Lately, I’ve been watching a wave of nationalism sweep through nonprofit conversations in Canada, especially around AFP ICON 2025. I understand where the frustration is coming from. The current political climate in the U.S. is deeply unsettling, impacting everything from trade to human rights. People are scared, angry, and fed up. I get it.

So, when I see respected voices calling for AFP Canada to pull out of the U.S. conference circuit entirely, I understand the instinct. It feels like a principled stand. But here’s the thing: retreating into our national borders isn’t going to get us where we need to go.

We need more community. Not less. More connection. Not more silos.

Where we are now

It’s true. We are navigating difficult times. The U.S. administration is making decisions that are hurting both Americans and their allies. Canadians are feeling the sting of hostile rhetoric and trade war dynamics. And yes, the nonprofit sector is caught in the crossfire.
But here’s what’s also true: our sector—especially fundraisers, organizers, and community leaders—has never been more critical. We are the ones holding the line on justice, equity and care.

And we can’t do that work in isolation.

As I’ve said before, "Community doesn’t start at scale. It starts with two people showing up for each other." That’s just as true across borders as it is in our backyards.

What I’m worried about

When we frame building up the Canadian nonprofit sector as something that needs to happen instead of engaging with international peers, we risk cutting ourselves off from exactly the kind of collaboration that makes our work stronger.

Yes, we absolutely need to invest in Canadian leadership, Canadian learning spaces, and Canadian solutions. But that doesn’t mean we have to isolate ourselves in the process.

The nonprofit sector holds so much collective power—but we’re not going to realize that power if we silo it by country. The challenges we’re facing—climate change, systemic inequality, burnout, broken funding systems—don’t stop at the border. Our solutions shouldn’t either.

We don’t get stronger by narrowing our focus to just “us.” We get stronger by building relationships across regions, perspectives, and lived experiences.

An invitation to build community

So, what do we do instead? How do we build strength and solidarity without losing our footing?

Here’s what I’m seeing, and what I’d love to see more of:

1. Strengthen Canadian connections without isolation.
   ○ Let’s create more spaces where Canadians can gather, vent, collaborate, and grow. But let’s keep those spaces open to learning from, and connecting with, others globally.
2. Push for new models of convening.
   ○ What if AFP Global and other institutions facilitated more cross-border conversations that aren’t reliant on travel? More co-created virtual spaces, more grassroots-led meetups, more international peer learning?
3. Build resilience through relationships.
   ○ I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it: "Community is the strategy." We need to create opportunities for depth, not just professional development. If we want missions to become movements, we need to be deeply connected to one another.
4. Say no to fear-based nationalism.
   ○ There are real, valid reasons to critique U.S. policy. But let’s not turn that critique into a wall. We don’t win by cutting off connection. We win by building a strong, collaborative nonprofit community that stretches across borders.

Conferences aren’t for everyone—and that’s okay

A large-scale conference isn’t the only place to gather, and it’s absolutely okay if it’s not for you. There are other spaces—many of them—where nonprofit professionals are coming together in ways that feel more aligned, more community-focused, and more global in perspective.

If you’re looking for alternatives that emphasize connection and collaboration, here are a few to explore:

• CatalystNow – A global movement of social change innovators building collaborative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.
• AADO Network (African American Development Officers Network) – Supporting the advancement of fundraisers of color while fostering community, learning, and visibility across borders.
• The Nonprofit Hive – Built intentionally for cross-border, peer-to-peer connection. No travel required, just real conversations with fellow nonprofiteers from all over.
• Resource Alliance (UK-based) – Their international gatherings and content are deeply rooted in equity and movement-building.

And closer to home:

• Imagine Canada – A national voice for charities and nonprofits, offering a range of research, convening spaces, and sector-wide initiatives to strengthen the Canadian nonprofit landscape.
• CAGP (Canadian Association of Gift Planners) – Deeply rooted in the Canadian context but always looking to evolve.

It’s not about one perfect space. It’s about finding (or creating!) the ones that center the kind of community we want to see.

Final thoughts

If you’re a Canadian fundraiser wondering where you fit in this moment—I see you.

You’re tired. You want to do good work. You want to feel safe and supported while doing it.

But I believe we can do that together. With our U.S. peers. With international allies. With humility, curiosity, and care.

We don’t need to wait for institutions to get it right. We can build the kind of community we want to see, right now. One conversation at a time. One collaboration at a time. Because the future of this sector? It’s not in nationalism. It’s in us. All of us.

Let’s move from missions to movement. Together.

Tasha Van Vlack is a community strategist and the founder of The Nonprofit Hive, where she builds one-to-one connections between nonprofit professionals for peer learning and support. She’s also the creator of Community Hives, a tool helping associations and networks scale meaningful member engagement. As Chief Engagement Officer at Ember2Action, Tasha amplifies the role of everyday changemakers in peer-to-peer fundraising and grassroots campaigns. Across all her work, she’s focused on making connection easy, impactful, and human.