This week on Let’s Get Real, Ed and Lisa are thrilled to welcome back Marla Smith, CFRE, from the Pathstone Foundation! Marla brings her perspective to a discussion about the gap between publicly and privately funded research in the philanthropic sector.

Later in the episode, the conversation about research continues as the hosts discuss data. How are we capturing data? And are these methods able to keep up with the recent shifts in how people engage with charities? This episode dives into those questions and more.

Interested in learning more about planned giving? PGgrowth's new membership space, PGcommons, is the place for you. Go to pggrowth.com/podcasts and click on the PGcommons button to access your 30-day free trial, or sign up for our free membership.

This week on Let’s Get Real, Lisa and Ed dedicate an entire episode to the topic on everyone’s minds right now: AI. How is AI going to affect the fundraising sector? Should we be embracing this new technology fully? Or are there aspects we should be wary of? If you’ve been looking for a deep dive into AI and fundraising, you won’t want to miss this.

Interested in learning more about planned giving? PGgrowth's new membership space, PGcommons, is the place for you. Go to pggrowth.com/podcasts and click on the PGcommons button to access your 30-day free trial, or sign up for our free membership.

On this week’s episode of Let’s Get Real, Ed and Lisa welcome back Peggy Killeen to discuss more pressing topics in Canadian fundraising! Peggy kicks off the episode by discussing how administrative work can often drain an organization’s capacity to fundraise.

Later on, Lisa focuses on current challenges in leadership, and how changes in office setup and social norms leave leaders feeling like they can’t win. And do you want to know how credit cards are affecting fundraising? Ed dives into that very topic.

Interested in learning more about planned giving? PGgrowth's new membership space, PGcommons, is the place for you. Go to pggrowth.com/podcasts and click on the PGcommons button to access your 30-day free trial, or sign up for our free membership.

This week on Let’s Get Real, Ed and Lisa are joined by Kerri LaJeunesse from Harvey MacKinnon Associates. Kerri brings her expertise to discuss the “metric vital signs” that every charity should be monitoring in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses and grow accordingly.

Elsewhere in the episode, Ed brings up staffing in the fundraising sector, and the potential future difficulties that will arise if leaders can’t hire young people today. And Lisa shares her recent experience volunteering for a fundraising event, and the new perspective that gave her going into this week’s episode.

Interested in learning more about planned giving? PGgrowth's new membership space, PGcommons, is the place for you. Go to pggrowth.com/podcasts and click on the PGcommons button to access your 30-day free trial.

What makes a good leader? That's the question Peggy Killeen, Senior Consultant at PGgrowth, poses today. Peggy joins Ed and Lisa to discuss the qualities that boards should look for when hiring leadership, and the foundational skills that may be overlooked in favour of more traditional business experience.

Later in the episode Lisa discusses the staggering amount of money that GoFundMe raises for Canadian causes each year, and how use of the platform may cause traditional charities to be forgotten. And Ed stresses the importance of having solid gift acceptance policies in order to avoid unwanted influence from certain wealthy donors.

Interested in learning more about planned giving? PGgrowth's new membership space, PGcommons, is the place for you. Go to pggrowth.com/podcasts and click on the PGcommons button to access your 30-day free trial.

This week on Let’s Get Real, Ed and Lisa are joined by Sandra Baker, the Director of Advancement and Admissions at Hamilton District Christian High School. Sandra starts off the episode with a discussion about the importance of thanking donors and how it can benefit your organization.

Later in the episode, Ed discusses why specific fundraising designations are important steps in becoming a fundraising professional, and the role that academic programs have in cultivating the knowledge of key fundraising ideas.

Interested in learning more about planned giving? PGgrowth's new membership space, PGcommons, is the place for you. Go to pggrowth.com/podcasts and click on the PGcommons button to access your 30-day free trial.

Welcome to season two of Let’s Get Real: Perspectives on Canadian Fundraising! To start the season off, Ed, Ken, and Lisa are joined by Lois Graveline, the Founder and CEO of Harmonia Philanthropy. Lois brings her experience working with small charities to discuss the challenges these organizations often face, and what donors and fundraisers can do to help them succeed.

Elsewhere in the episode, Ken emphasizes the importance of correctly following a gift agreement to avoid potential complications, even if that means sometimes ignoring the wishes of the donor. And Ed raises the idea of fundraisers making a spot for themselves “at the table” if they want to maintain relevance.

Thanks to our guest this episode, Lois Graveline. You can check out some of her work at the links below.

Harmonia Philanthropy: https://harmoniaphilanthropy.ca/

Project Launchpad: https://www.projectlaunchpad.ca/index.html

Interested in learning more about planned giving? PGgrowth's new membership space, PGcommons, is the place for you. Go to pggrowth.com/podcasts and click on the PGcommons button to access your 30-day free trial.

In the final episode of Let’s Get Real’s first season, Ed, Ken, and Lisa summarize some wins and losses from 2025 in the fundraising sector. Everything from political instability to shifting economic trends have had an effect on this hugely important industry.

In addition to looking back, the hosts also look forward to offer their thoughts on what 2026 will have in store for fundraising in Canada. Make sure to tune in for the last episode of the year, you won’t want to miss it!

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