The Dollar A Day Foundation is both a charity and funder that supports grassroots mental health and addictions organizations across Canada. In this episode, Executive Director Heather Spratt explains the foundation’s unusual model—recurring donations pooled and granted out, with 100% of individual gifts going to grantees—and its trust-based approach that lets organizations decide how to use funds.

We discuss the origin story of the “dollar a day” idea (featuring Canadian music legend Alan Doyle of Great Big Sea), how an overemphasis on accountability can create barriers, and how stories help people see the impact their support is making.

00:00 Introduction

02:07 Meet Heather Spratt

02:55 A Dollar A Day Foundation’s Mission and Origin Story

06:44 Their Trust-Based Funding Model

12:13 Lean and  ...