DIG 2026

Deadline: September 22nd

Cost: FREE

Shuttle from Cortes ferry available upon request

For ALL board members, staff & other key leaders (both current and potential) in non-profit organisations on Cortes, Quadra, and the outer islands.

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What leadership and organizational skills and knowledge do you and your organization NEED THE MOST right now in order to be strong, confident and competent leaders in your community, now and in the future?

We asked in our recent Needs Assessment and you told us.  Now our learning journey together begins!

Let’s Connect

Come to DIG 2026 to meet and get inspired by community leaders from across the Discovery Islands!

Let’s Learn

Dig into topics you’ve been wanting to learn more about for a long time, presented by some of the best speakers in British Columbia!  Learn the theory AND the practical applications you can use right away.

Let’s Grow

Build your own skills and knowledge, and the capacity of your organization, during a day of discovery and insight!  Leave better prepared to lead your organization and your community into the future.

Agenda DIG 2026

Workshop Descriptions:

Workshop 1: “Discover Board Governance Fundamentals”

with JP Baker from Vantage Point

A highly effective and engaged board has clarity around roles and responsibilities, and aligns their work and performance with organizational values and vision.​  Bring your whole board, your ED, and prospective directors, and get on the same page in this workshop where you will learn or refresh your knowledge on non-profit board member essentials.

Keynote: “Non-Profit Collaboration: Lofty Idea or Practical Approach?” 

with JP Baker from Vantage Point

Collaboration isn’t just a nice idea – it’s becoming essential.  With funding tight, costs rising, and competition for people and volunteers growing, working together can make all the difference. Stronger collaboration means better programs, less duplication, clearer communication, and bigger impact.  But it’s not always easy, and sometimes it feels way harder than it needs to be.  How do you assess fit and compatibility with a potential partner?  What tools and strategies can you use to build collaborations for success?  Find out how you can set your organization up for success the next time you collaborate in this inspiring AND practical keynote.

Workshop 2a: “Discover Revenue Diversification for Non-Profits and Charities: What’s Possible?”

with Farah Nazarali from Thriving Non-Profits

Join Farah for a dynamic workshop on revenue diversification for non-profits and charities. In this session, we’ll explore the shifting funding landscape and why traditional approaches alone are no longer enough to sustain and grow impact.

You’ll be introduced to the Thriving Non-Profits approach to revenue diversification, including how a combination of culture change, traditional fundraising strategies, and earned revenue can unlock new possibilities for your organization.

We’ll cover the nine types of revenue available to non-profits, how to think more entrepreneurially about funding, and what it takes to build a more resilient and sustainable financial model.

Whether you’re just starting to explore new revenue options or looking to strengthen your current approach, this session will help you rethink what’s possible and identify practical next steps for your organization.

Workshop 2b: “Dig into Collaboration: Practical Applications”

with JP Baker from Vantage Point

Feeling inspired after the Keynote and wanting to ask questions and learn more?  Come to this “dig in” workshop to talk shop with JP and other workshop participants, and learn how to use tools and strategies for collaboration.

Workshop 3a: “Discover Effective Meetings”

with JP Baker from Vantage Point

Meetings are where an organization’s ideas take shape, yet too often, they leave people feeling unheard or unsure about next steps. In this workshop, you will learn practical tools and techniques for setting agendas, fostering participation, building consensus, and keeping your meetings on track.​

Workshop 3b: “Dig into Revenue Diversification: Q&A and Local Success Stories”

 with Farah Nazarali from Thriving Non-Profits and local guests

Feeling completely jazzed and full of questions after the Discover Revenue Diversification workshop?  Come talk to Farah and some Thriving Non-Profit alumni and hear how these funding strategies can actually work in practice in this “dig in” workshop.

Speaker Bios:

JP Baker

JP Baker is an Organizational Consultant with Vantage Point.  He has over 15 years of experience as a consultant, supporting organizations with strategic planning, implementation, governance, collaboration, and restructuring. As a Non-profit Lifecycles Consultant, JP takes a developmental approach to understanding and supporting organization. He strives to understand what makes each organization unique and apply the right tools and approaches depending on stage of development, organizational culture, mission focus, geography, and demographics. JP values justice, creativity, collaboration, courage, and focus. He is a dynamic and engaging facilitator and educator.

With a background in liberal arts, JP has previously worked as a language educator and freelance writer. He has founded several small businesses and non-profit organizations. Outside of his professional work, JP is an active father, reader, musician, hiker, and volunteer.

Farah Nazarali

Farah Nazarali is the Program Facilitator for Thriving Non-Profits. She has spent most of her career in the non-profit and charitable sector, with experience across arts, media, and social and environmental organizations. Her expertise includes turning big visions into practical goals, providing accountability, and asking strategic questions that unlock new possibilities. She is also skilled in conflict resolution, helping create cohesion and alignment.

 At Thriving Non-Profits, she facilitates the cohort program, supporting leaders to diversify revenue and strengthen financial sustainability.

 Learn more at www.thrivingnonprofits.ca

For More Information: Contact event organizer Jennifer Banks-Doll at edc@dicc.ca