ViTreo Group Inc.

To the dads showing up in all the ways that matter.

This Father's Day, we're thinking about the full picture of what fatherhood looks like: biological dads, stepdads, grandfathers, uncles, mentors, chosen family; the men and father figures who show up consistently and with intention.

The ones teaching kids that strength and softness aren't opposites, that caring about your community is something to be proud of, that the world is worth paying attention to and worth fighting for. We see the fathers raising children who ask hard questions and feel things deeply, who are learning to hold space for others because someone held space for them first.

That kind of parenting doesn't just shape families, it shapes communities. And in a sector built on the belief that people can make things better, we know those roots matter.

Happy Father's Day to every father figure making the next generation a little more curious, a little more compassionate, and a lot more ready to lead. 🧡

This Sunday, June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day.

As you head into the weekend, we invite you to pause and reflect, not just on what this day represents, but on what it asks of us. Especially those of us working in sectors with the power to resource, amplify, and support Indigenous-led work.

Reconciliation isn't a single day on the calendar, it's a practice. One that calls us to listen more than we speak, follow Indigenous leadership, and honestly examine where philanthropy can do better.

Seek out Indigenous artists and authors.
Direct your giving to Indigenous-led organizations.
Show up to community events that centre Indigenous voices.

And carry that intention well beyond June.

🧡 Wishing everyone a meaningful and reflective weekend.

We are so pleased to announce that Ron Smith has stepped into a new role with ViTreo as our Director of Associate and External Relations.

Ron has been part of this team, and this work, for a while now. This new role is a reflection of who he already is: someone who genuinely invests in the people around him and in the organizations we have the privilege of serving. We are excited to see what this next chapter brings.

Congratulations, Ron!

More about Ron: https://loom.ly/Sykj6OE

Ron Smith (Senior Associate) — ViTreo A Senior Associate at ViTreo Group Inc. Ron’s expertise spans human services, private education, healthcare, and Christian ministry. His leadership has resulted in millions of dollars raised, ensuring long-term organizational sustainability. Ron excels at empowering teams, fostering a culture of p...

As ViTreo marks 10 years, we asked one of our own to reflect on what's shaped the non-profit sector and what it takes to lead through what's coming next.

Michael Donlevy shares his insights on everything from the funding pressures reshaping how non-profits operate to the one thing about great fundraising that will never change.

Scroll through for the wisdom he wishes someone had shared with him earlier and the advice every non-profit leader needs to hear right now.

How do we find the right board members?

It's a question we hear often. What we've learned over many years is that great board members aren't found, they're cultivated.

Here are five strategies that we find help.

The best board members are attracted to organizations with clear vision, professional operations, and genuine impact. Build that first.

We are so pleased to welcome Patti Morris to the ViTreo team as Senior Associate.

Patti brings decades of executive leadership, fund development, governance, and stakeholder engagement to the work, shaped by her experience as a CEO, fundraiser, educator, grant-maker, and dedicated volunteer. She knows not only how to generate support, but how to inspire it, and her deep commitment to the non-profit sector is evident in everything she does.

We feel genuinely fortunate to have her alongside us. Welcome, Patti.🧡

More about Patti: https://loom.ly/J0pMN6s

We're thrilled to welcome Tazeem Weljie to the ViTreo family. 🎉

Tazeem brings the kind of clarity that cuts through complexity and the presence that shifts how organizations move forward. Her career has been defined by guiding leaders through the moments that matter most: governance challenges, leadership alignment, and the difficult work of navigating change with intention. Add to that an international lens that extends well beyond Canada, and the depth she brings to our clients, particularly boards and leadership teams, is extraordinary.

We believe the right people make the work better. Tazeem makes us better.

Welcome to the team, Tazeem. We're honoured to have you. 🙌

More about Tazeem: https://loom.ly/g1CW47g

Tazeem Weljie — ViTreo Tazeem (Taz) Weljie helps organizations think bigger, plan smarter, and move forward with purpose — bringing together strategy, people, and process to create lasting change.

Six months in. Six months to go.

The mid-year mark is not just a calendar moment. For non-profit leaders, it is the last real window to set your organization up for a strong finish before the pace of fall takes over and the ability to be strategic gets a lot harder.
This is different from a quarterly check-in. This is about the next six months specifically, and what you do right now determines how December feels.

Here is what needs your attention before July:
🔶 Your fall campaign strategy. September arrives faster than anyone expects. If your case for support, your donor list, and your campaign timeline are not mapped out now, you will be scrambling to catch up while everyone else is already in motion.
🔶 Your major gift pipeline. Summer is genuinely one of the best times to reach out to donors with no ask attached. A personal, genuine check-in now builds the relationship that makes a fall conversation feel natural rather than transactional.
🔶 Your board's second-half role. Do your board members know specifically what is expected of them between now and December? A clear, brief conversation in June prevents a lot of frustration in October.
🔶 Your team's capacity. Six months of mission-driven work takes a real toll. The leaders who protect some recovery time now are the ones whose teams show up strong when it matters most.

Three questions to bring to your next team meeting:
1. What did we plan to accomplish in the first half of 2026 that still has not happened, and what is getting in the way?
2. Which donor relationships need attention before giving season begins?
3. Does our team have the capacity, clarity, and support to finish this year the way we want to?

The organizations that have a strong December are making intentional decisions right now in June.

How is your mid-year check-in going? We would love to hear what you are prioritizing. 👇

In honour of the , we are featuring stories of our team members and the passion they put into the causes that mean so much to them.

Next up is Ron Smith, who has this to say:

"People often ask me how I find time to volunteer when my life is already busy with work, family, and other competing priorities. The answer is simple: I volunteer because I believe that strong communities don't happen by accident. I feel it's important for each of us to use our skills, experience, and energy to leave things better than we found them.

From the time I was a kid growing up in small town Alberta, volunteering has introduced me to incredible people, meaningful friendships, and opportunities I never could have planned for on my own. Volunteering has helped me develop leadership skills, humility, empathy, and perspective. Through many volunteer experiences over the years, I have seen firsthand how one volunteer can change the trajectory of an organization or even an entire community...just by caring enough to lend a hand."

Happy International Year of Volunteering to every person showing up for a cause they love.

The role of a non-profit finance leader has shifted. Keeping the books balanced and the auditors happy is no longer enough. Donors want proof of impact. Boards need real-time data. Regulators are raising the bar. And everyone is being asked to do more with less.

If your organization is still focused primarily on overhead ratio, annual surplus, and total dollars raised, it's not enough, and often misleading. The better question is, can my organization continue delivering meaningful impact through uncertainty without compromising its mission?

Our team has put together the key metrics that actually drive non-profit financial health; the ones that speak to long-term stability, organizational resilience, and mission alignment. See the graphic for the full list.

Financial clarity isn't just good governance, it earns trust, attracts investment, and keeps your organization positioned to lead.

Which metrics are you watching most closely right now? Drop a comment. We'd love to hear from you. 👇