Growth for Good: The show on amplifying impact for non-profits, charities, and social purpose businesses

Successful first season of the Growth for Good podcast

Daniel Francavilla
5 min readMar 16, 2023

After years of working in the worlds of marketing and social impact, in 2022 Daniel launched a show called Growth for Good: Amplifying Impact for Non-Profits, Charities & Social Purpose Businesses to have more meaningful discussions and help others to amplify positive impact and bring communities together.

This show discusses challenges, wins, and best practices when it comes to communications, marketing, fundraising, and impact, through interviews with leaders at nonprofits and social enterprises, and the organizations that support them.

Recorded in Toronto with the support of CreatorClub, the show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and in video format on YouTube. As episodes are released, video clips are also shared on Instagram here.

All episodes from Season 1 are available below.

Season 2 is scheduled to roll out by Summer 2023.
Subscribe to be ready for Season 2 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Cara Eaton, Volunteer Toronto

Cara Eaton is a senior leader and seasoned marketing and communications professional with a decade of experience working with corporate, non-profit, and post-secondary institutions to mobilize meaningful community engagement and public relations efforts. Over the past 6-years, Cara has held progressively senior communications roles with Volunteer Toronto, Canada’s largest volunteer centre. She is responsible for sustaining record digital engagement via VolunteerToronto.ca, securing frequent coverage in Canada’s most competitive media market, and increasing project funding to support COVID-19 response programs through successful grant applications. Cara is currently Interim Executive Director at Volunteer Toronto and is accountable to delivering programs, research, and communications campaigns that elevate and foster volunteerism where she has also served as Director of Strategic Communications. Cara has volunteered for numerous community-run media outlets and has provided online communications support to both international and local grassroots groups. She is passionate about game design and builds escape rooms in her spare time. Cara touches on several of her communications guiding principles, including using data to identify communications problems and balance priorities when there are a million opportunities in the media mix. She says that working with non-profits means we have to be smart with our time and resources.

Full Episode and Show Notes

Rickesh Lakhani, Radiance Advisory

Rickesh Lakhani believes that we are all responsible for each other’s success, and that social impact organizations will do their best work when they are nurturing from within and grounded in truth and trust. He is now the Lead Consultant and Founder of Radiance Advisory. He has over 15 years of experience in the social impact sector, including serving as the Executive Director at Future Possibilities for Kids, a community-based organization serving children, and as the Director, Campaign at United Way York Region, leading an $8M annual fundraising campaign. Rickesh is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), sits on the Global Council for the Community-Centric Fundraising movement, and has volunteered with numerous causes and boards. He enjoys spending time with his family including his 3 children, camping, bike riding, cooking, and playing drums.

Full Episode and Show Notes

Joy Robson, Data for Good

Joy Robson, MBA shares a strong sense of optimism about the “power of data to serve humanity”. And, along with thousands of like-minded spirits within the global #dataforgood movement, she aspires to be a “data scientist with a conscience”. In 2012, Joy sensed a shift in the force — the movement was about to take off — and the wind beneath its wings, Open Data, was reaching a crescendo of influence. The timing was right for Joy to build something unique within Canada and with the help of countless keen and talented volunteers, the National Not-for-Profit known as Data for Good (Canada) launched and is now approaching its 10-year anniversary. Blending her technical skills with her social sector awareness allows Joy to apply Data/AI/ML — and the powerful insights they provide — against the many challenges that face the social sector.

Full Episode and Show Notes

Carolin Taubensee, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network

Carolin Taubensee is a strategic, results-oriented marketing, communication and sponsorship professional with a sharp eye and an unwavering work ethic. Currently that Executive Director of Marketing & Communications at Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, she graduated with an honours bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Manitoba and from the Executive Development Program from the University of Nevada, Reno. She has a wealth of experience in strategic marketing campaign programs, budget planning and oversight, and a knack for building strong partnerships. Carolin has spent a significant proportion of her career as the executive director of marketing and community support at Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, the director of marketing communication at MTS, and media director at Palmer Jarvis Communications. She is a collaborative senior leader who achieves excellent performance and high levels of engagement by supporting her colleagues.

Full Episode and Show Notes

Louroz Mercader, Yonge + St. Clair BIA

Louroz is an experienced city builder and communications professional with a progressive career in the public and not-for-profit sectors. He is currently the Executive Director of the Yonge + St. Clair Business Improvement Area and is focused on supporting small businesses recover from the pandemic. As an active member of the community, he is a volunteer board member for several organizations. He is also the co-founder of RISE Tribe; a Filipino youth networking, mentorship and leadership program. Louroz is a recipient of the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers awarded by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, a 2009 Diverse City Fellow with CivicAction, and is a Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum.

Full Episode and Show Notes

Rohit Mehta, DoGood Fundraising Solutions

Rohit is the Founder and President of DoGood Fundraising. A University of Toronto graduate, Rohit has been active in the non-profit sector for 18 years. He was appointed to a five-year term with the Grant Review Team of the Ontario Trillium Foundation and served a two-year term with the Grant Review Committee of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services’ Youth Opportunities Fund. Rohit reviewed and assessed over 300 grant applications and distributed over $60 Million in funding to community-based non-profits, charities, and grassroots groups. Rohit has an extensive background in grant writing, prospect research, program development, and evaluation. He is a critical thinker who challenges the status quo and believes that the charitable sector has the power to transform society and create a better world. Rohit resides in Mississauga, Ontario.

Full Episode and Show Notes

Subscribe to Growth for Good on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Daniel Francavilla

Brand Strategist, Marketing Advisor, Founder, Educator, Changemaker