This week, the Government of Canada released its report from its National Call for Concepts for Social Finance. The report, Harnessing the Power of Social Finance, outlines international and Canadian examples of social finance methods, along with an overview of the government’s next steps to connect key players to turn innovative ideas into action.

In the introduction, human resources and skills development minister Diane Finley says: “Social finance has enormous potential for unlocking new sources of capital and creating a broader shift in the way that all of us – governments, business, not-for-profits, charities and foundations – work together toward new ways to improve social and economic outcomes for Canadians.”

We believe Canada’s not-for-profit sector can benefit from the robust network of support our venture philanthropy model offers. We leverage investments from the public and private sectors with the hands-on management and support our LIFT team provides a not-for-profit organization. We further leverage the investments with pro bono services provided by our partner network of local, regional and national experts from across the country. This network of support helps our not-for-profit partners improve operations, build capacity, and increase outreach, beyond what they could do on their own.

We are pleased the Government of Canada is committed to developing and supporting social finance opportunities in Canada. By encouraging new partnerships and supporting innovative approaches, we can, collectively, address social and economic challenges facing our communities.

Read the Government of Canada’s release of the report.

Our partners at Score Marketing Inc. specialize in sponsorship marketing. They create sponsorship strategies and activation programs to drive meaningful and measurable results. In a recent post, they offered valuable tips for using social media to connect with new audiences.

Says Score: “When used correctly social media is a powerful tool that allows you access to new markets and audiences, to interact with those that would not physically be able to attend or engage, and provide deeper consumer experiences that can resonate well after the initial contact point. It provides a reason for people to share your brand messages.”

Read the entire article at scoreinc.ca and follow managing director Garnet Nelson on Twitter at @SCOREgarnet.

“Social Synergy Design is committed to making positive contributions to the community. Working with LIFT will further my passion for working with not-for-profit organizations who are working towards building healthy communities,” said Linda Senenki, principal, Social Synergy Design.

Social Synergy Design provides graphic design and brand strategies for not-for-profit organizations and social enterprises that support positive community change. Social Synergy Design is joining LIFT’s partner network to offer pro bono marketing and design services to support LIFT’s portfolio of not-for-profit organizations.

“We are pleased to welcome Social Synergy Design to our pro bono partner network, and we look forward to their expertise in supporting our not-for-profit partners to clearly and effectively convey their stories,” said Bruce Dewar, chief executive officer, LIFT Philanthropy Partners.

Learn more:
Follow @social_synergy and  @liftpartners or join Social Synergy Design and LIFT on Facebook.

About Social Synergy Design
Social Synergy Design is a graphic design agency tailored to meet the needs of social enterprises with big goals and small budgets. Social Synergy Design is committed to working with socially-minded businesses that are making positive changes in the community. Social Synergy Design donates a percentage of its fees back to the client’s not-for-profit organization or charity of choice.

About LIFT Philanthropy Partners
LIFT Philanthropy Partners uses a venture philanthropy approach to support not-for-profit organizations to become sustainable and more effective at delivering measurable social impact that improves the health and productivity of Canadians and their communities.

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For more information, contact:

Social Synergy Design
Linda Senenki
Principal
604.982.9222
linda@socialsynergydesign.com

LIFT Philanthropy Partners
Nicole Mezzarobba Ford
Manager, Communications and Corporate Response
778.327.5139
nford@liftpartners.ca

Graphic designers help companies achieve visual communications goals. When you are looking for a graphic designer, it is important you know what to look for. Here are a few points to consider when choosing the best designer for your upcoming project.

Experience
Experience is very important. A professional graphic designer can only survive if they are providing excellent services to their clients, and the length they are in business is one of the key factors to determine this.

Design Portfolio
The design samples will give you a good amount of insight into the previous work that has been completed. It will make your decision easier, because from here, you can get an idea if the work the designer produces goes along the lines of your preference or not. Look for work that shows creativity, organization, and attention to detail.

Professional Certification
The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada has a Certified Graphic Designer (CGD) certification. It is a standards-based certification that is earned only through an examination and portfolio review process and only after accumulating a combined education and work experience of at least seven years. A designer with the CGD certification is recognized across Canada.

Design Process
The process of completing the project and showing it to clients involves various steps. The ease of use and the readiness of the designer’s system that is in place are also important in order to determine the effective flow of work. Make sure your time is not wasted in lost emails and without a proper history of conversations, which took place before or after the design process.

Testimonials
Testimonials can help you get an idea of what a designer is like to work with. Don’t hesitate to ask the graphic designer for a reference or two. A professional designer will be able to provide you with a reference you can contact and have a conversation with.

The right graphic designer will help to express business objectives visually, and create ideas for a specific purpose. The outcome should be thoughtful, visual communications that make your message clear.

Linda Senenki, CGD, is the principal of Social Synergy Design, a graphic design agency tailored to meet the needs of social enterprises with big goals and small budgets. When a project is complete, Social Synergy Design donates a percentage of its fees back to the client’s organization or charity of choice.  Linda has over 15 years of experience in graphic design and branding. Contact her at linda@socialsynergydesign.com.

Read about LIFT’s partnership with Social Synergy Design.

Vancouver, B.C. (April 18, 2013): LIFT Philanthropy Partners is pleased to welcome Ernst & Young to its partner network of leading experts, which supports not-for-profit organizations to become sustainable and more effective in delivering social impact. This new partnership will provide valuable advisory services to help not-for-profit organizations improve the health and productivity of Canadians and their communities.

“Ernst & Young is excited to be working with LIFT Philanthropy Partners in support of their vision to deliver measurable and lasting social impact in the areas of literacy, skills development, sport and physical activity. Venture philanthropy plays a key role in the delivery of scalable and sustainable social impact and we are delighted to be supporting LIFT to maximize the social return on their investment in our local communities,” said Vincent Bryant, senior manager of Ernst & Young’s advisory practice.

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. LIFT’s venture philanthropy work aligns with Ernst & Young’s commitment to helping people and communities achieve their highest potential.

“Ernst & Young’s commitment to providing top-notch advisory services in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors makes it an ideal fit for LIFT’s partner network,” explained Bruce Dewar, chief executive officer of LIFT Philanthropy Partners. “We believe our partnership with Ernst & Young will strengthen our ability to help not-for-profit organizations reach their full potential for creating lasting social change in Canada.”

Learn more about Ernst & Young:
Visit ey.com/ca
Join on Facebook
Follow on Twitter
Visit on LinkedIn
Watch on YouTube

About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, its 167,000 people are united by their shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. Ernst & Young makes a difference by helping people, clients and wider communities achieve their potential.

About LIFT Philanthropy Partners
LIFT Philanthropy Partners uses a venture philanthropy approach to support not-for-profit organizations to become sustainable and more effective at delivering measurable social impact that improves the health and productivity of Canadians and their communities.

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For more information, contact:

Nicole Mezzarobba Ford
Manager, Communications and Corporate Response
778.327.5139
nford@liftpartners.ca

“On behalf of the LIFT Philanthropy Partners Board of Directors, we are incredibly pleased to appoint the very capable and accomplished Jane Pepino as chair of the organization,” said Judy Rogers, who assumes the role of past-chair of LIFT Philanthropy Partners. “Jane’s expertise and leadership will truly benefit LIFT as we continue to build stronger, effective and sustainable not-for-profit organizations across Canada.”

Ms. Pepino joined the board of directors of LIFT’s predecessor, 2010 Legacies Now, in 2009. Since then, she has played an instrumental leadership role in developing and advancing LIFT’s venture philanthropy investment model. Ms. Pepino is a senior partner at Aird & Berlis LLP and founder of the firm’s Municipal and Land Use Planning Group.

“I am honoured by the support of my fellow directors as I step into this role as chair of LIFT Philanthropy Partners,” said Jane Pepino, chair, LIFT Philanthropy Partners. “I look forward to collaborating with the board to advance our venture philanthropy investments by aligning with organizations, partners and investors who truly believe in creating meaningful and impactful social change for Canada.”

Ms. Pepino has a wealth of experience in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors in Canada. She is the chair of Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, and the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council appointment to the University of Toronto’s Governing Council. She also serves on the chair’s advisory council of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, the board of Toronto Lands Corporation, and the Victoria University Property Committee.

Ms. Pepino’s previous board service includes Habitat for Humanity, Sunnybrook & Women’s Health Sciences Centre, and 2010 Legacies Now. Jane was the founding chair of the Province of Ontario Women’s Health Council. She also served on the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Toronto’s Metro Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children, the Toronto Mayor’s Committee on Employment Equity, Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, and Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Learn more about LIFT:
Visit liftpartners.ca
Join on Facebook
Follow on Twitter
Visit on LinkedIn
Watch on YouTube

About LIFT Philanthropy Partners
LIFT Philanthropy Partners uses a venture philanthropy approach to support not-for-profit organizations to become sustainable and more effective at delivering measurable social impact that improves the health and productivity of Canadians and their communities.

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For more information, contact:
Nicole Mezzarobba Ford
Manager, Communications and Corporate Response
LIFT Philanthropy Partners
778.327.5139
nford@liftpartners.ca

I had the opportunity to attend a Scaling High Impact symposium a couple of weeks ago, which brought together a diverse collection of not-for-profit organizations from across Metro Vancouver.

The main theme of the symposium was to explore the fundamental shift in the way not-for-profit organizations do business in terms of reporting – simply counting activities and demonstrating efficiencies are no longer enough to satisfy investors. The new reality is that investors increasingly require not-for-profits to have good data collection systems and measurement tools that allow change to be monitored during program delivery. New tools and skills are required to clearly demonstrate the social impact of programs and services to investors.

The symposium featured a number of different speakers who spoke on themes related to the main topic. Among those who stood out was Kate Robinson, a not-for-profit consultant and film producer who screened a short version of her film Saving Philanthropy. The film reinforced the idea that today’s investors require organizations to demonstrate impact, and define and measure organizational outcomes. Successful not-for-profits embrace this new reality and are able to attract investors with the strength of their measurement and reporting systems.

Another standout speaker was Ian Gill, founding CEO of Ecotrust Australia, who spoke about social impact bonds (SIBs) as a powerful tool to use private capital for ventures that have positive social outcomes. He gave an interesting overview of the development of SIBs in the UK and US, along with the crucial role that performance management and measurement has in the successful evolution of SIBs.

Overall, it was an interesting event, which highlighted how not-for-profit organizations need to measure and articulate the social impact they deliver.

On February 26, the Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation (TAH) held its 7th Annual Moonlight Snowshoe event on Mount Seymour. This is TAH’s signature fundraising event, which I have had the privilege of attending every year.

Each year, this event grows in both scope and reach, increasing awareness of TAH’s unique programming, which engages at-risk high school youth through a combination of academics, adventure-based learning, therapy, and community involvement.

With over 100 fundraising participants involved this year, TAH raised more than $50,000! This money will fund two multi-day expeditions, providing life-changing experiences, therapy and training to more than 40 at-risk youth in Vancouver. It’s a remarkable achievement for an event that, only seven years ago, struggled to raise enough money to cover just the event costs.

The most significant change I’ve seen in this event over the past seven years is the level of engagement and involvement from the students themselves. The students take on roles of hosts, participants and guests of honour. They meet with donors, share their experiences in the program, and personally thank donors for supporting TAH. The students experience philanthropy first-hand, seeing how fundraising events make TAH, and their own success in the program, possible.

The donors benefit as well – they see the value and impact of their dollars in action. It is a truly inspiring evening. For more information on TAH, its expansion plans into additional BC communities, or to make a donation, visit takeahikefoundation.org.

“Odgers Berndtson recognizes the essential role not-for-profit organizations can play in addressing social challenges facing Canadian communities. Through our network of skilled executive search partners, consultants and researchers, we hope to support these efforts by attracting talented leadership to the sector,” said Kenneth Werker, managing partner, Odgers Berndtson. 

Odgers Berndtson will support LIFT and its portfolio of not-for-profit organizations as a member of the LIFT partner network. Odgers Berndtson will provide pro bono advisory services on executive search recruitment and organizational structure to strengthen the not-for-profit organizations. 

“Strong governance and leadership have tremendous influence on the success of any organization. As such, we are proud to have Odgers Berndtson, a leading executive search firm, join our partner network, and support our efforts to build effective and impactful not-for-profit organizations across Canada,” said Bruce Dewar, chief executive officer, LIFT Philanthropy Partners. 

Learn More
Visit odgersberndtson.ca or liftpartners.ca to learn more. Follow @liftpartners on Twitter or like LIFT on Facebook.

About Odgers Berndtson
Odgers Berndtson is an international executive recruiting firm known for delivering innovative and strategic solutions to satisfy their clients’ leadership requirements. Their global services are based on a foundation of local expertise, with consultants integrated into key business, government and cultural networks in their respective regions. They have Canadian offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, Montréal and Halifax. 

About LIFT
LIFT Philanthropy Partners uses a venture philanthropy approach to support not-for-profit organizations to become sustainable and more effective at delivering measurable social impact that improves the health and productivity of Canadians and their communities. 

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For more information, contact: 

Odgers Berndtson
Kenneth Werker
Managing Partner
604.602.2553
ken.werker@odgersberndtson.ca  

LIFT Philanthropy Partners
Nicole Mezzarobba Ford
Manager, Communications and Corporate Response
778.327.5139
nford@liftpartners.ca  

Technology is bringing our world together; it allows us to maintain ongoing communication with others, follow our favourite thought leaders, see recent photos and images, catch ‘as it happens’ news, broadly share information and meet with people from all corners of the world as if sitting at the same boardroom table. 

Last week, we participated in a seemingly face-to-face meeting with three leading venture philanthropy organizations:  Impetus Trust in the United Kingdom; New Profit in the United States; and Social Ventures Australia in Australia. Using CISCO TelePresence, a live, high-definition video conference solution, we were able to conduct a global meeting to share learnings, challenges and ideas, as if we were all in the same room. 

Technology is a collaborative tool that can advance social innovation. This meeting was one example of how technology has clear benefits to supporting collaboration and social innovation. Technology offers additional benefits, outlined below. 

1.  New way of sharing information  
Technology provides a time and cost effective way to collaborate with others around the world. All parties no longer have to take time out of their schedule to travel to a meeting. Online meetings can happen within a 2-3 hour window with limited resources and carbon footprint implications. 

2.  Effective collaboration
New technology allows interaction between participants to happen in real time, with no time delay, so a discussion can easily take place as if everyone was in the same room. 

3.  Cost efficient
Using new technology does often have associated costs, but when compared to travel and lost time, technology offers a viable alternative. 

4.  Time efficient
We were able to bring together venture philanthropy leaders from four corners of the world in a two hour time frame. It was quick, efficient and offered a great opportunity for us to share information.

Although we haven’t used them all, below are some other examples of web conferencing technology:

Adobe Connect
Arkadin
Cisco WebEx     
FuseBox
Go To Meeting   
Yuuguu               

Technology is something that shouldn’t be overlooked when thinking about collaboration. It allows people to connect in different ways in a timely, cost effective manner to support social innovation. Do you use any technology that you find beneficial or have any feedback on any of the above tools? We would love to hear from you!

“The TwentyTen Group believes that substantive change can occur when harnessing the power of people and true partnership. Joining LIFT Philanthropy Partners’ network will further enhance our ability to achieve our company’s aspiration to elevate the potential of sport, culture and community,” said Andrea Shaw, founder and managing partner of the TwentyTen Group. “In our minds this is just a continuation of the partnership we developed during the 2010 Winter Games. We look forward to building upon this shared legacy.” 

The TwentyTen Group joins LIFT’s partner network of leading businesses, organizations and people that provide pro bono services to not-for-profit organizations. Collectively, this network is working to improve the health and productivity of Canadians and their communities. 

“The TwentyTen Group has a culture that seamlessly translates into an innovative and integrated approach to its work,” said Bruce Dewar, chief executive officer of LIFT Philanthropy Partners. “This aligns very well with LIFT’s venture philanthropy approach and we feel this partnership can add tremendous value to our portfolio of not-for-profit organizations.” 

About the TwentyTen Group
The TwentyTen Group is a progressive strategic marketing and sponsorship firm with a growing international client base. The TwentyTen Group is the agency of record for the Canadian Olympic Committee, Intrawest, John Furlong and Whistler Blackcomb. Through its office’s in Toronto and Vancouver, the firm’s past and present clients also include; the International Olympic Committee, Volkswagen Group Russia, KidSport Canada, The City of Vancouver, BC Cancer Foundation, Cirque du Soleil’s Foundation – One Drop, the Mark Anthony Group, Simon Fraser University and the 2015 Canada Winter Games among others. Learn more at TwentyTenGroup.com. 

About LIFT
LIFT Philanthropy Partners uses a venture philanthropy approach to support not-for-profit organizations to become sustainable and more effective at delivering measurable social impact that improves the health and productivity of Canadians and their communities. Follow @liftpartners on Twitter, like LIFT on Facebook or learn more at liftpartners.ca. 

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For more information, contact: 

The TwentyTen Group
Auburn Sigurdson
Associate
604.569.0480
auburn@twentytengroup.com  

LIFT Philanthropy Partners
Nicole Mezzarobba Ford
Manager, Communications and Corporate Response
778.327.5139
nford@liftpartners.ca

Technology is always changing and social media platforms are no exception. Last year, LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network on the Internet, upgraded their company pages to include more features that help companies showcase their brand and connect with their target audience on LinkedIn.

Now is a great time to get up to speed on these new features, update your page, and engage with your followers and other LinkedIn members. Start by making these five simple updates to your company’s profile page on LinkedIn:

1. 1. Add a header image
2. 2. Feature products and services
3. 3. Feature up to three LinkedIn Groups on your company page related to your business
4. 4. Share updates, including images and files; target these updates to the most appropriate audience by filtering by company size, industry, function, seniority, or geography
5. 5. Post and monitor regularly; including monitoring metrics such as page and follower insights (located to the right of your update box near the top of the page) to guide your future activity 

External of your actual LinkedIn company profile, add a Follow button to your website and marketing materials to drive people to your newly refreshed page! 

LinkedIn’s mission is to connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful. You might as well start with you and your company. To learn more and view detailed how to guides visit LinkedIn’s marketing page.

Recently, LIFT CEO, Bruce Dewar, was featured in Advantage Magazine. Bruce shared our history as 2010 Legacies Now, why we evolved to a venture philanthropy organization, and how we will impact not-for-profit organizations.

Below is an excerpt from the article:

We can all agree that the for-profit world and the nonprofit world are just that—two different worlds. But Bruce Dewar has expertly married his 20 years of business experience with his position as CEO of LIFT Philanthropy Partners, a Vancouver-based not-for-profit that works with other not-for-profits to make them more sustainable and effective. His business savvy was also instrumental in the seamless transition the organization has made from its previous life as 2010 Legacies Now, a not-for-profit created in 2000 that proved to be an integral component of Vancouver’s bid for the 2010 Winter Games. Legacies Now was truly revolutionary, and its new incarnation is proving to be just as groundbreaking, because Dewar and his team of 13 are using a venture philanthropy approach that is changing the way businesses, governments, and individuals invest and engage in social change. The end goal, of course, is to help other organizations create significant social impact within their respective communities.

Read the full article.

We wish you a joyous holiday season and successful 2013!

Please click the link below to view our holiday greetings.

LIFT holiday card

Happy holidays from the LIFT team!

We are pleased to welcome Robert Rabinovitch to the LIFT Board of Directors. Robert is an experienced executive with an extensive background in both the public and private sectors. He is very active in the areas of academics, health, culture and philanthropy, and we look forward to the contributions, leadership and experience he brings to our board. Here is a short Q+A with Robert.

What excites you about being on the board of directors for LIFT?
What excites me is LIFT’s philosophy. Namely, I look forward to working with not-for-profit organizations to help them maximize their potential, whether it is in fundraising or developing specific skills. As we come, as a society, to rely more on the not-for-profit sector to deliver necessary services, it is critical that these organizations receive help in developing and enhancing the necessary skills. In this way, they will be able to maximize their role in society.

What do you see LIFT accomplishing over the next five years?
LIFT has a proven record in creating social impact. I hope over the next five years, we can enhance our role and, in particular, export our skill set to benefit not-for-profit organizations across Canada. This is a great legacy project for our country.

What role do you see LIFT playing in improving social and economic outcomes in Canada?
We are partners and our job is to enhance the necessary skill sets of front line not-for-profit organizations, so they can improve social and economic outcomes for Canadians.

Mr. Rabinovitch brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the LIFT board. Previously, he served as president and chief executive officer of CBC/Radio-Canada from 1999 to 2007. Prior to joining CBC/Radio-Canada, he was executive vice-president and chief operating officer at Claridge Inc., a private equity firm headquartered in Montreal, and held several positions with the Government of Canada.

“LIFT Philanthropy Partners welcomes Robert Rabinovitch to our board of directors,” said Judy Rogers, chair of LIFT Philanthropy Partners. “We look forward to Robert’s expertise and contributions as we continue to build stronger, more effective and sustainable not-for-profit organizations across Canada.”

Mr. Rabinovitch is very active in the areas of academics, health, culture and philanthropy. In addition to LIFT’s board, he serves on several other boards and committees, including as vice-chair of the McGill University Health Centre and chair of its research ethics committee. He is also chair emeritus for McGill University, having served as chair of the board for 10 years.

“LIFT has a proven record of strengthening not-for-profit organizations, so they can effectively deliver meaningful social impact. I am pleased to join its board to build on this work and help the not-for-profit sector contribute to social and economic well-being of Canada,” said Mr. Rabinovitch.

Read an interview with Robert Rabinovitch on his involvement with LIFT.

About LIFT Philanthropy Partners
LIFT Philanthropy Partners uses a venture philanthropy approach to support not-for-profit organizations to become sustainable and more effective at delivering measurable social impact that improves the health and productivity of Canadians and their communities. LIFT is a not-for-profit organization that evolved from 2010 Legacies Now, as a legacy of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and has over a decade of experience advancing positive social impact.

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For more information:
Visit: liftpartners.ca
Join: LIFT on Facebook
Watch: LIFT on YouTube
Follow: @liftpartners on Twitter

Media contact:
Nicole Mezzarobba Ford
Manager, Communications and Corporate Response
LIFT Philanthropy Partners
778.327.5139
nford@liftpartners.ca

At the recent Business in Vancouver’s Philanthropy Business Excellence Series, four accomplished panellists shared their thoughts on the state of philanthropy today. The panellists included: Mark Brand, owner, Save-on-Meats, and co-owner, Boneta and The Diamond; George W. Hungerford, OC, partner, Hungerford Group; Harvey McKinnon, president, Harvey McKinnon Associates; and Andrea Southcott, partner, Southcott Strategy. Below are some key points that not-for-profit organizations should know about philanthropy.

Time usually follows the money
More and more potential supporters are interested in giving more than money. They are interested in sharing their knowledge, skills and expertise to support not-for-profit organizations. This was great to hear from our perspective as LIFT’s pro bono partner network is an integral part of our venture philanthropy approach.

Find a connection
It is easier for supporters to give, and more rewarding, when they are supporting a cause they are passionate about. Find that connection, whether it’s on an individual or corporate level. Your organization’s values need to align with the supporters, and if they do, it can be a very positive experience for both parties.

Collaboration is fundamental
Collaboration among not-for-profit and community organizations can increase the effectiveness of the work being done by both organizations. Explore potential partnerships and nurture them by aligning values, developing trust, and sharing resources. Collaboration is also something supporters are starting to expect from the not-for-profit sector, so showcase your collaborative approach.

Ensure the story is relevant to the cause
Your not-for-profit organization’s story needs to be relevant to the cause. Ensure your story is well articulated, clear and tied directly to the cause. Then share it. Use your story to build your campaigns and be relevant to potential supporters.

And finally, our favourite:

Hope is not a strategy
Contrary to the reference in the 1989 Kevin Costner movie, Field of Dreams, “If you build it, he will come,” this isn’t the case with philanthropy. If you simply hope it, it may not happen. You need to develop a good strategy, and successfully execute it, to engage supporters with your not-for-profit organization.

The next Business in Vancouver Business Excellence Series topic is leadership and will be on March 26, 2013.

Civilis Group joins LIFT’s partner network of businesses and professionals that offer pro bono services to not-for-profit organizations to build capacity and improve operations. As part of this partnership, Civilis will provide a range of expertise, including strategic planning, capacity building, organizational development, change management, and other services.

“Helping civil society achieve their goals is at the core of Cvilis’s consulting business. We’re pleased to partner with LIFT Philanthropy Partners, using our extensive experience in the corporate, government and non-profit sectors, to strengthen non-profits and support LIFT’s venture philanthropy approach,” explained partners Ida Teoli and Diana Wickham.

“Civilis’ motivation around making a difference in the lives of individuals and their communities aligns very well with the work of LIFT Philanthropy Partners,” said Bruce Dewar, chief executive officer, LIFT Philanthropy Partners. “We appreciate the support and contributions of like-minded organizations as we strive to improve the capacity of not-for-profit organizations in Canada.”

Visit civilis.ca or liftpartners.ca to learn more. Follow LIFT on Twitter or like LIFT on Facebook.

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About Civilis
Civilis is a management consulting firm based in Montreal, which specializes in providing services to the non-profit sector and socially-responsible corporations. Its objective is to support and enable its clients to more effectively reach their social goals. Civilis was founded by partners Ida Teoli and Diana Wickham to apply their extensive experience in the corporate, government and non-profit sectors to strengthen civil society.

About LIFT Philanthropy Partners
LIFT Philanthropy Partners uses a venture philanthropy approach to support not-for-profit organizations to become sustainable and more effective at delivering measurable social impact that improves the health and productivity of Canadians and their communities. LIFT evolved from 2010 Legacies Now, as a legacy of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and has over a decade of experience advancing positive social impact.

For more information, contact:

Civilis
Ida Teoli
Partner
514.457.1861
ida@civilis.ca

LIFT Philanthropy Partners
Nicole Mezzarobba
Manager, Communications
778.327.5139
nmezzarobba@liftpartners.ca

Young Women in Business (YWiB) supports a network of ambitious, emerging female leaders, consisting of young professionals, entrepreneurs and university students. YWiB provides young women support, through conferences, workshops, panel discussions and mentoring programs, to achieve personal and professional success and become engaged members of their communities. LIFT and YWiB will collaborate on opportunities that will contribute to the success of both organizations.

“YWiB shares similar values to LIFT — supporting the development of our citizens, leading to a more active and productive society,” said Paulina Lipska, president, Young Women in Business. “We feel this partnership will be mutually beneficial and will offer some great opportunities for collaboration and ways to engage our members.”

“LIFT is pleased to welcome Young Women in Business to our partner network. This network is filled with passionate people and welcome their contributions to advance support social change in Canada,” said Bruce Dewar, chief executive officer, LIFT Philanthropy Partners.

Learn more
Visit:    
ywib.ca
liftpartners.ca 

Follow:
@YWiB
@liftpartners 

Like:    
YWiB on Facebook
LIFT on Facebook

About Young Women in Business
The Young Women in Business (YWiB) network is a non-profit society for emerging female leaders in Western Canada. The network acts as the central forum to connect ambitious young women from a variety of careers, industries, and backgrounds. YWiB hosts a variety of events that provide members with opportunities to develop relevant skills and knowledge, so that they have the insight, support, and capability to reach their fullest personal and professional potential.

About LIFT
LIFT Philanthropy Partners uses a venture philanthropy approach to support not-for-profit organizations to become sustainable and more effective at delivering measurable social impact that improves the health and productivity of Canadians and their communities.

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For more information, contact:

Young Women in Business
Paulina Lipska
President
604.773.8078
paulina@ywib.ca

LIFT Philanthropy Partners
Nicole Mezzarobba Ford
Manager, Communications and Corporate Response
778.327.5139
nford@liftpartners.ca

The 60 Minute Kids Club
The 60 Minutes Kids Club is a program that aims to help kids, aged 5-11, develop healthy, active lifestyles through online tracking, incentives, accountability and engagement. This program is already active in several BC and Ontario communities, with plans to expand to even more communities across Canada.
Read the BC Ideas entry.

Keeping Vulnerable Families Together
The Trail Family and Individual Resource Society developed a model to provide parents, who have children in foster care, with life, parenting and employment training, so their children can be returned home. Trail FAIR identified a need in its community and is working toward a solution.
Read the BC ideas entry.

We are pleased to provide $10,000 to each of these innovations to support their efforts to improve the health and wellness of families across BC!

You can read about all the innovations that received funding through BC Ideas here. Or visit bcideas.ca to learn more about these great innovations.