The problem
Our preliminary study on the social sector and community development in Canada and worldwide revealed that many people are aware of the need to play positive roles in community development and promoting regenerative socioeconomic development. Many are beaming with passion and ideas for social change but lack the foundational knowledge to achieve their desires. They often lack the planning and management skills, analytical tools and guidance to create effective strategies and sustainable models for social change initiatives. According to Innovation, Science & Economic Development Canada statistics, thousands of businesses exit the marketplace annually in Canada. Seven thousand small businesses go bankrupt annually, and 30% don’t last five years. These statistics are even worse for social enterprises, and failure has been linked to poor planning.
Existing solutions are often delivered through expensive coaching and consulting services, which seek already viable organizations and leaders with track records that most starters lack. Impact Toolbox is filling this gap by democratizing learning opportunities and empowering people without relevant experiences with the skills and tools needed to transform their social change ideas and passion into viable ventures that generate revenue and employment opportunities while addressing critical socioeconomic challenges in their communities. We strive to put as many ordinary citizens as possible at the forefront of regenerative and sustainable socioeconomic development.
Our theory of change
Our alignment with the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda
Impact Toolbox directly contributes to goal 4, targets 4.3, 4.4 and 4.7, and by extension, goals 1, 2, 3, 10, 13 and especially goal 8.
Our 2030 Aspirations
- Offer social change leadership and entrepreneurship training workshops and support for managing social change initiatives to empower at least 10,000 people with the capabilities they need to lead sustainable social change.
- Help launch 500 social ventures and non-profit organizations addressing significant community problems and can create employment opportunities and generate substantial revenue
- Meaningfully engage 200 post-secondary school students and recent graduates across Canada in our work to provide them with the opportunity to gain work experience and acquire leadership and social entrepreneurial skills.
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Provide social entrepreneurship insights, tools, and training materials that will be accessible to an estimated 170,000 charitable and public benefit organizations and 25,000 social enterprises across Canada (Statistics Canada, 2021).
Financial Sustainability
We strive to be a financially sustainable mission-first organization by monetizing some mission-oriented activities to offer and sustain our core programs provided at no cost. 