Blog Posts

Why I Won’t Thank a Straight Person for My Existence This Pride

What one “joke” gets wrong about identity, belonging, and why Pride still matters at home, at work, and everywhere in between. Last week, I came across something that made me stop in my tracks. A WhatsApp status that read: “This month, make sure you thank a straight person for your existence!” Yes, really. My daughter saw it too. She showed it to me, wide-eyed: “Woah, I don’t even know what to say

June 17 Read more

Beyond the Job Board: Why We Built a Proactive Sourcing Platform Backed by a Nonprofit Search Firm

When we, at Gerard Search , started building Phil’sJobs , we weren’t trying to create just another place to post nonprofit jobs. We built it because something important was missing. Most job boards are passive: you post a role, cross your fingers, and wait. But in today’s hiring landscape, especially in the nonprofit sector, that’s just not enough. We know this because we're a search firm first. W

June 10 Read more

Six Generations. One Workforce. Unified Not By Age - But By Purpose

We are excited to feature this guest blog post by Harvey Yeap Choong Hong, Creator of Six Generations. One Workforce. https://www.linkedin.com/in/harveyyeap/ I believed leadership meant setting direction and ensuring alignment. But over time—I’ve come to see that real leadership isn’t just about strategy. It’s about 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. That truth has never been more relevant than it is today. For the firs

June 3 Read more

The Myth of the ‘Rainmaker’: What HR Needs to Know About Fundraising Success

When I was a major gift fundraiser in the mid-2000s, I kept hearing stories about these legendary fundraisers; charismatic charmers who could effortlessly secure six- and seven-figure gifts over lunch. Even today, some organizations are still hoping to land that magical hire. You know the one: a fundraising unicorn who walks in with a Rolodex (who even has those anymore?) and “hits the ground runn

May 26 Read more

Free Labour, Cheap Labour, and Canada’s Feel-Good Exploitation

We live in a capitalist world. That’s just how it is. Companies exist to make money for their shareholders, and one of the easiest ways to save is by cutting labour costs. So, they look for the cheapest way to get the job done. That could mean outsourcing customer service overseas, manufacturing in countries with lower wages, or even bringing in foreign workers here under the guise of “opportunity

May 20 Read more

Are You Ready to Hire a Fundraiser? Here's How to Know

Hiring a fundraiser is a major milestone for any nonprofit. For the small nonprofit, especially, hiring a fundraiser isn’t just about having room in the budget. It’s about setting them and your organization up for success. We know that bad hiring decisions and turnover can be costly for any nonprofit. With a new fundraiser, there’s even more to consider, as they’ll need to build strong relationshi

May 5 Read more

The Best Fundraising Career Advice I Ever Got

Almost 30 years ago, I started my career in the nonprofit sector. I might have told this story before, and if I did, I’ve forgotten. After all, I’m over 50 now! Please bear with me. When I first came to Canada, my plan was to study media communications and radio arts. I wanted to become a reporter for radio or television. That was the plan . But the program I enrolled in turned out to be a lot mor

April 28 Read more

FAKE!! Deepfakes, AI Impostors & the New Hiring Hustle

I read an article the other day by CNBC’s Hugh Son about a voice authentication tech startup that was put to the test during an online interview. A candidate seemed just slightly off, nothing too obvious at first, but something didn’t sit right. The facial expressions didn’t quite line up with what the candidate was saying. After a closer look, the selection committee realized the applicant was us

April 14 Read more

The Freedom to Choose - Why Understanding Free Speech and Consequences Matters in Your Career

We live in a polarized time. Whether it’s politics, culture, or global issues, disagreement has become a daily reality, and with it, heated debates about free speech, cancel culture, and boycotts. There is growing frustration from people across the spectrum, left, right, and everything in between, about the supposed unfairness of boycotting individuals, companies, or even entire countries for thei

April 7 Read more

Dad, They’re Judging Me! Why You Should Stop Caring What They Think

Over Spring Break, my daughter and I went on a little wellness getaway. We stayed at a hotel with a resort vibe. One of those places where you keep running into the same people over and over again. Ever had that happen? There was one particular family we kept seeing everywhere; almost to the point of being creepy. At one point, my daughter admitted she felt judged by the mother. She said the woman

April 1 Read more

The Thing About Age

Ageism remains one of the last forms of discrimination that can sometimes go unchallenged, affecting professionals at every stage of their careers. It’s a fear that many can relate to. I hear this anxiety from Boomers and my own generation (Gen X), who share stories about feeling overlooked in interviews or workplaces where experience is sometimes seen as a liability rather than an asset. But here

March 24 Read more

“Not a Fit” or Unconscious Bias? Rethinking Hiring in the Nonprofit Sector

In recent years, we’ve seen a strong push for greater equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the nonprofit sector. Most organizations genuinely strive to create inclusive workplaces, and many would confidently say they’re doing their best. But are we truly inclusive, or are we sometimes just checking a box? The reality is that bias is always present. It is human nature, shaped by our experience

March 17 Read more

Hey Dad, I’m a Fundraiser!

I don’t often get personal in my posts, but today, I will. Disclaimer: my son, Sebastian, has given me permission to talk about him and his ADHD and ASD. In his words, ‘That’s just facts.’ Back in 2011, I wrote a blog post called Mom, I Want to Be a Fundraiser! In it, I shared my vision for a future where young people don’t just stumble into fundraising like so many of us did but actually choose i

March 10 Read more

Collaborating with a Recruiter: What to Expect & How to Make the Most of It

The talent pool in the nonprofit sector is limited, this won’t come as a surprise. Since I started recruiting in 2008, organizations have been competing for talent. Even junior professionals, particularly fundraisers, are frequently approached by recruiters via LinkedIn or other channels. If you're new to the field, interacting with a recruiter might feel unfamiliar. You may be unsure how to respo

March 4 Read more

Let’s Talk, Vancouver: Join the Conversation with Rowena Veylan & Jen Love!

Join Rowena Veylan and Jen Love from The New School of Fundraising in Vancouver for an engaging community conversation! Attendees will have the chance to connect with peers over a light breakfast before diving into topics that matter most to them. The agenda? That’s entirely up to you! For those familiar with The New School of Fundraising, this format will be no surprise—facilitating open, dynamic

February 27 Read more