A New Tool for Evaluating Indigenous Conservation Legal Pathways

Indigenous communities in the Northwest Territories are leading some of the most ambitious conservation efforts on the planet. Just look at NWT: Our Land for the Future—an innovative $375 million funding partnership for Indigenous-led conservation—or at projects like Thaidene Nëné, a 6.5 million-acre protected area rooted in Dene Law. More than 20 Indigenous governments across the territory […]

“Love in Action”: Susan Wright’s Journey of Deepening Her Philanthropy

The change she hopes her philanthropy will bring: A greater awareness of me, us, and all of us. Susan Wright is many things to many people – an author, teacher, Integral Coach, and a matriarch to many.  She is also a Fund Advisor who conducts her philanthropic giving through a Donor Advised Fund at MakeWay. […]

A Year in Donor Advised Funds with MakeWay: Our New Seasonal Cycle of Giving

Published by MakeWay’s Philanthropic Services team   How can aligning philanthropy with the seasons create more meaningful giving and impact? At MakeWay, we draw deep inspiration and guidance from the changing rhythms of the seasons. Recently, we’ve woven these natural cycles into our donor advised fund (DAF) program, aligning giving with a cycle of reflection, intention-setting, […]

How IndigenEYEZ is helping Indigenous leaders restore the fabric of their communities

In nsyilxcən, the language of the syilx Okanagan people, Kelly Terbasket’s last name describes the process of unravelling or pulling apart a ball of tangled sinew or string. “That’s totally what I see as a metaphor for the work we’re doing,” she says.   Kelly is the director and co-founder of IndigenEYEZ, a project on […]

What We’re Learning About Foundation Investment Transparency in Canada

Growing calls for equity and accountability are pushing philanthropy to become more transparent. Some foundations now share more about their operations, governance, and grantmaking. But the largest share of foundation wealth—investments—has been largely left out of the conversation.  A few foundations have started to disclose aspects of their investing, often around impact investing, but unfortunately […]

How the Northern Manitoba Food, Culture, and Community Collaborative Centres Learning and Unlearning

At MakeWay, we are proud to host several funding collaboratives that support positive change across Canada. Funding collaboratives are an innovative way for funders to pool resources, share knowledge, and reduce burdens on community partners—creating deeper and more coordinated impact. By applying to a collaborative rather than multiple individual funders, grant seekers often face simpler […]

Slowing Down to Move Forward: Rethinking Our Board Recruitment

At MakeWay, we’re continuously learning. Part of our learning journey is to stop and ask if what we’re doing is serving our mission and our aspirations. We find ourselves at one of those moments, and so, as an organisation we are reimagining how we recruit for our board of directors.  We’ve learned that our current […]

MakeWay Welcomes Alex Sardar as New President and CEO 

NEWS RELEASE – MakeWay’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that today Alex Sardar has joined the organization as its new President and CEO.  Alex brings more than 20 years of experience as a trusted partner to communities advancing transformative change. His work has helped catalyze social movements and strengthened democracy, human rights, and […]

An Asset-Based Approach to Economic Development in the North

Cover image: Kluane National Park and Reserve, part of the traditional territory of the Southern Tutchone in the North (Photo by: Kalen Emsley) Mining has played a significant role in the Yukon’s economy, providing jobs, supporting communities, and contributing to exports. For decades, it has been a vital part of life in the Yukon for […]

Solidarity Across Sectors: Why Charities Should Stand with Canada Post Workers

Published by MakeWay’s Research and Policy Department   Postal workers play a vital role in our communities and the charitable sector. They help keep people connected and make sure we all have access to essential information and services. As postal workers prepare for a possible strike, those of us in the charitable sector have an opportunity […]