Changing the Culture of Giving in the Central Okanagan

It’s time to have a critical conversation about the crippling impacts of status quo philanthropy on nonprofits’ potential.

 

In October, we did something big. Together with our partners over at Trellis, we convened a curated roomful of philanthropists, wealth managers, and donors, along with nonprofit leaders, board directors, and staff for a special film screening and discussion about the myth of overhead. 

The goal: to disrupt philanthropy in its current form and change mindsets in order to shift the culture of charitable giving in the Central Okanagan region.

Central to the experience was the documentary film UnCharitable, based on Dan Pallotta’s viral TED Talk dispelling the widely held belief that nonprofits should somehow operate without overhead.

Held at MetroHub, a social enterprise venue in downtown Kelowna, the “Cinema for Social Impact” event was a celebration of the vital work nonprofits do every day, often under incredible constraints, and an opportunity for frank discussion about the crippling impacts of status quo philanthropy.

 

Setting the Tone for Frank Discussions

From the moment attendees arrived, the care and thought put into the evening were evident. A literal red carpet welcomed our guests (thanks to our decor sponsor Avalon Event Rentals), lined with striking posters showcasing the faces of local nonprofit leaders. Each poster featured a powerful quote, providing a raw glimpse into the challenges of running a nonprofit under societal expectations that prioritize minimal overhead over meaningful investment in talent, marketing, and innovation.

Our MCs for the night, Purppl Managing Director Andrew Greer and Trellis CEO Justin Goodhew, set the tone for an evening of candid reflection and inspiring ideas. “Bringing a conversation like this to the Okanagan is important,” shared Justin. “The systemic challenges our community faces are real – we see them every day. Our charities are being tasked with solving complex social issues without many of the tools the for-profit sector takes for granted – such as fair wages and access to capital.”

Cree-Métis nonprofit leader Lori Kronyk addressed the audience as well, sharing a bit of her story as Executive Director of Wahkohtowin Wellness Society in order to underscore the urgency of shifting the culture of philanthropy to one rooted in equity and care. Her organization provides holistic, culturally relevant mental health and wraparound support services to Indigenous community members who have been disenfranchised from their culture – with tremendous results. Yet access to funding has been mired in obstructions as a result of systemically racist funding systems that uphold the colonial status quo and continue to harm and fracture communities. 

“Funders pit nonprofits against each other, forcing us to compete, instead of supporting us to collaborate and work together to meet the needs of our communities,” shared Lori.

Echoing these sentiments, Kristine Bugayong, Executive Director of Central Okanagan Foundation, the event’s lead sponsor, spoke passionately about their role as a critical funder in the region and the importance of evolving funding models to meet the growing needs of nonprofits.

As the lights went down to start the film, servers streamed in to quietly serve an exquisite meal directed by Kelowna Gospel Mission’s Food Services Manager and head chef Jeremy Luypen, who after building his career in some of the Okanagan’s finest establishments is now leading KGM’s catering social enterprise.

Wine and beer were sponsored by Jason Parkes Customs and Freddy’s Brewpub. 

 

 

Localizing UnCharitable for the Central Okanagan

Directly following the film, we shared a short film localizing the issue, directed by Purppl event producer Melissa Blair and featuring interviews with nonprofit leaders from around the region, including:

• Roxie Winzer-Van Aller, Executive Director at Connect Counselling & Therapy Central Okanagan
• Lori Kronyk, Executive Director of Wahkohtowin Wellness Society
• Carmen Rempel, Executive Director of Kelowna’s Gospel Mission
• Fei Liu, Executive Director, OCCA Communities Association.

Watch the video and please consider sharing. (Thanks to NothingButJason for support with videography and editing.)

 

Five Key Takeaways from UnCharitable

As the lights came up, the room was abuzz with conversation, with each table discussing the documentary’s five key takeaways, facilitated by the leaders featured in our short film:

1. Compensation: The societal belief that making money in the nonprofit sector is immoral drives talent away. Paying competitive wages attracts skilled professionals and strengthens organizations.
2. Marketing and Advertising: Investing in marketing is not wasteful; it raises awareness and grows donations, ultimately benefiting the cause more.
3. Risk and Innovation: Charities are discouraged from taking risks, which stifles innovation and limits their ability to grow and scale.
4. Time Horizon: Unlike for-profit ventures, nonprofits are pressured to deliver immediate results. Long-term strategies could lead to much larger, sustainable impacts.
5. Access to Capital: The inability to offer financial returns cuts nonprofits off from large investment pools, hampering their ability to scale ambitious projects.

 

Next Steps Toward Philanthropic Systems Change

The evening concluded with mingling and drinks, as folks took time to connect and reflect on how they could take these lessons forward. But we know that this cultural shift will take more than just one evening. 

We’re committed to continuing to bring together these nonprofits leaders to find spaces of comradery and connection and to advocate together to shift these philanthropic norms. We’re also focused on convening local funders to see how they can be part of the disruption across the charitable sector, including shifting traditional granting practices and finding ways to fund things collectively. 

The most important message will be the continued call to donors and high-net worth individuals that their dollars can support nonprofits differently and that unrestricted funds are essential for the sustainability of the sector. 

Together, we took a critical step toward transforming how our community thinks about not just charitable giving but the critical role that nonprofits play in our communities. 

Changing mindsets is never easy, but events like this prove that with collaboration, care, and intention, we can build a philanthropic culture that uplifts nonprofits’ capacity to thrive.

Thanks to our incredible, visionary sponsors for making this experience possible: Central Okanagan Foundation, Nicola Wealth, City of Kelowna, Global Citizen Events, Genus Capital Management, KF Centre for Excellence, Lawson Lundell, United Way of BC, Community Foundation of the North Okanagan, Avalon Event Rentals, Jason Parkes Customs and Freddy’s Brewpub.