WHO WE ARE
WHO WE ARE
OUR STORY
We support leaders, organizations, and public institutions to incorporate enterprising and impactful approaches to strengthen local 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 team has a track record of entrepreneurial thinking and doing, and of strengthening the organizations who have worked with us.
OUR TEAM
Kristi Rivait is a social entrepreneur who brings 10+ years executive level experience. Kristi was the Director of Fund Development for Vision Vancouver before the 2008 elections where she learnt what it takes to build the capacity necessary to scale. From 2010-2014, Kristi was the Executive Director of Oaklands Community Centre where she increased staff salaries by 25%, purchased real estate, started a successful social enterprise and doubled the organization’s budget. Then she co-founded Scale. Kristi believes social change organizations must diversify their operational budgets to be effective and she coaches leaders on how best to accomplish this. Kristi brings years of experience project managing cross sector partnerships to reach common goals, from local campaigns to national level networks.
Kristi Fairholm Mader (KFM) has always worked in the non-profit sector, starting as a service provider and advocate. In 2001, Kristi returned to school for a business degree and started exploring social enterprise and enterprising approaches to social change. Kristi founded and managed several social enterprise initiatives in Vancouver, including The Cleaning Solution. Since moving to Vancouver Island in 2011, Kristi has been supporting the growth of the social economy sector through initiatives such as seCatalyst, Thriving Non Profits and British Columbia Social Procurement Initiative. Kristi is an RSF Integrated Capital Alumni, which helped expand Scale’s exploration into social finance and impact investing. Scale’s Thrive Impact Fund was part of McConnell Foundation’s Solutions Finance Accelerator and launched in June 2021.
Lee has worked in management and leadership roles in both public sector and non-profit environments over the past 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 nonprofit and social enterprise sector, Rob works with local businesses, nonprofits, 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 of Paris, France and has experience in project management in the public sector. She has been an investor in social finance and a member of non-profit boards. Emeline is committed to social enterprises support and focuses on building community networks for impactful projects to thrive and scale.
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.
Isabella (Bella) has lived in London (Ontario and UK), New York, and Banff National Park, but she calls Vancouver home. She is a recent graduate of BCIT’s 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.
As a graduate of the Community Economic and Social Development program at Algoma University and the Community Worker – Outreach and Development program at Sheridan College, Holly is a passionate community worker with a keen interest in asset-based community development. She has over 5 years of experience working in the non-profit sector for organizations like Community Futures and Habitat for Humanity where she developed administrative skills specific to non-profit needs. Holly was born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area but spent several years travelling Canada before permanently relocating to Vancouver Island in 2021 where she now lives, works and plays. In her spare time she can be found walking her favorite neighborhoods with her senior dog, biking around Victoria, or camping in the forests of Vancouver Island.
Fernanda graduated with a graphic design degree specializing in editorial design from Anahuac University in Mexico, her home country. Now she is pursuing her MA in Intercultural and International Communication at Royal Roads University in Victoria. She has seven years of project management experience in the printing sector, where she discovered her administrative and organizational skills that are now put into good use as the Program Assistant at Scale. In her spare time, she enjoys making digital illustrations, painting, and finding inspiration in the beautiful British Columbian scenery.
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