Diversifying Revenue and Increasing Sustainability: Practical Strategies

Thursday, December 4, 2025

9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

United Way Winnipeg’s Learning Centre (580 Main Street)

Cost to register: $150 per participant

In 2023, demand for services from Canadian non-profits rose by 46.1%, while organizational capacity to meet that demand fell by 13.2% (Statistics Canada, 2024). This growing gap, alongside shifting socio-political and cultural dynamics, underscores the urgent need for non-profits to diversify revenue streams and strengthen long-term sustainability.

This half-day, in-person workshop offers a clear snapshot of current trends affecting the non-profit sector and introduces practical strategies that organizations can adapt to their own contexts. Participants will explore approaches such as social enterprise and self-generating revenue initiatives, strategic fund development planning, and data-driven advocacy to strengthen their competitive edge.

By the end of the session, participants will leave with both insight and practical tools to help reduce reliance on government funding while enhancing their organization’s overall sustainability and resilience.

Objectives

1. Examine the new realities increasing complexity for Canadian non-profits through recent data and case studies, with attention to equity considerations and sector/regional differences.
2. Identify and assess practical strategies—such as social enterprises and self-generating revenue initiatives, fund development planning, and data-driven advocacy—that enable non-profits to reduce reliance on government or grant funding and strengthen their competitive positioning.

This workshop is ideal for:

• Board directors, executive directors, CEO’s, senior management team members, directors, program managers and coordinators of health, social service, education, or union sectors
• Non-profit start-ups
• Students in human services (social work, psychology, nursing, health sciences, etc.)

Jared Star, MSc, BSW, PhD Candidate (abd) – Founder and CEO Bison Research and Development (formerly Jared Star Consulting)

Jared Star is a data-driven researcher, consultant, and community leader with over 18 years of experience supporting non-profit organizations, unions, and community-based health and social service agencies across Canada. As Founder and Principal of Bison Research and Development, Jared specializes in helping organizations build capacity through program development and evaluation, fundraising and capital campaigns, board governance and leadership training, and strategic research initiatives.

Jared’s work emphasizes values-based and equity-focused approaches to organizational development. He has raised over $10.3 million for Canadian charities through fundraising and grant development, designed and facilitated governance and leadership training for boards and executive teams, and led complex community-based research projects that advance equity, accessibility, and health system reform.

Currently a Vanier Scholar and Doctoral Candidate at the University of Manitoba, Jared’s research focuses on decolonizing methodologies, Indigenous health, and the intersections of governance, policy, and community well-being. His consulting practice blends academic rigor with practical experience, supporting organizations to strengthen their impact, diversify revenue, and lead with integrity in increasingly complex environments.

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