There Are 86,000 Charities in Canada. Here’s How to Find One Worth Supporting
Did you know that Canada has over 86,000 registered charities? They span everything from local food banks to international development organizations, from arts programs to medical research. With so many options, it can be genuinely difficult to find one you feel connected to, confident in, and certain is doing what it claims. If you’re considering […]
What Education Looks Like for Vulnerable Children in Africa
Every year on June 16, the world marks the International Day of the African Child, a day that traces its roots to the 1976 Soweto uprising, when thousands of South African students took to the streets to protest an education system designed to limit them. The day has since grown into a global moment to […]
My Friend Tricia
Earlier this month I had the privilege of traveling to Alpharetta, Georgia, where the Maxwell family lived for six years. We moved there 20 years ago, and we have lived in Africa for 14 years, and it sometimes seems that we are just getting started. Ian and I have met so many amazing people over […]
What Real Nonprofit Sustainability Looks Like in Practice
Most nonprofit organizations are built on a familiar financial model. They rely on donations, grants, and fundraising to support their work. While some organizations generate revenue through products or services, the majority remain largely dependent on external giving to sustain their operations over time. This model is not inherently flawed. In many cases, it is […]
What We Learned From Building a Dairy Operation in Africa
Is dairy farming a sustainable solution in Africa? This is a question that comes up more often than you might think in conversations about food systems, nutrition, and nonprofit sustainability. On the surface, the logic is compelling. Dairy can provide consistent protein, support local agriculture, and generate income when production exceeds demand. At Project Canaan, […]
Why Some Development Projects Need to Slow Down Before They Can Grow
Growth is not always the goal In the nonprofit and development space, growth is often seen as a clear sign of success. More programs = More reach = More activity. From the outside, it can seem like forward momentum should always look like expansion. But in practice, building something that lasts often requires a different […]
What Does It Actually Cost to Care for a Child in Africa? A Real Look at Long-Term Care
The question behind child sponsorship For many people, the first exposure to organizations working with vulnerable children comes through child sponsorship. A monthly number is often presented (i.e. $30, $100, $500+ per month) and the assumption is simple: that is what it costs to care for a child. But the reality is more complex. A […]
What Heart for Africa (Canada) Is Learning About Nonprofit Sustainability in a Season of Operational Reset
Every nonprofit eventually enters a season where it must pause, reassess, and make difficult operational decisions. For Heart for Africa (Canada), this is one of those seasons. As the organization that supports the work happening at Project Canaan in the Kingdom of Eswatini, Africa, we are currently navigating an operational reset designed to strengthen the […]
Why Sustainable Nonprofits are Harder to Build Than People Think
When people hear the phrase sustainable nonprofits, it often sounds straightforward. The assumption is that an organization simply needs to create programs that fund themselves, reduce reliance on donations, and operate independently over time. In practice, building a sustainable nonprofit is far more complex. Organizations working in long-term development must balance mission, operational realities, financial […]
Disturbing news to share
Early Thursday morning I got a message from our medical team reporting that one of our 3-year-olds woke up with soiled pajamas for no reason (it has never happened before). They cleaned her up and moved on with the day. A few hours later she started to shake like she had a high fever. They […]