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Endeavour provides management consulting to enable non-profit leaders to improve organizational performance and social impact. We are a volunteer organization that serves non-profits that cannot afford professional consulting. Since 2007, Endeavour has served 31 non-profit organizations helping communities in many areas across Ontario.

Endeavour is currently accepting applications from non-profit organizations for the Fall 2010/Winter 2011 project cycle. Application deadline is July 15, 2010. Eligibility criteria and the online application are available at http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/signup/projectapp.shtml

Please forward this opportunity to organizations that would benefit from Endeavour’s service.

Executive Transitions

• Katherine Choi, Director of Project Management
• Tatjana Ljaskevic, Director of Volunteer Recruitment
• Neil Qian, Former Director of Information Technology

New Executives

• Nihar Bhagat, Director of Professional Development
• Lucy Dai, Director of Business Intelligence
• Judith Lau, Director of Evaluation
• Kendy Lau, Acting Director of Marketing
• Stas Panteleev, Director of Information Technology

Katherine Choi, Director of Project Management

Katherine joined Endeavour in Fall 2008 as Director of Volunteer Management, and is now Director of Project Management. In this new role, Katherine oversees Endeavour’s project teams as they completing their consulting engagements. Katherine is a 2009 MBA graduate from the Rotman School of Management, and currently works at Digital Cement.

Tatjana Ljaskevic, Director of Volunteer Recruitment

Tatjana joined Endeavour in Fall 2007 as a consultant, and is now Director of Volunteer Recruitment. In this new role, Tatjana manages Endeavour’s volunteer recruitment and retention. Since joining Endeavour, Tatjana has completed two projects as a consultant with The Ontario Rural Council and Dress Your Best, and also served as Acting Director of Volunteer Management. Tatjana is a 2010 civil engineering graduate from the University of Toronto.

Neil Qian, Former Director of Information Technology

We would like to thank Neil for all his contributions to Endeavour as IT Director since joining our organization in 2008. Neil’s expertise, dedication, and responsiveness to the team have been invaluable to Endeavour’s growth. We congratulate Neil on his graduation from the Rotman Commerce program and wish him all the best as he pursues new endeavours.

Nihar Bhagat, Director of Professional Development

Nihar joined Endeavour in Spring 2009 as a consultant, and now joins the Executive Team as Director of Professional Development. In this new role, Nihar manages Endeavour’s volunteer orientation and training. Since joining Endeavour, Nihar has completed two projects as a consultant with Epilepsy Halton Peel and Ecologos Institute. Nihar currently works in the Financial Strategy Group at BMO and is an economics graduate from York University.

Lucy Dai, Director of Business Intelligence

Lucy joined Endeavour in Fall 2009 as a consultant for Ecologos Institute, and now joins the Executive Team as Director of Business Intelligence. In this new role, Lucy is responsible for developing and managing a database to support executive decision-making. Lucy currently works in finance at Maple Leaf Foods, and is a commerce graduate from the Sauder Business School at UBC.

Judith Lau, Director of Evaluation

Judith Lau joins the Executive Team as Director of Evaluation. In this new role, Judith is responsible for staying in touch with clients and volunteers to evaluate the results of Endeavour’s consulting engagements. Judith currently works in management consulting at ZS Associates and is a graduate of the engineering science program at the University of Toronto.

Kendy Lau, Acting Director of Marketing

Kendy, who joined Endeavour in Fall 2009 as a consultant for Ecologos Institute, joins the Executive Team as Acting Director of Marketing while Sara Maki completes her International MBA work term abroad. Kendy currently works in corporate strategy at Deloitte Consulting and is an Ivey HBA graduate.

Stas Panteleev, Director of Information Technology

Stas joined Endeavour in Winter 2010 as Website Development Specialist, and now joins the Executive Team as IT Director. Stas is a 2010 commerce graduate from the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. His experience includes work in software development and in the Strategic Planning and Governance Division of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) Branch of the federal government.

Endeavour is pleased to announce its community partnership with the North American Association of Asian Professionals (NAAAP) Toronto. NAAAP Toronto is a non-profit, volunteered-based association that inspires leadership and career advancement through professional development and workplace diversity. The organization has a long standing commitment to the community, with a focus on grass root efforts (charitable fund raising and volunteering), professional development (mentorship and workshops), and civic leadership (partnering with community organizations). Learn more about NAAAP Toronto at www.naaaptoronto.org

Date and Time: Thursday, July 22, 2010 from 6:30-10PM

Venue: SHAMBA Space, 48 Yonge Street, Toronto

Endeavour’s Summer Networking Night on July 22nd promises to be a fun and educational evening on a beautiful rooftop patio in the heart of downtown Toronto.

If you’re interested in networking with professionals from the non-profit sector, consulting and industry, and learning more about social change and how you can get involved, don’t miss this event!

More details coming soon. Subscribe to Endeavour’s mailing list to stay up-to-date.

About the Client

Established in 1978, Working Skills Centre (WSC) is a charitable organization empowering immigrants, primarily women, to achieve self-sufficiency. WSC prepares its clients to fully participate in Canadian society by providing education, work experience, and settlement services that ultimately lead to employment. To date, WSC has a success rate of 70% for graduates from its skills training programs to obtaining employment.

About the Consulting Engagement

WSC engaged Endeavour to radically re-think their skills training model to bring it on par with the current labour market. A strong current state analysis and a well-developed strategy for the future were required so WSC could continue their operations in a sustainable manner.

Continue reading the case »

“The assessment and recommendations provided by Endeavour’s knowledgeable consulting team were especially useful during the agency’s 2009-2010 strategic planning process.”

– Mandy Thomson, President, and Honey Crossley, Executive Director of Working Skills Centre (WSC)

Director, Knowledge Management, Endeavour

Read Endeavour’s Letter to the Editor (re: “Using knowledge brokering to improve business processes,” McKinsey Quarterly, January 2010) and the authors’ reply to Endeavour at mckinseyquarterly.com or the McKinsey Quarterly Facebook fan page

On May 15th, Endeavour held a midterm review session for Spring/Summer 2010 consulting teams working with The 411 Initiative for Change (411), Alli’s Journey, The Always Nubian, Always Scarborough Association (A.N.A.S.A.) Collective, Canadian Civil Liberties Education Trust (CCLET), International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT), Motions Youth and Community Centre (MY.CC), Sky’s the Limit (STL) Youth Organization, and Women’s Healthy Environments Network (WHEN).

The teams presented their progress and engaged advisors and fellow consulting teams in discussion to receive feedback for moving forward in their engagements.

Volunteers also had the opportunity to network with members of other teams to brainstorm suggestions for improvement to the Endeavour Executive and future consulting teams.

Check out the event photos at http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/photos/album.php?id=5478009067185260737

Photo credits: Kate O’ Connor

HR SIG - The 50 Best Companies – More than Recognition, June 15, 2010

Date and Time: June 15, 2010, 5:30 PM–7:30 PM
Venue: Ted Rogers School of Management - Ryerson University
575 Bay Street (Entrance at 55 Dundas Street West) (SE corner of Bay & Dundas)
Room: Student Lounge - 7th Floor

CMC-Canada, an Endeavour partner, will be hosting a presentation from one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies, Trow Global. Register by June 11th to learn how Trow Global has achieved distinction and HR impact, specifically in managing people in times of vast organizational change, leadership alignment, and retaining key talent and integration.

For details, visit http://www.cmc-canada.ca/event_details.cfm?Portal_ID=64&Event_ID=206

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, June 17–19, 2010

Date and Time: June 17–19, 2010; 8:00 PM
Location: Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, 165 Front St. E.

The Fly By Night Theatre, a former Endeavour client, invites you to the first play of its 2010 season, “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead”, by Bert V. Royal. Hailed by critics and audiences since its New York premiere, “Dog Sees God” is an unauthorized parody about the characters from the Peanuts comic strip during their teenage years.

For details, visit http://www.wix.com/fbntheatre/flybynighttheatre or http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121790664506516

‘Music From Scratch’ Workshop, July 12–17, 2010

Date: July 12–17, 2010

Contact Contemporary Music, a former Endeavour client, and the University Settlement Music & Arts School invite youth between the ages 15 and 21 to participate in a FREE week-long workshop to create music from scratch. This is an exciting opportunity to create and experiment with sound, and learn about the creative process and contemporary Canadian music.

For details, visit http://www.contactcontemporarymusic.ca/

Live Green Toronto Festival, August 28, 2010

Date & Time: August 18, 2010; 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Location: Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto (Yonge St. and Dundas St.)

The Women’s Healthy Environment Network (WHEN), an Endeavour client, and the City of Toronto invite you to the Live Green Toronto Festival. Come down to the Yonge-Dundas Square on August 28th to find hundreds of green products and services, live music and local foods, and to learn about what’s new with WHEN.

For details, visit http://www.womenshealthyenvironments.ca/node/337

‘Suitable Impressions’ Program

Windfall, a former Endeavour client, has announced the launch of their newest program, Suitable Impressions, in partnership with Ontario Works. The full-day, hands-on workshop will provide job seekers with clothing, personal care items, and first-impression training to enhance their self-esteem and dignity.

For details, visit http://www.windfallbasics.com/