In this Unfiltered Nonprofit conversation, Cherry sits down with Tara Shannon, Executive Director of the Ottawa Festival Network (OFN), which represents more than 100 festivals across arts, music, and culture. A lifelong entrepreneur and artist, Tara brings a rare 360° view—she's built private companies (including scaling to 120 employees), founded Willow Sound Records in 2014, wrote You in the Music Business, and still coaches creators on building sustainable careers.

The thread through it all: sustainability without losing soul. Tara breaks down why owned audiences matter more than ever—email lists beat social algorithms for consistency, control, and conversion. Using a relationship model (introduce → educate → permission → nurture), she explains how nonprofits can communicate weekly without burning out their lists: give value 80% of the time, ask 20%.

We also get real about volunteers—the lifeblood of the festival sector. The organizations that retain volunteers year after year do two things exceptionally well: create an emotional connection to the mission and deliver a fair value exchange (access, perks, food, community). That same mindset fuels growth in nonprofit sponsorship—where authentic engagement now matters more than logo placement.

Looking ahead, OFN is building a sponsor-match "Tinder for festivals" (name TBD) to help connect mission-driven organizations with private-sector partners. It's a fresh, technology-driven approach to nonprofit sponsorship that aligns shared values and real audience data. Combined with peer learning—like financial literacy workshops featuring Bluesfest's Mark Monahan—it's a practical blueprint for any nonprofit rethinking its sponsorship strategy and navigating uncertainty with creativity and consistency.

In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, Cherry Chan talks with Nicole Thibeault, former National Executive Director of Canadian Parents for French, about the strategies that helped her achieve nonprofit revenue growth and long-term sustainability.

Over 10 years, Nicole successfully doubled organizational revenue by diversifying funding streams, charging modest fees for programs, and turning small donations into a culture of philanthropy. From $5 monthly donors to securing major grants, her approach shows that every dollar counts. She also ensured a 100% giving rate from her board of directors, proving that leadership in fundraising starts at the top.

Nicole shares how she rallied her 5–7 staff team and a national network across provinces to align with strategic goals. Her staff training sessions grew from just 5 participants to more than 30, demonstrating how culture change is built step by step.

She also provides a roadmap for succession planning, describing her two-year retirement transition that included 18 months of transparency and a 3-week overlap with her successor — ensuring stability and confidence across the organization.

If you're an Executive Director, CEO, board member, or nonprofit professional, this episode is packed with real-world strategies to strengthen your nonprofit's fundraising, leadership, and sustainability.

In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, host Cherry Chan sits down with Peter Costello, Executive Director of Eden Food for Change, to discuss a powerful example of nonprofit revenue generation in action. Eden, originally a traditional food bank, now generates 42% of its operating budget through an innovative commercial kitchen model.

By launching a social enterprise for nonprofits that includes meal production, corporate team-building events, and a partnership with Meals on Wheels, Eden Food for Change turned its underutilized kitchen into a revenue-driving asset. With over 100,000 meals produced annually, and 120+ companies participating in team experiences each year, the model demonstrates that earned income strategies can fuel mission-driven impact without relying solely on grants or donations.

Peter shares the story of how they started with a $166,000 investment and grew the kitchen into a three-quarter-of-a-million-dollar operation. He also explores how financial sustainability for nonprofits depends not just on creative ideas—but on building relationships, leveraging existing assets, and staying flexible through funding shifts.

Whether you're leading a food program or just exploring revenue diversification, this episode is packed with lessons for any organization aiming to transform and grow.

In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, Cherry Chan speaks with Mike Bulthuis, Executive Director of the Ottawa Community Land Trust (OCLT), about how his organization is rethinking nonprofit fundraising. Founded in 2021, OCLT is part of a growing network of community land trusts in Canada working to preserve and expand affordable housing in perpetuity.

Instead of relying solely on grants or charitable donations, OCLT uses community bonds—a nonprofit fundraising alternative that invites individuals to invest in their mission. Investors receive a modest return, while OCLT gains the flexibility to move quickly on real estate opportunities. This strategy enabled the organization to secure its first property purchase by combining community investments with an anonymous gift. It's a model that aligns capital with community impact, offering a new path forward for organizations seeking a sustainable nonprofit real estate strategy.

Despite operating with a lean team of just three staff members, OCLT is building toward long-term financial sustainability. With leadership from a board that includes nonprofit veterans, economists, and private sector developers, the organization is uniquely positioned to blend mission and business thinking. Their approach shows that nonprofits don't need to wait for grants—they can raise capital directly and act with urgency.

The Ottawa Community Land Trust is showing what's possible when a nonprofit thinks like a social enterprise. By using community bonds to fund affordable housing acquisitions, OCLT avoids traditional barriers like slow-moving grants and limited donations. For nonprofits exploring fundraising alternatives, this episode is a clear example of how innovation, community support, and financial strategy can come together to create real impact.

In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, Cherry Chan speaks with Hailey Hechtman, Executive Director of Unsinkable, a national nonprofit mental health organization founded by Olympian Silken Laumann.

Hailey shares how Unsinkable launched a national campaign, Fragments: Stories That Heal, using in-kind contributions and partnerships instead of large funding. The campaign featured:

• 25 billboards across the GTA, including Dundas Square
  
  

• Audio stories broadcasted via radio, podcasts, and digital ads
  
  

• A 45% increase in direct website traffic in a single month
  
  

This conversation is packed with ideas for nonprofit leaders who are navigating lean budgets, trying to grow their audience, or build partnerships.

What You'll Learn:

• How a nonprofit mental health leader built a crisis line in the Yukon from scratch
  
  

• How to use in-kind donations and local partnerships to create national impact
  
  

• Why storytelling is a critical tool for advocacy, fundraising, and brand-building
  
  

• Why it's okay if your career path isn't linear—and how to lead through uncertainty
  
  

Hailey's Quote to Remember:
"Some of our biggest wins came from someone we met at a conference or a LinkedIn post we followed up on."

If you're leading a nonprofit mental health organization or any nonprofit with a powerful story, this episode is full of practical, creative takeaways.

In this episode of The Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, I sit down with Erin Benjamin, President and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, to talk about what it really takes to build something from nothing. Erin launched the association in 2014 with no staff, no logo, and no office—and today, it has over 400 members nationwide.

We dive into what industry advocacy actually looks like behind the scenes. How do you keep small venues and major players aligned under one roof? What does it mean to use your personal voice in service of a collective mission? Erin shares how she's stayed grounded in purpose, even when the work is nonstop and the path forward isn't always clear.

We also explore the CLMA's latest economic impact report, which found that live music contributed over $10 billion to Canada's GDP in 2023 and supported more than 100,000 jobs. Erin explains how this kind of data fuels stronger industry advocacy and helps push for policies that actually support the people doing the work.

If you've ever tried to rally a sector, juggle a small team, or build a brand that's bigger than one person—this conversation will hit home.