Michael was accepted into Cirque Du Soleil and featured in the major motion picture “Honey”. Michael is committed to empowering leaders in the public and private sector to build more resilient and responsible organizations through his social enterprise EPIC Leadership. EPIC facilitates peer learning for a growing community of over 60 senior non-profit leaders
Daniel converses with Mike Prosserman, recounting his journey in the nonprofit sector. Mike's story began with using hip hop for social change and evolved into founding Unity, a mental health charity. He emphasizes the importance of succession planning, collaborations, and graceful transitions in nonprofits. Mike also discusses his focus on addressing sector issues with his current initiative, Epic, which builds peer support groups for nonprofit leaders. The episode underscores the value of sharing resources, authentic connections, and storytelling in the sector.
Ryan O'Neil Knight, Afro-Caribbean Business Network & Detailing Knights
Ryan-O'Neil Knight is a Brampton entrepreneur who founded Detailing Knights and the Afro-Caribbean Business Network, where he is currently President & Chair. After founding one of the first social enterprise car cleaning companies, he now uses ACBN Canada as a platform to encourage businesses to become social enterprises.
Daniel engages with entrepreneur and community leader Ryan O'Neil Knight. Ryan's experience founding Detailing Knights, a socially conscious car detailing business, and leading the Afro-Caribbean Business Network underscores the potential of social entrepreneurship for both community impact and business success. Ryan's insights highlight the importance of economic empowerment, collaboration, and resilience for aspiring purpose-driven entrepreneurs, encouraging them to pursue meaningful initiatives that create positive change.
