5 Richmond-based nonprofits join Sage’s Grow Program incubator

Sage Foundation ran the incubator as a pilot program last year.

Credit: fauxels. Pexels

Sage Foundation ran the incubator as a pilot program last year

There’s no denying that nonprofit organizations play a vital role in addressing social issues around the world. The sector contributes $6.7 billion to B.C.’s economy, but factors like funding, resource constraints, regulatory compliance and changing community needs often hinder their ability to achieve their goals. 

To lend support, Richmond-based accounting and financial management software company Sage just announced a Grow Program incubator for nonprofit organizations in Canada. Hosted by its charity arm Sage Foundation, the incubator will offer CEOs and executives of nonprofits a series of business development sessions and the opportunity to work closely with Sage mentors. The foundation—which has raised a total of US$3 million to support global nonprofit efforts so far—ran the incubator as a successful pilot program last year. 

Five nonprofits from Richmond made this year’s cohort: 

  1. Tri-Cities Friends of Refugees 
  2. Richmond Food Bank 
  3. Big Brother Big Sisters of Langley 
  4. Vancouver Food Runners 
  5. Earthwise Society 

“Vancouver Food Runners is scaling quickly, and it’s incredible to have the support of business leaders through the Sage Foundation to help us develop strategies to expand our food recovery work,” said Michelle Reining, executive director of Vancouver Food Runners, in a release. “One of the things we would like to achieve by the end is an organizational ‘roadmap’ for the next 3-5 years to scale our program effectively and efficiently, with consideration given to volunteers, partners, fundraising, and advocacy.”