CEO Update | November 2025
Read Inspirit’s latest CEO Update by Sadia Zaman, as originally published in Inspirit’s Fall 2025 newsletter.
Ten years ago, the Foundation helped bring to life the Philanthropic Declaration of Action. In 2021, we followed up on that commitment by transferring some of our assets to help launch the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund. This fall, we were honoured to recommit to the principles of the Declaration at a moving ceremony hosted by the Circle on Philanthropy. While more resources have been committed to Indigenous organizations over the past decade, philanthropy still has much work to do.
This comes at a time when Indigenous, as well as racialized communities, are facing backlash, some of it inspired by growing authoritarianism across the globe. Sometimes this looks like an assault on the systems and the people who want to dismantle colonialism, support equity, and insist on justice.
These battles are fought with competing narratives underpinned by heavy doses of mis- and disinformation. The information ecosystem is broken. Facts no longer matter. It’s a sobering time for those of us who believe reliable information is key civic infrastructure in a democracy. So many colleagues around the world are examining new legislation but also looking at the role of existing laws and regulations that have been applied to cable companies and broadcasters. What could happen if we were to treat platforms as publishers and make them responsible for their output?
I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know that as a small Canadian foundation we can continue to support and advocate for narrative power for underfunded and underrepresented communities. In this I’m deeply inspired by Race Forward in the U.S. and their expertise and fluency on culture, beliefs and narrative. Their practical guide for organizations working in service of community is one of the best I’ve seen. Its practicality is an antidote to helplessness.
For us, taking action means partnering with others to support independent journalism in Canada through the first pooled fund of its kind. This fall we launched the Journalism Futures Fund in partnership with McConnell Foundation, Euphrosine Foundation, and the Sonor Foundation. Together we want to raise and redistribute $8 million over the next five years to media outlets led by and serving underrepresented communities across Canada. At a local and/or community level these outlets can help mitigate the effects of disinformation, particularly with communities that have historically been harmed by media coverage. They are doing the heavy lifting as they build the infrastructure and the trust that is necessary for a healthy civil society.
Funders need to continue to do their part as front-line organizations lead the way. I was reminded of this last week at the Capital Unlocked 2025 Summit hosted by New Power Labs, where I had the pleasure of interviewing author Vu Le. His provocative critiques of philanthropy hold many grains of truth, so too does his insistence on hope. We have to support those who keep moving forward, despite overwhelming obstacles. We have to also be those people.
Sincerely,
Sadia Zaman, CEO