%20copy.png)
Let's Get Real: Perspectives on Canadian Fundraising
Hosts Ed Sluga and Lisa MacDonald present "Let's Get Real: Perspectives on Canadian Fundraising." This new podcast from PGgrowth tackles some of the most timely and vital issues in fundraising right now. If you're looking for honest takes from current experts in the industry, then make sure to tune in and get ready to "get real."
Episodes
15 episodes
Getting Real about Burnout, Hiring with AI, and Schools for Fundraising
Ed and Lisa are fortunate enough to be joined by Rowena Veylan for this episode! Rowena is the Founder and Lead Instructor at The New School of Fundraising. Along with Ed and Lisa, she discusses the cuts to fundraising programs in recent years,...
%20copy.png)
Getting Real about Research Gaps and Capturing Data
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 philanthrop...
Getting (Very) Real about AI
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 shou...
Getting Real about Admin Work, Leadership Challenges, and Credit Cards
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 capaci...
Getting Real about Staffing, Vital Metrics, and Event Participation
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...
Getting Real about Leadership, GoFundMe, and Wealthy Donors
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 b...
Getting Real about Thanking Donors and Academics
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 thankin...
Getting Real about Small Shop Charities, Gift Agreement Complications, and Irrelevance
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 wi...
Season One Finale
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 h...
Getting Real about Management, Spirituality, and Losing Sleep
Have you ever considered that fundraising could be a spiritual experience? On this week’s episode of Let’s Get Real: Perspectives on Canadian Fundraising, Ed, Ken, and Lisa dive into that very topic.Elsewhere in the episode, Ed ...
Getting Real about Gift Agreements, Recruitment, and Returning to the Office
This week on Let’s Get Real: Perspectives on Canadian Fundraising, Ed, Ken, and Lisa discuss gift agreements and how to deal with common complications they cause (here’s a hint: always get legal advice!)Later in the episode, the...
Getting Real about Common Sense, National Philanthropy Day, and the Noble Fundraiser
With National Philanthropy Day approaching on November 15, Ed, Ken, and Lisa use this episode of Let's Get Real to discuss whether the day has a significant impact on the charitable sector.Also in this week’s episode, the hosts emphasize...
Getting Real about Mediocrity, Metrics, and Donor Motivations
In this episode of Let's Get Real: Perspectives on Canadian Fundraising, Ed and Lisa are joined by Marla Smith, CFRE, the Director of Foundation & Communication at Pathston...
Getting Real about AI, Mentorship, and Influencers
This week on "Let's Get Real: Perspectives on Canadian Fundraising," join Ed, Ken, and Lisa as they discuss the rise of AI in the fundraising sector and the many drawbacks and shortcomings of replacing human labour with this technology....