Once again we are facing an international humanitarian crisis - an earthquake in Japan that has tsunami ripple effects across the world.  read more »

It's been a rough start to 2011 for millions of people hit by natural disasters.  The aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti is still being felt, and will be felt for some time.  Australia is just starting to dry itself out from the massive floods that hit Brisbane and other parts of Queensland.  Brazil is reelling from the landslide that has flattened part of Rio de Janeiro.  And while all this is going on, many of you are opening your hearts and your wallets to support provide aid, reconstruction, medical assistance and general support.  But are we falling into a pattern of support that is inconsistent at best and harmful at worst?  read more »

What makes good micro-finance?  This is aconversation I had with the Executive Director of Results Canada, Chris Dendys the other day.  read more »

Charity scams are alive and well in Canada.  In 2003 the Chronicle of Philanthropy released a report that in North America over $1.28B is lossed due to fraud (and that is only the fraud that is caught!).  This hit home this week when Ashley Kirilow was denied bail for her part in a cancery charity scam.  read more »

I volunteer at my daughter’s school. Sometimes when I’m sharpening pencils or making sock puppets, I wonder if this is really how I’m meant to change the world. Then I picture the mayhem of 30+ Kindergarteners trying to sharpen their pencils at once, and my work feels purposeful, meaningful. Call it the butterfly effect.  read more »

We pulled up to the coffee shop just as the latest news about Haiti came on the radio. Normally, my daughter wouldn’t be listening. She’d be daydreaming, watching cars go by. But I stopped, held breathless by the story of a man waiting for medical help for one of his daughters. His other little girl was already dead.  read more »

After the earthquake disaster that struck Haiti last week there has been a surge of giving via text message. When I was first presented with the idea to donate by text message I didn't quite know what to think, so many things ran through my mind - is it safe? How does it work?  read more »

One of Canada's leading advocates for micro-credit and the chair of Results Canada had this letter published in the Saturday National Post.  read more »