Partners
FreeForm is a program of World Vision, Canadian Programs in partnership with:
Ryder Consulting
Bridgeway Foundation
Catalyst Foundation
Tyndale University College & Seminary
World Vision
World Vision Canadian Programs develops national strategies that empower community-based organizations to end poverty in their circles of influence. Since 2006 World Vision Canadian Programs has been working with over 50 Christian community-based organizations across Canada. Part of the partnership agreement involves an organizational assessment. These organizations demonstrate great integrity, passion and an unswerving commitment to their communities. We found however, a lack of clarity concerning the best practices of non-profit management. With further investigation, we discovered that most of the senior leadership of these organizations have grown into their positions without the benefit of professional development focused on the skills and tools of non-profit leadership.
In October 2007 World Vision Canadian Programs was encouraged to submit a grant application to the Bridgeway Foundation to launch an organizational capacity-building program that would equip leadership teams of small to medium-sized Christian non-profit organizations to build their capacity to serve the poor and marginalized in our nation.
World Vision Canadian Programs with financial contribution from the Bridgeway Foundation and participants will fund the project. In conjunction with Ryder Consulting, World Vision Canadian Programs is also responsible for the development of the FreeForm program and delivering it with Canadian Christian non-profit community-based organizations, and ultimately with the international community.
Ryder Consulting
Janis Ryder, President of Ryder Consulting, has been working with corporate, public and non-profit sector organizations in strategic planning and leadership development since 2005, and is an executive coach to several senior leaders of Christian non-profit organizations.
She has been consulting with World Vision Canadian Programs for over two years, and will serve as Program Director of FreeForm.
Bridgeway Foundation
The Bridgeway Foundation collaborates with innovators to grow healthy and productive non-profit organizations, and to help them engage in creative transformational projects both within Canada and the developing world.
In early December 2007, Bridgeway Foundation announced a generous grant to World Vision Canadian Programs to support to development and delivery of FreeForm over the next 3 years. This amount will be matched by World Vision Canada. Representatives from Bridgeway will serve on a FreeForm Advisory Team.
Catalyst Foundation
Catalyst Foundation is committed to helping compelling leaders as their dreams become action and lives are transformed.
Through the awarding of grants and scholarships, mentoring of developing leaders, and providing leadership training to schools and nonprofit groups they seek to advance leadership that is creative, committed, compatible and compelling.
In October 2008, Catalyst Foundation gifted FreeForm with a generous grant to provide leadership teams with scholarships to participate in the FreeForm program.
Tyndale University College & Seminary
Tyndale is a trans-denominational, evangelical university college and seminary that prepares leaders for the ministry, marketplace and global mission of the church. The Centre for Leadership was founded in 2004 as a ministry of Tyndale University College & Seminary. The Centre is committed to equipping Christian leaders, assisting organizations to develop effective strategies for training leaders, and supporting a rising generation of leaders. Its mission is to foster the development of Canadian Christians leaders in church contexts and Christian organizations, as well as in the marketplace, public sector and professions.
In sharing the goals and expected outcomes of FreeForm with Dr. Paul Magnus, Chair of Tyndale’s Centre for Leadership, he expressed interest in collaboration. With further discussion, it was agreed that Tyndale’s Leadership Centre could add value to FreeForm by providing subject expertise as the program is shaped and delivered; facilitation and/or presentation resources, based on the curriculum and participants’ needs; and certification for participants who successfully complete the program. Representatives from Tyndales’ Centre for Leadership will also serve on a FreeForm Advisory Team.
The combined passion, strengths and expertise of these partners will have a tremendous impact on the effective work of Christian community-based organizations in Canada.
