Scale Collaborative

06/18/2026

We were excited to partner with Social Innovation Canada on this article exploring how organizations across the country are building financial resilience in new ways. It highlights our Thriving Non-Profits journey and the role that revenue diversification, coaching, asset ownership, and access to capital can play in helping organizations move beyond survival mode and create greater impact.

How can nonprofits move beyond dependency on grants towards greater financial sustainability and freedom to innovate?

Thriving Non-Profits has helped hundreds of organizations answer this question.

One answer looks like LUSH Valley Food Action Society. Since starting out almost entirely dependent on grants, LUSH has:
💲 diversified its revenue model
🏢 purchased the first floor of a building they already operated in
🍎 increased food recovery and distribution across the Comox Valley region
💪 expanded partnerships and continuity in their programming

As Maurita Prato — LUSH’s Executive Director, Thriving Non-Profits alumna, and one of Thrive Impact Fund’s investees — put it, this evolution created “the autonomy to do what we want to do to satisfy our community’s needs.”

Read more from Thriving Non-Profits on how shifting mindsets around money and risk can build long-term community wealth: https://www.thrivingnonprofits.ca/pages/blog?p=rethinking-how-non-profits-build-resilience

We're proud to share these insights through the Social Innovation Impact initiative, a partnership between SI Canada, Winnipeg Boldness and MIS Maison de l'innovation sociale to help social innovators track and demonstrate their impact.

06/18/2026

📣 Connect Money Impact Session Announcement: Raising capital–from grants to equity and everything in between

Every initiative needs capital, but not all capital works the same way. This session explores the full capital stack, from grants and philanthropy to loans, social finance, impact investing, and emerging financing models. Together, we'll examine how different forms of capital can support organizations, enterprises, and communities at various stages of growth.

The conversation will explore what funders and investors are looking for, and how to prepare for growth, by planning financial resourcing properly.

Session speakers include:
• Jolynn Green, MA, Community Futures Central Island & GrowthWorks
• Ernest Barbaric, Entrepreneur and Advisor
• Michaela Arruda, Campbell River Community Foundation

We can't wait to see you all on June 23 in Nanaimo at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre 🙌

06/17/2026

📣 Connect Money Impact Session Announcement: Investing in Nature, Climate and Land-based

This exciting session asks the big question: how do we invest in nature, climate and the land in a way that is regenerative and seeks long-term, planetary and community returns? Join local innovators who are launching projects, growing enterprises and thinking through alternative investment approaches.

Session speakers include:

• Laurel Sabur, University of Victoria Impact Investing Hub
• Peter Ord, Habitat Acquisition Trust
• Emily Mercy, Goparity Canada

👉 Join us June 23 in Nanaimo at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Register now: www.connectmoneyimpact.ca

06/16/2026

Scale Collaborative is proud to support the release of the first national portrait of Canada’s social enterprise sector in a decade: Built for Impact, Ready for Market. This report, led by Buy Social Canada and funded in part by the Government of Canada, reveals that social enterprises are a vital engine for inclusive growth, generating over $6.5 billion in revenue and employing 18,000 Canadians.

Read the full report below to learn more about the dynamic realities, innovations and constraints of the sector, and amplify the key levers for impact to support growth and opportunity.

It’s here! The first national portrait of Canada’s social enterprise sector in a decade is finally live.

Social enterprise innovation builds a strong economy for all. Buy Social Canada's new report, Built for Impact, Ready for Market, reveals that over 400 social enterprises generated over $6.5 billion in revenue and employed over 18,000 Canadians in 2025.

Across a range of sectors and in every province and territory, social enterprises are the engine of inclusive growth, despite operating in systems not designed for their unique business model.

Read the report: https://socialenterprisesurvey.ca/survey-findings
En français: https://socialenterprisesurvey.ca/page-daccueil

Buy Social Canada gratefully acknowledges the support of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and our partners on this project: The Canadian CED Network (CCEDNet), Centre for Social Enterprise Development, Community Sector Council NL, Community Sector Network PEI, Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, Fiducie du Chantier de l’économie sociale, Imagine Canada, Ontario Nonprofit Network, The Purposeful Group, Purppl, Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance, Scale Collaborative, SETSI, and Vantage Point.

06/16/2026

Connect Money Impact is only one week away! Over 100 entrepreneurs, impact investors and eco-system actors are convening in Nanaimo, BC for a day full of entrepreneur stories, innovative finance approaches and conversations on how to grow local and community-based economic development and investment.

👉 Join us June 23 in Nanaimo at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Register now: www.connectmoneyimpact.ca

Huge thank you to all the partners that helped to organize and support this event. Nanaimo Foundation, Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation, Thrive Impact Fund, Community Credit Union, Community Futures Central Vancouver Island, GrowthWorks, Island Coastal Economic Trust, University of Victoria ACET, The Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, and Vancity

06/14/2026

📣 Connect Money Impact Session Announcement: Investing in Place: Sustainable & Green Industry

What does the future of industry look like in coastal and island communities? This session explores how communities are building resilient local economies through sustainable industry, clean technology, community-owned infrastructure, and innovative approaches to economic development. From circular economy initiatives to green building to export opportunities and emerging technologies, panelists will examine how investment can help address regional challenges while creating long-term prosperity.

Session speakers include:
• Colin Stansfield, Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation
• Claire Lewis, P.Eng., GRT
• Joshua Hunt, IGV Housing Limited
• Pat Brady, Genome British Columbia

👉 Join us June 23 in Nanaimo at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Register now: www.connectmoneyimpact.ca

06/12/2026

📢 Calling all social entrepreneurs: Is Connect Money Impact for you?

• Are you building a social enterprise or impact-driven business?
• Are you looking to scale your impact in a sustainable, intentional way?
• Do you want to connect with peers, funders, and ecosystem partners who share your vision?

If you’re focused on creating lasting, community-rooted change, this is your event!

👉 Join us June 23 in Nanaimo at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Register now: www.connectmoneyimpact.ca

06/10/2026

📣 Connect Money Impact Session Announcement: Investing Locally Through Blended Finance

Blended finance is an investing approach that combines different types of capital from grants to flexible loans to equity to innovative finance to help good projects happen.

This session will review blended finance approaches, how finance can be impact-focused and innovative, ways to partner with other types of investors (foundations to venture capital) and how catalytic capital can de-risk and attract private funds. We will share local and BC examples, and hear from investors who are taking this approach.

Session speakers include:
• Kristi Fairholm Mader, Thrive Impact Fund
• Alicia Medina, Sacha Investments Ltd.
• Jill Bester, Genus Capital Management

👉 Join us June 23 in Nanaimo at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Register now: www.connectmoneyimpact.ca

06/08/2026

There are plenty of reasons to join us at Connect Money Impact 2026 in Nanaimo on June 23. This one-day event is for social entrepreneurs, impact investors, and ecosystem builders who are mobilizing capital for meaningful change.

Topics include: investing in place, from food to climate to sustainable industry and local enterprises. We will also share stories and insights into growing social enterprises, here on Vancouver Island by showcasing amazing entrepreneurs making a difference in their community.

Expect honest conversations, practical insights, and real connections that move your work forward.

👉 Register now: www.connectmoneyimpact.ca