By Fatima Zaidi, Founder & CEO of Quill & CoHost, Co-Chair of Tech+Biz4SickKids, a group of innovators, changemakers, and entrepreneurs who believe in the future of healthcare for the next generation, on a mission to raise funds to support Precision Child Health at SickKids to diagnose faster, treat smarter, and predict better.

After a year of unprecedented financial uncertainty, marked by shifting tariffs, record inflation, and even rising mortgage delinquencies, Canadian business leaders face a holiday season that usually calls for charitable giving. To help navigate this pressure, five luminaries share expert strategies and benefits for giving back without compromising your bottom line.

Enhance Leadership Credibility and Influence, Globally and Locally

Giving back is a clear message of who you are and the values you espouse. Your values align with those of your team, customers, and community. Jordan Gnat, Founder and Managing Partner at Boardwalk Capital, highlights the importance of leading by example. “One tenet that I subscribe to is that of doing well leading to doing good. Success is not achieved “in spite” of the odds; it is achieved because of the opportunities, and it is incumbent on leaders to recognize that, embrace, and also act on it. You may be a global organization, but you are a local everywhere you work or travel, supporting locally and being a citizen in each of those places matters,” says Gnat.

Reinforce Organizational Purpose and Strategy

Walied Soliman, Chair at Norton Rose Fulbright, emphasizes that a commitment to philanthropy enhances an organization’s clarity of purpose during challenging economic periods. “When businesses continue to invest in causes that strengthen their communities, they build trust, resilience, and long-term loyalty that outlast any market cycle,” says Soliman. “Purpose-driven giving isn’t a luxury in difficult times – it’s a strategic anchor that sustains both the organization and the people it serves.”

Build Stronger Community Relationships

David Jamieson, Partner at Osler, says philanthropy helps organizations stay true to their values, motivate their teams, and grow stronger ties to their communities. “At Osler, we see firsthand that when leaders support transformational organizations such as the SickKids Foundation, it allows us to shape meaningful change and a brighter, healthier future,” says Jamieson.

Strengthen Employee Engagement and Retention

Michael Medline, Former President and CEO of Empire Company Limited, says the most powerful corporate philanthropy efforts bring diverse voices together, like a table where each seat is filled with a different perspective. “Rallying around a cause is a powerful connector. And it is arguably even more impactful during difficult times as it brings people together,” says Medline. He continues, “Giving back is essential for a company’s culture – people want to work somewhere that cares. When your fellow teammates feel like they are making a real and lasting difference – when they can bring to life their purpose and values outside of business priorities – that’s when culture really comes to life.”

Bridge the Gap with Different Sectors 

Michelle Sabourin, Director, Capital Solutions at TD Innovation Partners (TDIP), argues that doing charitable work can bridge the tech and innovation sectors with philanthropic ecosystems. She explains, “Being philanthropically driven strengthens not only our organizations, but our sense of purpose as leaders. Working with Tech+BizForSickKids through TD Innovation Partners has shown me firsthand how embedding giving into your business creates deeper community connection and real impact for those who need it most.”

Make Philanthropy a Cornerstone of Your Culture

In my experience, most founders start a business with the intention of solving a problem and, in some small way, changing the world. In my case, I set out not only to build a profitable company, but to create one grounded in strong values and a genuine commitment to giving back. At my company, Quill, many of our employees feel more connected to the business when they see that their work is tied to something bigger than the bottom line. Philanthropy isn’t an afterthought for us; it’s woven into our DNA and company culture.

Charitable initiatives are more than just a fun bonding exercise; they’re a way for us to show up for our community and feel like we’re doing our part to make a difference. When leaders intentionally make giving a core part of company culture, they create everyday opportunities for employees to make philanthropic choices and feel good about the impact they’re having through their work. In our experience, this has had a measurable effect: we’ve seen stronger retention, higher job satisfaction, and a team that feels meaningfully invested in the mission of the company.