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By Deepa Chaudhary of GrantOrb.com

It’s no secret that BC’s non-profit sector is under significant strain. The 2024 State of BC’s Non-Profit Sector report paints a bleak picture of teams feeling “overwhelmed,” “under-funded,” and “stretched to the limit.” Demand for services keeps soaring, while dollars and staff capacity struggle to keep up. Simply put, there’s way too much work and not enough time.

But here’s the exciting part, an incredible opportunity is emerging - Generative AI, a true game-changer for non-profits. You’ve probably heard the buzz, and believe me, the excitement is real. Tasks that once took weeks or months can now be completed in minutes. Generative AI turns every single one of you into an artist, a grant writer, a coder, a designer, a videographer,  basically, and an expert in whatever topic you need. Not only does AI speed things up, but it can also enhance the quality of programs and services by helping non-profits design smarter, more effective initiatives.

For a sector that often operates on tight budgets with stretched-thin staff, AI is the best thing that’s happened in years. It gives non-profits a superpower, the ability to get things done fast, easily, and with less stress. The technology is so intuitive that you don’t need to learn complicated software - just talk to it, and it understands. For the first time ever, machines speak our language instead of us having to learn theirs.

“Generative AI turns every single one of you into an artist, a grant writer, a coder, a designer, a videographer,  basically, and an expert in whatever topic you need”

What Exactly is Generative AI?

Generative AI, or GenAI, is powered by what’s called Large Language Models (LLMs). In the words of Andrej Karpathy, former AI scientist at OpenAI and Tesla, these models are like a “zip file of the Internet.” They’ve absorbed massive amounts of information and learned how to generate new content - text, images, audio, or video  from simple instructions. These models understand various forms of communication from text to pictures to voice. For example, you can drop a video link into a tool like Gemini and ask it to transcribe the content or write a blog post based on what it sees. Pretty powerful, right?

The Generative AI Landscape: Tools That Work for You

Many of these tools are free or low-cost, making them perfect for nonprofits.

Chatbots

You’ve probably used ChatGPT, a chatbot built on LLMs. But there are many others -  Gemini (Google), Claude, Microsoft CoPilot, Grok, DeepSeek, and more. Think of chatbots as an extension of your brain. They can help with anything: editing emails, summarizing documents, brainstorming content ideas, translating materials, and seeking information. Need a summary chart from a budget spreadsheet or a quick infographic from an article? Chatbots can do that too. They’re tireless helpers!

Creating Visuals with AI

Every non-profit needs visuals -  for websites, social media, newsletters, or annual reports. Now, you can create stunning images instantly using AI tools like Midjourney, Imagen3 (inside Gemini), and ChatGPT’s image generator. Just describe what you want, and watch the image evolve as you tweak your description. Need videos? Tools like Veo 2 (Gemini) and Sora (ChatGPT) let you create short, professional-quality videos or animations in minutes, no expensive equipment or editing skills required.

AI Supercharges Nonprofits: Work Smarter, Not Harder

AI isn’t just a trend, it’s a revolutionary tool that lets non-profit professionals get their work done faster and frees up time for what really matters.

• Save Time on Routine Tasks: Draft newsletters, clean data, translate updates, write grant applications, compile statistics, or design event posters,  AI handles these chores quickly, saving mental energy for strategic work.
• Boost Fundraising Power: Grants are the lifeline for many non-profits. With AI tools like GrantOrb, you can go from a simple idea to a complete, expert-level grant proposal in minutes. Suddenly, applying to dozens or even hundreds of grants feels possible, not overwhelming.
• Find and Connect with Donors: Use AI to research potential funders whose priorities match your mission. Practice your “ask” with chatbot audio features to build confidence.
• Create Engaging Content: Need logos, media assets, blog posts, or social media content? AI can whip up ideas and first drafts in seconds.
• Break Language Barriers: Translate your materials instantly into over 50 languages with tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, helping you reach and serve more diverse communities.
• Capture and Analyze Information: Transcribe meetings or interviews, summarize lengthy reports, create charts and visualizations, and craft compelling impact reports all with AI support.
• Make Learning and Sharing Easier: Create podcasts and audio summaries in seconds using tools like NotebookLM and Gemini’s Audio Overview. Turn training manuals, volunteer guides, or policies into accessible formats volunteers and staff can listen to on the go.

AI Helps Fight Burnout

Burnout in non-profits often comes from the mountain of “necessary but not mission” tasks that pile up day after day -  things like drafting newsletters and email updates, cleaning and organizing data, managing bilingual communications, writing long grant applications, compiling program statistics and reports, designing event materials, coordinating logistics etc. These repetitive chores can drain energy and steal time from the meaningful work that truly drives impact. Generative AI speeds up or automates many of these tasks, freeing non-profit staff to focus on strategic thinking, building relationships, and delivering programs that make a difference.

Ultimately, the rise of AI in the non-profit sector signals an exciting shift. We are moving from an era where humans are primarily doing the work to one where we are increasingly supervising the powerful assistance of AI. This allows us to leverage technology to handle the heavy lifting, freeing up our human intellect and compassion for the strategic thinking and relationship-building that truly drives impact in BC communities.

As Tobi Lutke, CEO of Shopify, wisely noted, “Using AI well is a skill that needs to be carefully learned by… using it a lot.” 

The most effective way for BC non-profits to unlock the transformative power of AI is to begin integrating it into their daily workflows. By actively experimenting and building your “AI muscle,” you’ll witness firsthand how ideas improve, tasks get done quickly, and stress levels drop. This newfound efficiency translates directly into more headspace – more time, more energy, and more focus – to dedicate to what truly matters: making a tangible and lasting difference in the vibrant communities across British Columbia.

About the Author:

Deepa Chaudhary is the CEO of GrantOrb.com, the largest AI-powered grant writing platform. With experience in philanthropy at the Salesforce Foundation and as Co-Founder of United Way Mumbai, Deepa brings a unique blend of expertise in both AI and the non-profit world. She is passionate about helping non-profits and community leaders use AI for greater impact. You can connect with her on Linkedin

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By Alina Emery, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

Ask someone why they volunteer, and you will uncover a deep and vast collection of stories. 

My mother was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. Her upbringing, and the lessons she shared with my siblings and I, centered around respecting the land we are on and the people around us. Holding a growth mindset focused on learning from others, especially our elders, is an important part of our culture and strongly benefits our livelihoods. In a very reciprocal fashion, my elders taught me that they are always learning from me and the other younger people in their lives, and that those interactions deepen their experiences. Learning is a cycle of appreciation and growth towards strengthening our roots as a community. Giving back, helping others, and developing strong relationships and action within our communities, enhances our well-being. Volunteering has always been encouraged as a meaningful way to learn, grow and offer mutual support to the communities that supported us.   

Now, as a second-generation immigrant and settler on the lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, I strive to live out those values, support those generational cultural messages and values in my work. 

There are many lessons we can learn from, not only our own cultures, but the many diverse perspectives present in our communities.  

I recently attended Future of Good’s 2-day virtual Wellbeing Summit focused on the well-being of the non-profit sector and the people serving in it. Through a session on “What Wellbeing is Missing: Indigenous Peoples and Perspectives” we explored teachings that can be adopted from Indigenous practices, celebrations, and languages and incorporated in the protocols and practices of non-profit organization. These included examples like developing smudging policies, supporting employees to take time off for learning about Indigenous ceremonies or languages, or including action statements as a part of offering a meaningful land acknowledgement.  

The Seventh Generation Principle and the Two-Eyed Seeing Approach stood out to me as I considered ways Indigenous culture and my work with volunteers might intersect. The Seventh-Generation principle holds the perspective that in any decision we make there is importance and value in considering how it will affect the next seven generations. The Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk in Mi'kmaw) Approach, developed by Mi’kmaq Elder Albert Marshall, shares the opportunity for integration of both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing, teaching and learning in our lives and in our work.  

In our own cultures, life lessons and relationships, and in both the Two-Eyed Seeing Approach and the Seventh-Generation Principles of the Indigenous peoples, we find messages of the meaning and value of intergenerational and intercultural solutions, and how, when incorporated into our lives and our work, they are opportunities to deepen the impacts. This holds true for volunteerism - for both volunteers and communities they serve.  

As many know, the pandemic shifted the generational dynamic significantly in the volunteer and non-profit sector. More mature volunteers started prioritizing their health and families and stepped back from volunteering. High schools paused volunteerism credits toward graduation to ensure students were safer. Non-profits came to a halt with their programming, decreasing the need for volunteers and, as we know, picking up traction can be challenging. Through this pause isolation and loneliness increased. It’s my belief that volunteering with groups of people from all generations, cultures and beliefs supports our well-being, our happiness, and our sense of belonging in community. We can find opportunities to grow as individuals, to develop relationships that we may not have otherwise with people from a different background or generation than us, who can have transformational impact on our lives, and find meaning purpose through service in community. 

Our organizational model at Vantage Point often partners Knowledge Philanthropist facilitators who have been in the sector for many years with Digital Hosts team members, who are often youth and younger individuals wanting to learn more about the non-profit sector. I have witnessed some beautiful interactions watching long-term facilitators exchange knowledge and tips with our digital hosts around careers, resources and skill enhancement. These intergenerational collaborations can benefit from each other's experiences, working together on a mutual project, is one of the reasons I love what I do.  Volunteer programs that offer a safe and engaging space for volunteers can initiate long-term impacts that benefit generations to come.  

This National Volunteer Week, my hope is that organizations can take the time to think about how volunteerism exists currently in their organization and what "Two-Eyed Seeing Approach” they can take that will improve the well-being of volunteers and serve seven generations into the future. Expanding our approaches to bring learnings from other cultures and communities has a reciprocal effect, not only strengthening organizations but improving the growth and success of volunteers engaged. 

There is much more I could share about the intersectional aspects of volunteerism and the value of creating spaces for intergenerational learning and growth for volunteers. If you’re curious to dive deeper into all things volunteerism with me, please feel free to connect on LinkedIn or at aemery@thevantagepoint.ca   

*“What Wellbeing is Missing: Indigenous Peoples and Perspectives” session was led by Shannon VanRaes (Future of Good), Talitha Tolles (MakeWay), Michael Redhead Champagne, and Alexandra Biron (Deloitte) 

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By Omar Visram, Co-Founder and CEO at Enkel

As non-profits in BC approach their fiscal year-ends, certain financial tasks can slip through the cracks. Leaving these tasks unaddressed can result in compliance issues, inaccurate financial reporting, and potentially strained relationships with partners, team members, and other collaborators.

We partnered with Enkel, who has helped hundreds of Canadian non-profits, to create a guide to help you deal with the most overlooked or mishandled year-end financial tasks, so you can avoid financial errors, maintain transparency, and position your non-profit for future success.

1. Reconcile Restricted and Unrestricted Funds

Non-profits often receive restricted funds—donations or grants earmarked for specific purposes. These need to be tracked and reconciled separately from unrestricted funds to avoid compliance issues and ensure transparency with funders.

Why reconciling restricted and unrestricted funds matters

Proper reconciliation ensures compliance with grant terms, maintains transparency, and builds donor trust. Financial clarity can help ensure strong relationships and secure future funding with trusted partners. 

What happens if you don't do this task?

Mismanaging restricted funds can lead to spending errors, audit issues, and even legal penalties.  

How to handle it:

1. Set up separate accounts or classifications for restricted and unrestricted funds using accounting software.
2. Perform quarterly reviews to ensure all funds are being used as intended.
3. Have your books reviewed by a senior finance professional on a monthly or quarterly basis once your bookkeeper has wrapped up the books.

2. Review Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue refers to money received but not yet earned, such as grants or multi-year donations. It’s easy to overlook, but misreporting deferred revenue can result in overstating your income. 

Why reviewing deferred revenue matters

Accurate deferred revenue reporting helps with cash flow management and keeps your financials in order. Accurate deferred revenue tracking by funders helps organizations budget more effectively by recognizing when certain revenues will be available and when they will need to deliver on programmatic commitments to “earn” that revenue. Nnon-profits often receive grants or large donations tied to specific programs, events, or timelines. Deferred revenue helps track these commitments and ensures that the organization meets its obligations. 

What happens if you don't do this task?

Overstating revenue could lead to financial mismanagement, causing strain on future periods when these funds have already been spent. It can also lead to audit issues and a loss of credibility with funders or other key partners. 

How to handle it

1. Use a separate deferred revenue account in your accounting software to track each stream of unearned funds. 
2. Ensure that the account is reviewed regularly with revenue recognized in accordance with your accounting policies. 
3. Given that revenue recognition often follows expenditures, it’s also important to track expenses by funding source.

3. Year-End Adjusting Journal Entries

Year-end adjusting journal entries (AJE) are entries made in the accounting records at the end of an accounting period to adjust the accounts to reflect accurate financial conditions. 

Year-end adjusting journal entries are important to get your bookkeeping records to a point where they are compliant with the accounting standards under which your financial statements will be audited or reviewed. 

Many of these entries are not necessarily important on a day-to-day basis, so they often get ignored throughout the year. 

Why posting year-end adjustments matters

• Accurate financial reporting: These entries provide a clear, accurate snapshot of a business’s financial position at the end of the year. 
• Tax preparation: AJEs ensure all income and expenses are recorded in the right period is critical for preparing accurate tax returns. 

What happens if you don’t do this task?

You run the risk of your accountant doing the work, which may increase the cost of your year-end audit. It can also paint a picture that your books require a lot of clean-up at year end. 

How to handle it

1. Have your financial team review your adjusting journal entries from your accountants from last year to identify what you proactively address to avoid adjusting journal entries this year. 
2. Common places to look include:  
   1. Prepaid expenses 
   2. Fixed assets 
   3. Vacation balance accruals. 
3. Make sure to maintain documentation for the adjustments that you can share with your auditor to support the opening balances, closing balances, and adjusting entries you have made. 

4. Perform a Fundraising Efficiency Review

Non-profits often focus on how much they raise without evaluating the true cost of their fundraising efforts. A fundraising efficiency review helps you understand the actual return on investment for your campaigns.

Why performing a fundraising efficiency review matters

This review ensures you maximize the effectiveness of your fundraising activities. Knowing your cost per dollar raised helps you decide whether to continue or discontinue certain campaigns based on their performance.

What happens if you don't do this task

If you’re spending more to raise funds than you’re bringing in, your resources will be drained, which could negatively affect program delivery.

How to handle it

Gather data on staff time, marketing costs, and event expenses. Calculate your cost per dollar raised for each campaign to determine which are worth continuing. 

5. Internal Control Review and Updates

Internal controls are essential for safeguarding your non-profit’s financial resources. However, these controls are often not reviewed regularly, which increases the risk of fraud or mismanagement. 

Examples of internal financial controls include:

1. Segregation of Duties: Ensuring that no single person is responsible for handling all aspects of a financial transaction. For example, the person authorizing a payment should be different from the one processing it or reconciling the bank accounts. 
2. Authorization and Approval Processes: Requiring approvals for certain financial transactions, such as large payments or expenses. For instance, expenses over a set limit may need board approval or executive director sign-off. 
3. Physical and Digital Access Controls: Limiting access to financial records, accounting systems, and sensitive data. Only authorized personnel should have access to cash, checks, or financial software. 
4. Regular Reconciliations: Performing frequent reconciliations of accounts, such as bank accounts or credit card statements, to detect and correct any discrepancies. 
5. Budget Monitoring and Reporting: Establishing a process for regularly reviewing actual spending versus budgeted amounts. This ensures that financial resources are used effectively and within approved limits. 

Why reviewing internal controls matters

Strong internal controls ensure that your non-profit’s financial processes are protected from fraud, mismanagement, or errors. They also help ensure compliance with funders and auditors. 

What happens if you don't do this task

Weak internal controls can lead to financial mismanagement or even fraud. Without regular reviews, mistakes or inappropriate transactions can go unnoticed, causing long-term harm. 

How to handle it

1. Conduct an internal audit to assess the effectiveness of your current internal controls. 
2. Ensure segregation of duties and approvals for all major financial transactions. 

Ready to Strengthen Your Non-profit’s Financial Health This Year? 

Year-end financial tasks are critical for ensuring transparency, compliance, and the long-term sustainability of your non-profit. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure about tackling any of these tasks, start by reaching out to your internal team. 

Your Finance Manager, Bookkeeper, or Accountant should be able to guide you through essential processes like reconciling funds, reviewing deferred revenue, and ensuring strong internal controls. 

If your team doesn’t have the capacity or expertise to manage these mission-critical tasks, working with external financial support can make all the difference!  

We wish you success as you work towards building more sustainable organizations and develop your capacity for financial management! 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Omar Visram is the Co-Founder and Head of Growth at Enkel, a financial services firm specializing in supporting Canadian non-profits and small to medium-sized businesses with their financial operations. Enkel gives Canadian non-profits the financial operations support they need to stay compliant and thrive. Book a free consultation to learn how our bookkeeping, payroll, and fractional controllership services can help your non-profit in the year ahead.

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Ensure your organization is overseeing its finances effectively with our Board Fundamentals: Financial Governance workshop. Find out more about the course and when it's next offered here.

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By Zahra Esmail, CEO of Vantage Point, and Kishone Roy, Executive Director of the Federation of Community Social Services

Non-Profit North, an event co-hosted by Vantage Point and the Federation of Community Social Services of BC (FCSSBC), was a significant milestone for the community social services sector in Northern British Columbia.

This gathering marked a much-needed return to in-person events post-COVID-19, aimed at fostering connections, sharing knowledge, and addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by non-profit organizations in this region.

A shared vision for community engagement

At the heart of Non-Profit North was a shared vision between Vantage Point and The Federation: to engage deeply with non-profits in Northern BC, listen to their experiences, and facilitate meaningful connections among leaders and changemakers.

This event was a testament to the strong sense of community and shared purpose that exists among organizations in Northern BC, as we all navigate a landscape filled with distinct challenges. By coming together, we sought to harness collective efforts and knowledge sharing to better serve the sector and the communities it supports.

Highlights of the event

One of the most memorable moments was Dr. Dustin Louie's keynote address. As a First Nations scholar from Nee Tahi Buhn and Nadleh Whut'en, Dr. Louie brought unique insights into transformative reconciliation, enriching the discourse with perspectives deeply rooted in local knowledge and experience.

Additionally, the session co-led by Prairie Chiu, Vantage Point's Director of Engagement and Advocacy, and Zahra Esmail, provided a comprehensive overview of the 2024 State of BC’s Non-Profit Sector Survey and ongoing initiatives to convene a BC Non-Profit Network. This session sparked essential discussions about regional equity and advocacy opportunities, which are crucial for advancing the sector's collective goals.

Chiu and Esmail also facilitated a session on Board Diversity & Inclusion, addressing critical issues that impact the effectiveness and representativeness of non-profit boards. The engagement and enthusiasm of participants highlighted the sector's commitment to these values.

The importance of in-person gatherings

The palpable enthusiasm and active participation from attendees at Non-Profit North were truly inspiring.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to meet leaders from across Northern BC, to build stronger relationships, and to gain a deeper understanding of the regional nuances affecting local non-profits.

Their presence and engagement are invaluable as we continue to build trust and reciprocity with the sector in Northern BC.

Personal reflections from Zahra Esmail

On a personal note, Non-Profit North was a profoundly enriching experience for me.

The opportunity to reconnect with the vibrant communities in Northern BC was both professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling. I was particularly moved by the openness and resilience of the non-profit leaders I met. Their stories of perseverance in the face of unique regional challenges reinforced my belief in the power of collaboration and shared learning...and the strength of our mighty sector!

Looking ahead: Sustaining momentum

As we reflect on the success of Non-Profit North, we are inspired by the impact it has had on the non-profit sector in Northern BC. The momentum generated by this event has sparked new collaborations, deepened relationships, and developed a sense of shared purpose. Our commitment to being curious learners and building relationships of trust will guide our efforts as we move forward. We are excited about the journey ahead, confident that together, we can work towards a more connected, cohesive, and thriving non-profit sector.

Personal reflections from Kishone Roy

For me, the highlight was the opportunity to connect with the diverse community of Prince George and the surrounding areas. The transformation of the region's diversity over my lifetime has been remarkable, and it was heartening to see the vibrant mix of people and cultures. The moments of connection and reflection underscored the importance of in-person engagement, which had been sorely missed during the pandemic years.

Building an annual tradition

Looking ahead, we aim to establish Non-Profit North as an annual gathering in Prince George. This will involve discussions with partners, boards, and members, but the enthusiasm and success of this year's event will give us confidence in the future. We eagerly anticipate the next steps and the ongoing journey of collaboration and growth within the non-profit sector in Northern BC.

In conclusion, Non-Profit North was more than just an event; it was a testament to the power of coming together, sharing knowledge, and building a stronger community. As we continue to reflect on the insights gained and the connections made, we are inspired and motivated to keep working towards a vibrant and thriving non-profit sector in Northern BC.