One of the more significant and far-reaching legacies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is the emergence, success and impact of LIFT Impact Partners (LIFT), a national non-profit organization that uses a venture philanthropy approach to help build the capacity of social purpose organizations (SPO) Canada-wide.
In 2011, fueled by experience and knowledge gained over a decade of leveraging the 2010 Games to create social and economic benefits in communities throughout British Columbia, LIFT evolved from 2010 Legacies Now into a leading organization that strengthens SPOs to make them more sustainable and effective at delivering social impacts that improve the health and lives of Canadians.
“2010 Legacies Now and its evolution into LIFT Impact Partners is a powerful example of an organization harnessing the Olympic movement to create lasting social and economic legacies on a national scale,” said Marie Sallois, IOC Director for Sustainability. “Today, LIFT inspires future host cities on the possibilities and importance of legacy and impact.”
Marie Sallois Director for Sustainability, International Olympic Committee2010 Legacies Now and its evolution into LIFT Impact Partners is a powerful example of an organization harnessing the Olympic movement to create lasting social and economic legacies on a national scale. Today, LIFT inspires future host cities on the possibilities and importance of legacy and impact.”
LIFT transformed itself from a provincial enterprise into a national impact organization that believes vulnerable and at-risk Canadians deserve more access to the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in society. 2010 Legacies Now was an innovative not-for-profit organization that worked to create tangible community legacies throughout British Columbia that continue to live well beyond 2010. It was made possible thanks the invaluable support of the Province of BC, corporate partners, agencies and not-for-profits, communities across the province and other partners.
“At LIFT, we think investments in health, education and skills development leading to meaningful employment are fundamental to transforming the lives of Canadians. We are ideally positioned to leverage our relationships and experience to create material outcomes on a national scale,” said Bruce Dewar, President and CEO of LIFT and former CEO of 2010 Legacies Now. “We are very proud of our connection to the 2010 Games and the ongoing legacies and impact beyond the event.”
With its partner network of leading businesses, service providers and other experts from across Canada, LIFT has worked with more than 23 SPOs to increase measurable social outcomes. LIFT identifies and works with SPOs that have the potential to have a large social impact for Canadians. Many SPOs lack robust systems and structures, consistent funding, effective governance, accurate impact measurement, and the ability and capacity to scale up to address critical social needs. LIFT thanks its partner network and the individuals, companies, governments and foundations that provide philanthropic investments to LIFT.
“LIFT’s partnership has been instrumental to the growth and success of Rise. When we started working with LIFT, we were active in four cities in Ontario. Rise is now active in eleven locations in four provinces and will scale to two additional locations by 2021,” said Lori Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Rise. “We are fortunate that LIFT has emerged as a true legacy of the 2010 Games and continues to create meaningful benefits.”