The Most Human Organization Wins

The Most Human Organization Wins

Author: Cherry Chan June 19, 2026 Duration: 15:08

With AI shaping how we work, many nonprofit leaders are asking: what does this mean for the future?

At the OTUS Nonprofit Exchange, Cherry Chan shared a grounded perspective—starting with a simple but powerful question from her 12-year-old daughter: “If AI is doing all of this… what am I going to do?”

Her answer? We don’t have all the answers—but AI isn’t here to replace us. It’s here to change how we work.

From automating repetitive tasks to supporting proposals and communications, AI is expanding what teams can do—not replacing them. At OTUS, team members are already experimenting with AI tools to increase capacity.

But the real value of human work remains in three areas AI can’t replace: judgment, storytelling, and relationships.

In a time of uncertainty, Cherry’s message is clear: we’re not behind, and we’re not being replaced. The organizations that thrive won’t be the most technological—they’ll be the most human.


Hosted by Cherry Chan, The Unfiltered Non-Profit: Leaders Share It All pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to run a mission-driven organization. This isn't a series of polished success stories; instead, each conversation goes deep into the operational realities that leaders grapple with daily. You'll hear about budget crises that threatened to shut doors, the complexities of team dynamics under pressure, and the strategic pivots that saved programs. Chan guides these discussions with a focus on practical management and the less-glamorous, behind-the-scenes work that sustains impact. The result is a candid resource for anyone involved in the business of change, from seasoned executives to board members and aspiring founders. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining access to a private roundtable where honesty is the only policy, offering lessons that are immediately applicable. It captures the full, unfiltered journey of non-profit leadership-the setbacks, the hard-won victories, and the relentless pursuit of making a difference.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 45

The Unfiltered Non-Profit: Leaders Share It All
Podcast Episodes
Leading a Nonprofit Without Having All the Answers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:35
In this episode, we sit down with Claude-Paul Boivin to talk honestly about the path into nonprofit leadership — and what it really takes to lead well once you're there. Claude-Paul shares how his career didn't follow a…
The Hidden Risk Nonprofit Boards Keep Missing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:13
In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, our conversation with Angela Fenton, former board Chair of Pleo, went well beyond board mechanics. What really surfaced was the hidden cost of instability — not just t…
Turning $1 Into $3: How OCHF Builds Real Community Impact [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:03
This episode of The Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast features an honest, open conversation with Traci Spour-Lafrance, Executive Director of the Ottawa Community Housing Foundation — the team supporting 33,000 people across 1…
How To Build Community (and Cash Flow) Without Big Budgets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:36
In this Unfiltered Nonprofit conversation, Cherry sits down with Tara Shannon, Executive Director of the Ottawa Festival Network (OFN), which represents more than 100 festivals across arts, music, and culture. A lifelong…
How Listening Helped this CEO Unlock Major Gifts and Stronger Donors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:26
What if the secret to securing major gifts and building stronger donor relationships isn't about having the biggest database or slickest pitch—but about simply listening? In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podca…
Collaboration That Turns Competition into New Revenue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:17
In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, Cherry sits down with Vaia Dimas, Executive Director of the Almonte General Hospital–Fairview Manor Foundation. With 20 years in fundraising, Vaia shares how small tea…
Why $5 Donors Matter More Than You Think in Nonprofit Growth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:57
In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, Cherry Chan talks with Nicole Thibeault, former National Executive Director of Canadian Parents for French, about the strategies that helped her achieve nonprofit reve…
How Community Bonds Helped a Nonprofit Outbid Developers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:39
Innovative Funding from the Ottawa Community Land Trust In this episode of the Unfiltered Nonprofit Podcast, Cherry Chan speaks with Mike Bulthuis, Executive Director of the Ottawa Community Land Trust (OCLT), about how…