Introduction

As President and CBO (Chief Bargain Officer) of the Bargains Group, Jody Steinhauer has mobilized her award-winning discount wholesale and promotional products company to revolutionize the business landscape.

As a Canadian female entrepreneur, Jody uses her network of resources and leveraged buying power to aid every company and not-for-profit agency that she touches to maximize their buying dollar. Since 1988, Jody has grown Bargains Group from her apartment to a multi-million-dollar-a-year business. She is also often sought out for speaking engagements due to her successful entrepreneurial business experience, and has been featured in various media outlets, and is an official Huffington Post blogger.

Pioneering her belief of “giving back makes good business sense”, Jody is a tireless not-for-profit advocate, and the founder of the national charity, Engage and Change, and its two annual initiatives, Project Winter Survival and Project Water. Through these projects, Engage and Change helps thousands of homeless throughout Toronto and the surrounding area survive the extreme weather conditions while engaging and enabling citizens of all ages to donate their time to their local community through sponsored group engagement events.

Jody’s business has expanded to include a social enterprise wing: Kits for a Cause. With a focus on social impact, Jody has built a model for companies to support their local community. Kits for a Cause provides turn-key solutions for businesses to engage their employees while solving local community services’ needs for resources. Her model of “brokering goodness” has worked with some of the top industry leaders in both the corporate and philanthropic spheres.

Summary

In this inspiring episode of the Cause Leadership Podcast, host David Hutchinson sits down with social entrepreneur Jody Steinhauer, founder of The Bargains Group and Engage and Change. Jody shares her remarkable journey of building a for-profit, for-purpose business that supports countless charitable organizations and communities across Canada.

Together, David and Jody explore the real-world challenges of leading in the social impact space—from navigating post-COVID funding gaps to the importance of resilience and authenticity in leadership. Jody also introduces her groundbreaking initiative, Kits For A Cause, which creatively connects corporations with frontline charities to deliver real, tangible help to those in need.

Tune in to learn how purpose-driven leadership, meaningful collaboration, and bold storytelling can drive lasting change—and why encouragement and recognition matter more than ever for those leading the charge.

Whether you're a nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, or changemaker, this episode offers invaluable insights on how to lead with heart—and make a difference.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jody Steinhauer and Her Work

03:02 Navigating Leadership and Resilience

05:51 The Bargains Group: A Purpose-Driven Business

08:54 Engage and Change: A Charity with Impact

11:52 Building a Purposeful Team

14:41 Connecting Corporations and Charities

17:40 Stories of Impact and Learning

20:25 Encouraging Leaders in Challenging Times

Connecting with Jody:

https://www.bargainsgroup.com/

https://kitsforacause.com/

https://engageandchange.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodysteinhauer/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bargains-group/

Introduction

Michael Braithwaite has over 30 years of experience creating innovative solutions to better support vulnerable people. Michael joined Blue Door in March of 2019 as CEO and has since helped launch Blue Door’s first employment social enterprise called Construct, three supportive housing programs including the first safe space for 2SLGBTQ+ youth in York Region, a national housing and homelessness podcast, a merger with Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold, and is currently executing a Solutions Lab in collaboration with SHS Consulting and Habitat for Humanity to explore the journey from homelessness to homeownership.

Previously Michael worked at Raising the Roof and 360kids in York Region. As CEO of the national organization Raising the Roof, Michael launched Reside, a program to transform underutilized properties into affordable housing by engaging the social enterprise Building Up.

As Executive Director at 360kids, Michael lead the development of several innovative and collaborative initiatives including the development of the new Youth Hub, an Anti-Human Trafficking Program, the first Nightstop Housing Program in Canada, and in partnership with the York Region District School Board developed iGrad a classroom-based program whereby a teacher uses an e-learning platform to help youth complete high school.

Summary

In this episode of the Cause Leadership Podcast, Dave Hutchinson interviews Michael Braithwaite, the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Door, an organization focused on addressing homelessness and related issues in the North Toronto area. They discuss the challenges and uncertainties faced by nonprofit leaders, the importance of mentorship and governance, and the need for effective succession planning. Michael shares insights on investing in people, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the qualities that make effective leaders. The conversation also highlights Blue Door's innovative programs aimed at tackling homelessness and engaging communities in the trades, as well as the importance of long-term solutions to social issues.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Michael Braithwaite and Blue Door

03:03 Navigating Uncertainty in Nonprofit Leadership

06:22 Mentorship and Support for Emerging Leaders

09:00 The Importance of Succession Planning

12:13 Investing in People and Professional Growth

15:15 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Leadership

18:09 Qualities of Effective Leaders

21:08 Understanding Blue Door's Mission and Impact

28:09 Addressing Homelessness: Long-Term Solutions

30:12 The Importance of Skilled Trades

35:24 Success Stories in the Construct Program

38:51 Supporting Blue Door: How to Get Involved

41:50 Innovative Fundraising and Community Engagement

Connecting with Michael:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-braithwaite-cihcm-76280b34?trk=feed_main-feed-card_feed-actor-image

www.bluedoor.ca

Summary:

Hosted on March 27, 2025, the purpose of The Charity Leader Summit was to provide charity leaders with examples of the best mindsets for overcoming leadership challenges.

At Cause leadership, we have helped 100s of charities find their next senior leader, and we have learned firsthand how the right leadership mindsets help shape the strongest team cultures and dynamic.

In this episode, Dave Hutchinson speaks with David Kay, Managing Partner of ProVenture Advisors on the topic of Mission-Driven Thinking – Leading with a relentless focus on impact.

In this conversation, David Kay, discusses the complexities of impact in the charitable sector, emphasizing the dual focus on delivering social needs and satisfying funders. He highlights the importance of strategic direction centered on impact, the challenges of measuring and communicating that impact, and the necessity of crisis management in maintaining public perception. David advocates for a relentless focus on impact and radical transparency for charity CEOs to navigate the evolving landscape of nonprofit work.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to ProVenture Advisors

03:11 Understanding Impact in Charities

06:24 The Complexity of Strategy and Impact

09:34 Challenges in Measuring Impact

12:11 Managing Crisis and Public Perception

17:11 Insights for Charity CEOs

Summary:

Hosted on March 27, 2025, the purpose of The Charity Leader Summit was to provide charity leaders with examples of the best mindsets for overcoming leadership challenges.

At Cause leadership, we have helped 100s of charities find their next senior leader, and we have learned firsthand how the right leadership mindsets help shape the strongest team cultures and dynamic.

In this episode, Dave Hutchinson speaks with Dave Prowten, Former CEO of Junior Diabetes Research Foundation Canada on the topic of Legacy & Succession – Building a leadership pipeline for the future.

In this conversation, Dave Prowten shares his experiences as the former CEO of JDRF, discussing the importance of leadership development, succession planning, and building trust within an organization. Having a strong team is critical to the success today and tomorrow. He reflects on his decade-long journey at JDRF, emphasizing the significance of nurturing emerging leaders and the processes involved in transitioning leadership roles. Dave also highlights the feedback received post-transition and offers insights on fostering trust between board members and organizational leaders.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to JDRF and Leadership Journey

03:09 Developing Emerging Leaders

06:13 Succession Planning Insights

09:00 Transitioning Leadership

12:17 Building Trust in Leadership

Summary:

Hosted on March 27, 2025, the purpose of The Charity Leader Summit was to provide charity leaders with examples of the best mindsets for overcoming leadership challenges.

At Cause leadership, we have helped 100s of charities find their next senior leader, and we have learned firsthand how the right leadership mindsets help shape the strongest team cultures and dynamic.

In this episode, Dave Hutchinson speaks with Heather Janes, CEO of Christie Gardens Apartments & Care Community on the topic of Partnership & Influence - Expanding impact through collaboration without losing mission focus.

In this conversation, Heather discusses the mission of empowering elders to live well, the importance of partnerships, particularly Christie Gardens’ partnership with the University of Toronto, and the challenges and innovations in elder care leadership post-COVID. Effective leadership in elder care requires adaptability and boldness. She emphasizes the need for advocacy against ageism and the value of intergenerational connections.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Christie Gardens and Elder Care

02:52 Empowering Elders: The Mission of Christie Gardens

05:46 Innovative Partnerships: Collaborating with U of T

07:45 The Impact of COVID-19 on Elder Care Leadership

Connecting with Heather:

https://www.christiegardens.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-janes22/

Summary:

Hosted on March 27, 2025, the purpose of The Charity Leader Summit was to provide charity leaders with examples of the best mindsets for overcoming leadership challenges.

At Cause leadership, we have helped 100s of charities find their next senior leader, and we have learned firsthand how the right leadership mindsets help shape the strongest team cultures and dynamic.

In this episode, Dave Hutchinson speaks with Kimberley Hanson, CEO of Health Partners on the topic of Partnership & Influence - Expanding impact through collaboration without losing mission focus.

In this conversation, Kimberley shares her diverse career journey from financial services to leading Health Partners, a collaborative of national health charities. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration and partnerships in the charitable sector, especially in light of changing donor demographics and the challenges faced by leaders in the non-profit space. Partnerships are essential for resource stretching in charities. Kimberley discusses the need for innovation and adaptation to engage new generations of donors while maintaining a focus on collective goals and mutual support among member organizations.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Kimberley Hanson and Her Career Journey

05:45 The Role of Health Partners in Charitable Collaboration

10:47 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Philanthropy

14:18 The Future of Mergers and Collaborations in the Nonprofit Sector

15:39 Growth and New Partnerships at Health Partners

Connecting with Kimberley:

https://healthpartners.ca/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthpartners-partenairesante/posts/?feedView=all

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberley-hanson-a7627420/

Summary:

Hosted on March 27, 2025, the purpose of The Charity Leader Summit was to provide charity leaders with examples of the best mindsets for overcoming leadership challenges.

At Cause leadership, we have helped 100s of charities find their next senior leader, and we have learned firsthand how the right leadership mindsets help shape the strongest team cultures and dynamic.

In this episode, Dave Hutchinson speaks with Meghan Nicholls, CEO of Food Banks Mississauga on the topic of Financial Stewardship – Navigating funding and sustainability wisely.

In this conversation, Meghan discusses the challenges faced by food banks in the context of rising food insecurity in Canada. She shares insights on leadership, financial stewardship, the importance of community support, and the role of government in addressing the root causes of food insecurity. The conversation highlights the need for authentic communication with boards, the mental health challenges faced by nonprofit leaders, and the potential for mergers and collaborations in the nonprofit sector to enhance sustainability.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Foodbanks Mississauga and Leadership Journey

02:15 Challenges of Leading a Food Bank

05:11 Financial Sustainability and Fundraising Strategies

07:52 Mental Health and Support Systems for Nonprofit Leaders

09:42 Advice for Other CEOs in the Nonprofit Sector

11:21 Future of Food Banks: Mergers and Collaborations

14:29 The Role of Government in Food Security

17:48 Current State of Food Banks and Future Concerns

Hosted on March 27, 2025, the purpose of The Charity Leader Summit was to provide charity leaders with examples of the best mindsets for overcoming leadership challenges.

At Cause leadership, we have helped 100s of charities find their next senior leader, and we have learned firsthand how the right leadership mindsets help shape the strongest team cultures and dynamic.

In this episode, Dave Hutchinson speaks with Fred Witteveen, CEO of Children Believe on the topic of Adaptive Resilience – Thriving through change and leading organizational change.

In this conversation, Fred discusses the significant changes and challenges faced by the organization, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He shares insights on navigating organizational change, adapting culture, and the importance of financial resilience through diversification of funding sources. Fred highlights that embracing uncertainty requires recognizing opportunities amidst challenges and can lead to innovative solutions. He also emphasizes the need for strong leadership, celebrating wins, and fostering a collaborative environment to thrive in uncertain times.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Fred Witteveen and Children Believe
02:08 Navigating Change and Uncertainty
05:45 Adapting Organizational Culture
09:18 Financial Resilience and Diversification
12:47 Leadership Insights and Future Directions