IndigiNews team at FRAFCA (submitted photo)
coaching & revenue development

New funding for nonprofits and social enterprises for capacity building

Jun 26, 2024 | 12:00 PM

Community Foundation North Okanagan (CFNO) has announced the launch of a new round of funding for the Impact & Leadership Development Program (ILDP).

The initiative is dedicated to empowering social entrepreneurs and impact leaders in creating sustainable and regenerative enterprises that address systemic inequities.

As one of the eight funding partners, CFNO is committed to fostering innovation and resilience in communities through strategic support tailored to the unique needs of each participant.

Participants in the ILDP will benefit from the guidance of seasoned social impact leaders, gaining access to coaching in impact modelling, revenue development, financial management, and more. This grant-funded, capacity-building program, is helping purpose-driven nonprofits enhance their impact, sustainability, and resilience.

To date, 45+ non-profits, charities and social enterprises have received grant-supported coaching through ILDP.

Program Eligibility and Application

Emerging social enterprise and impact leaders located in the Thompson-Okanagan and Fraser Valley regions are invited to apply by July 9, 2024, for 6-12 months of subsidized coaching and support.

Eligible applicants will have a paid leadership staff member who is ready to participate in bi-weekly coaching meetings and is committed to investing time, energy and money into growing their capacity.

Partnership and Support

The ILDP is made possible through a robust partnership of impact-aligned partners in British Columbia, including United Way BC, Interior Savings (a trade name of Beem Credit Union), Community Foundation North Okanagan, Community Foundation of the South Okanagan-Similkameen, Central Okanagan Foundation, Valley First (a Division of First West Credit Union), and the Prince George Community Foundation.

Success Stories

The ILDP has already seen great success. Through ILDP, organizations such as IndigiNews and the Caetani Centre have accessed Purppl’s coaching services to achieve new levels of clarity and confidence in financial management and strategic planning. Participants praise the program for its profound impact on their operational and strategic capabilities.

“The ILDP has been truly transformative for me as a leader,” Eden Fineday, Publisher of IndigiNews, an Indigenous, women-led independent media outlet that tells stories from across the Indigenous homelands of North America while practicing trauma-informed, culturally relevant and respectful journalism.

Working with a Purppl coach through the ILDP, IndigiNews has taken significant steps towards financial clarity and organizational restructuring, building Fineday’s confidence to lead and make critical decisions.

“The program has empowered me to step up and lead with purpose,” Fineday added.

“When I began the journey with Purppl, we had few operational systems in place and were really a small startup nonprofit, with me trying to do almost everything myself or with volunteers. At that time I could see where we wanted to go, the impact we wanted to create, but wasn’t sure how we’d get there,” said Wes Zarwertailo, Executive Director of People Employment Services, or PEOPLE, a social enterprise that provides employment opportunities and wraparound services to people across the Central Okanagan region who use drugs and/or with lived experience in homelessness.

“We needed expert guidance on good governance, on developing the organizational structure, and on how to build sustainable, diversified revenue through social enterprise. Now, through doing this work through ILDP with Purppl and our experienced EIR, Susan, building deep trust and ongoing connections, I’m more confident, more knowledgeable, feeling supported by the whole funder collaboration, and have much more clarity on the various pathways to impact ahead of us.”

“Social purpose organizations are leading a movement to build a just, regenerative economy that builds a better future for all. Supporting these organizations with leadership development and customized coaching is a critical investment,” said Leanne Hammond, Executive Director, Community Foundation North Okanagan. “We’re seeing long term outcomes like revenue diversification, growth in social enterprise revenue, and stable, confident leadership in participating organizations. As a group of community partners, we’re delighted to keep supporting capacity building in local social purpose leaders.”

Apply for ILDP

Applications for the ILDP are now open and will be accepted until July 9, 2024. For more details on the program, eligibility requirements, and to apply, visit https://purppl.com/ildp.

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