WHO WE ARE
WHO WE ARE
OUR STORY
Supporting impact sector organizations to adopt enterprising approaches that strengthen communities and the social economy.
ABOUT US
Founded in 2014, we initially set out to support community-level initiatives to scale up for greater impact. We quickly found that many initiatives were met with uncertainty due to changing funding models and a lack of resources and capacity to scale.
We shifted to explore how non-profits could become more independent, resilient, and impactful. Financial independence and diversification are key to resilient organizations that are able to scale and increase impact.
OUR IMPACT
2021 was a busy year for Scale as we welcomed seven new team members, expanded our programming and initiatives, and launched Thrive Impact Fund.
Read our 2021 Impact Report to see how we supported social impact sector growth and impact.
OUR TEAM
Our team brings a wide range of impact sector expertise to support your organization at any stage of your journey
Kristi Rivait (KR) is a social entrepreneur with over ten years of executive-level experience. Kristi was the Director of Fund Development for Vision Vancouver for the 2008 municipal election. From 2010-2014, Kristi was the Executive Director of Oaklands Community Centre where she acquired real estate, started a social enterprise and doubled the organization’s revenue. In 2014, Kristi co-founded Scale Collaborative with Kristi Fairholm Mader. Kristi brings years of experience managing cross-sector partnerships, from local campaigns to national level networks.
Kristi Fairholm Mader (KFM) has always worked in the social impact sector. After returning to school to complete a business degree, Kristi began exploring social enterprise and enterprising approaches to social change and founded several social enterprise initiatives, including The Cleaning Solution. In 2014, Kristi co-founded Scale Collaborative to support the growth of the social economy sector on Vancouver Island and beyond. Within Scale’s family of organizations, KFM is the Managing Director of Thrive Impact Fund. She also is the Project Manager for the BC Social Procurement Initiative. Kristi lives in Victoria with her husband, 2 children and a very lazy husky.
Lee has worked in management and leadership roles in both public sector and non-profit environments for over 20 years. Lee also has more than 20 years of experience serving on boards of directors including 15+ years chairing non-profits. In any setting, Lee is always focused on identifying opportunities for growth and greater impact. He has deep experience with social enterprise development, social purpose conversion of community businesses, acquiring and developing social purpose real estate, and developing organizational strategies for impact.
Originally from London, UK Rob has over fifteen years of experience managing, developing and delivering programs for federal and provincial governments. He has worked in the fields of immigration, public safety and business engagement in the UK, US and Canada. Now keenly focused on building community capital in the non-profit and social enterprise sector, Rob works with local businesses, non-profits, social enterprises and government organizations to help build the resiliency and capacity required to address the issues faced by our communities today.
Emeline graduated with an MA in Regional Planning from the Institute of Political Studies in Paris, France. She has experience in the public sector where she was a Project Manager for La Caisse des Depots, supporting and financing economic, social and sustainable development. Emeline has been a member of several non-profit boards, is committed to supporting social enterprises, and focuses on building community networks for impactful projects to thrive and scale.
Jamil recently completed his Bachelor of Commerce, during which he started a student-led investment fund. Previously, Jamil has worked in public accounting and with a Victoria-based sustainable start-up. He brings skills in conducting due diligence analysis, risk analysis, impact assessments, and building tailored financial models. In his spare time, Jamil enjoys spending quality time with friends and camping.
Robyn is a communications and marketing specialist who is passionate about creating social change while supporting sustainability, resiliency and community well-being. With a background in journalism, advertising and public relations, Robyn’s passion for storytelling and desire to create positive change inspired her to put her skills to good use in the social change sector. In her spare time, Robyn can often be found crafting handmade earrings, or hiking and exploring the beauty and biodiversity of Vancouver Island.
Fernanda was born and raised in Puebla, Mexico and has lived in Canada since 2020. She has an undergraduate degree in graphic design with a specialty in editorial design and an MA in communications. Fernanda has over seven years of project management experience in the printing sector, where she sharpened the creative skills she employs as the Brand Coordinator at Scale Collaborative. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, creating digital illustrations, and finding inspiration in the beautiful British Columbian scenery.
Isabella (Bella) is a graduate of the BCIT Sustainable Business Leadership program, where she turned her passion for sustainability into tangible skills that she’s keen to put to use helping organizations incorporate social, financial and environmental sustainability into their operations. When she’s not working, she can be found hiking, dancing, or backpacking around the world. Bella is excited to be starting her career in the sustainability world exploring new methods of increasing the impacts of non-profits at Scale Collaborative.
Sarah combines a masters of business management, with 25 years in research, analysis, and process improvements in the private and public sectors. She spent seven years in the software industry, with roles in implementation, release management, product management, and senior leadership. Sarah believes people can creatively address critical challenges when given an opportunity to clearly see reality, think widely, and experiment. She brings this approach to Scale, working with BC non-profits to increase impact. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the rivers, forests, mountains, and beaches of the Comox Valley.
A skilled social policy research leader and facilitator, Mary has worked with clients across Canada to create impactful research for over 20 years. A past and present member of numerous non-profit boards, in her role with Scale Mary leads cross-disciplinary research in pursuit of the right information to help non-profit organizations achieve their visions. Mary holds an M.A. in Leadership and is passionate about operationalizing BIG ideas. When she’s not talking strategy, you’ll probably find her with her family, or on horseback in the woods.
JOIN OUR TEAM