Canadian foundations and endowments are increasingly called upon to not only provide financial support to charitable causes but to lead broader change on issues that impact our shared environment.

This is the thesis that Hilary M. Pearson, author of the book, “From Charity to Change,” presented to a dynamic group of donors, executives, board members, and other experts from the nonprofit world who gathered at the Cumberland Foundations Circle event held on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.

Ms. Pearson spoke from deep personal experience. As the founding President of Philanthropic Foundations Canada, she has collaborated with many of Canada’s largest private charitable foundations over the past 20 years. In 2018, she was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada for her contributions to the field of philanthropy. From 2019 to 2023, she advised the federal Minister of Revenue as co-chair of the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector.

Facing the challenges of our time

Following welcome remarks from Cumberland partner, Alex von Schroeter, Ms. Pearson sat down for a fireside chat with Cumberland President and CEO, Charlie Sims.

She offered a striking portrait of how today’s organizations are acting with purpose on some of the most pressing social and economic challenges of our time: climate change, the future of cities, education and the evolving workforce, housing, and the urgent need to repair and build new relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

She drew not only on her own experience but also on interviews that she conducted with over thirty foundation leaders from across Canada in the course of writing her book during the COVID pandemic. Through their stories, she was able to trace how the practices of foundations have changed over the past two decades in response to a rapidly evolving society. 

At a time when private giving can seem under pressure from both public policy and public perception, Ms. Pearson made a compelling case for the unique value that grantmaking foundations create in our philanthropic ecosystem. She set out a persuasive argument that Canadian philanthropists have both an opportunity and a duty to partner with stakeholders to help protect the natural environment, enhance social and racial inclusion at home, and strengthen public health and democratic institutions abroad.

Over a 45-minute conversation, topics ranged from how Ms. Pearson sees foundations responding to calls for greater transparency, where she sees philanthropic innovation taking place, how foundations are partnering with institutional players and with one another, why some are choosing to ‘spend down’ their assets, what a younger generation of leaders will mean for philanthropy, and much more – all of it punctuated with insights and anecdotes that brought her unique perspectives to life.

The conversation was followed by a lively Q&A and reception that was no doubt animated by the inspiring ideas that were presented about some of the most important issues of our age, and how Canadian philanthropists can continue to lead the way.

Join our Circle

Those who steward charitable assets in Canada face a unique set of responsibilities and challenges. Cumberland Foundations Circle was created to help families, foundations, professionals, and experts come together in a dynamic set of discussions to share their knowledge and experiences. To learn more or join the guestlist for a future event, please send us a line here.