Category: wmckissock

Ian Nairn / April 30, 2026

As the global fuel market becomes increasingly unstable, many nonprofits that rely on fuel for their programming may be struggling to stretch their funding to match rising prices.  

Communities rely on nonprofit fuel usage 

Nonprofit fuel usage may not be at the top of donors’ minds, but it’s a critical expense to many organizations and their programming. Different missions that rely on fuel usage include: 

• Food banks and meal delivery programs 
• Seniors’ programs 
• Cancer support organizations, and comparable organizations 
• Programs providing medical supplies to those in need 
• Programs providing transportation 

These are no small feats. The Calgary Food Bank, for example, spends “an average of $10,000 in fuel each month.” Similarly, Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino, in California says they are anticipating spending $140,000 this year in transportation costs alone. The latter organization anticipates having to redirect funding intended for other programming into their fuel budgets as costs continue to rise.  

Fuel costs impact everything 

Fuel costs don’t increase in a bubble. Since they directly impact the entire supply chain, nonprofits will find the cost of many of their supplies also increases. 

Likewise, times of high fuel expenses naturally lead to fewer donations and volunteers, as it becomes less affordable for some to donate their time or money. For example, programs where people volunteer to drive those in need to appointments or on shopping excursions may find fewer volunteer commitments than normal.  

How do nonprofits keep serving communities amidst rising prices?  

Understandably, with rising costs and dwindling donations, some nonprofit leaders are afraid for the future. One strategy to combat unpredictable fuel expenses are organizational fuel cards. In fact, some providers even offer special rates and discounts for nonprofit organizations.  

In a nutshell, a fleet card (or fuel card) is a type of payment card that allows for easy management of expenses associated with organization-owned vehicles. They can provide the following advantages: 

• Accurate records and flexible reporting 
• Spending history and budget control 
• Driver convenience when refuelling 
• Reduction to fuel expenses 

This is an option if you have organization-owned vehicles, but what if you don’t? Fuel cards are only one cost reduction strategy that frees up funds without impacting programming or requiring more donations and fundraising. Other cost reduction strategies targeting expenses such as payment processing, waste disposal, phone and internet services, and more can all add room to your fuel budget and other programs without taking away from your mission. 

/ April 28, 2026

Have you ever left a meeting thinking: everyone talked, but nothing was achieved? Chances are that people were listening to each other, just not in the same way. Listening experts Maegan Stephens and Nicole Lowenbraun unpack the four different ways to listen, sharing a practical framework that could change how you respond, build trust and get results — starting with just one simple question.

/ April 20, 2026

As the global fuel market becomes increasingly unstable, many nonprofits that rely on fuel for their programming may be struggling to stretch their funding to match rising prices.  

Communities rely on nonprofit fuel usage 

Nonprofit fuel usage may not be at the top of donors’ minds, but it’s a critical expense to many organizations and their programming. Different missions that rely on fuel usage include: 

• Food banks and meal delivery programs 
• Seniors’ programs 
• Cancer support organizations, and comparable organizations 
• Programs providing medical supplies to those in need 
• Programs providing transportation 

These are no small feats. The Calgary Food Bank, for example, spends “an average of $10,000 in fuel each month.” Similarly, Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino, in California says they are anticipating spending $140,000 this year in transportation costs alone. The latter organization anticipates having to redirect funding intended for other programming into their fuel budgets as costs continue to rise.  

Fuel costs impact everything 

Fuel costs don’t increase in a bubble. Since they directly impact the entire supply chain, nonprofits will find the cost of many of their supplies also increases. 

Likewise, times of high fuel expenses naturally lead to fewer donations and volunteers, as it becomes less affordable for some to donate their time or money. For example, programs where people volunteer to drive those in need to appointments or on shopping excursions may find fewer volunteer commitments than normal.  

How do nonprofits keep serving communities amidst rising prices?  

Understandably, with rising costs and dwindling donations, some nonprofit leaders are afraid for the future. One strategy to combat unpredictable fuel expenses are organizational fuel cards. In fact, some providers even offer special rates and discounts for nonprofit organizations.  

In a nutshell, a fleet card (or fuel card) is a type of payment card that allows for easy management of expenses associated with organization-owned vehicles. They can provide the following advantages: 

• Accurate records and flexible reporting 
• Spending history and budget control 
• Driver convenience when refuelling 
• Reduction to fuel expenses 

This is an option if you have organization-owned vehicles, but what if you don’t? Fuel cards are only one cost reduction strategy that frees up funds without impacting programming or requiring more donations and fundraising. Other cost reduction strategies targeting expenses such as payment processing, waste disposal, phone and internet services, and more can all add room to your fuel budget and other programs without taking away from your mission. 

/ April 14, 2026

The hardest leadership moments are the ones you’re tempted to avoid. But delaying tough conversations only makes things worse. Arthur C. Brooks shows why compassion is what allows great leaders to act decisively—facing hard truths head-on while strengthening trust.

Bria Murray / April 7, 2026

Water and sewage bills are comprised of multiple components; for businesses those components are extensive and complex, setting them apart from residential bills and making them more challenging to interpret.  Even when you crunch the numbers, it might feel like it’s not adding up. The reality is that your business’ high water bills are most likely the result of hidden leaks and confusion surrounding sewer charges.  In this article, we will go over these hidden costs as well as other factors affecting your water bill.  

Industrial water waste  

Leaks and inefficient use mean that globally about 30% of water is wasted per day – the equivalent of around 9.5 trillion litres. That is equal to approximately 64 billion bathtubs.  These numbers not only put into perspective the reality of water waste, but the severe impact of leaks. If your business is housed on a commercial property, it is more than likely your property is victim to hidden, underground leaks that are unknown to the owners, resulting in gallons of water wasted.  Medium also brings forth another critical reason for high water and sewage bills – evaporation. Utility companies base their charges on the water entering your building, since most of it returns to the building as sewage. However, many commercial properties use certain industrial equipment such as cooling towers and irrigation systems, which causes most of that water to evaporate and therefore never even become sewage. Unfortunately, this doesn’t help your bill, because you are still getting charged for it.   

You might be flushing your money down the drain – literally 

Businesses must account not only for water waste from large-scale industrial systems, but also for inefficiencies caused by everyday equipment that may be faulty or under-performing.  A leaking toilet can waste nearly 100 gallons of water each day, while a dripping tap can lead to even greater water loss over time. Companies with commercial properties often overlook these issues as other priorities are usually more prevalent. It is important to note that these inefficiencies not only waste water, but also contribute to higher sewage bills.  

What can your business do? 

Even though these issues can cause significant financial and system impacts, there are steps you can take to improving the over health of your business:  

• Make sure you invest in up-to-date, advanced water sensor monitors – these systems will allow your company to view accurate data required to swiftly locate leaks. 

• Claim evaporation credits – these water sensor monitors can also calculate how much water your cooling towers evaporate. Using this data, your utility company will allow you to apply for credits in order to reduce your sewer charges. 

• Install modern equipment and technology – a simple change such as purchasing high efficiency toilets can decrease water usage tremendously, while preventing waste. Businesses in the restaurant industry can invest in touch-free faucets and high-pressure sprayers, these increase health and safety while conserving water.  

 In conclusion… 

Whether your business is considered industrial or if it sits on a smaller scale, it still can fall victim to water and sewage waste. Although they may seem minor in the grand scheme, these issues can easily be overlooked and wreak havoc on your systems. Luckily if you are proactive, there are solutions available so your company can hold its bottom line with confidence.  

Ian Nairn / April 6, 2026

Water and sewage bills are comprised of multiple components; for businesses those components are extensive and complex, setting them apart from residential bills and making them more challenging to interpret.  Even when you crunch the numbers, it might feel like it’s not adding up. The reality is that your business’ high water bills are most likely the result of hidden leaks and confusion surrounding sewer chargers.  In this article, we will go over these hidden costs as well as other factors affecting your water bill.  

Industrial water waste  

Leaks and inefficient use mean that globally about 30% of water is wasted per day – the equivalent of around 9.5 trillion litres. That is equal to approximately 64 billion bathtubs.  These numbers not only put into perspective the reality of water waste, but the severe impact of leaks. If your business is housed on a commercial property, it is more than likely your property is victim to hidden, underground leaks that are unknown to the owners, resulting in gallons of water wasted.  Medium also brings forth another critical reason for high water and sewage bills – evaporation. Utility companies base their charges on the water entering your building, since most of it returns to the building as sewage. However, many commercial properties use certain industrial equipment such as cooling towers and irrigation systems, which causes most of that water to evaporate and therefore never even become sewage. Unfortunately, this doesn’t help your bill, because you are still getting charged for it.   

You might be flushing your money down the drain – literally 

Businesses must account not only for water waste from large-scale industrial systems, but also for inefficiencies caused by everyday equipment that may be faulty or under-performing.  A leaking toilet can waste nearly 100 gallons of water each day, while a dripping tap can lead to even greater water loss over time. Companies with commercial properties often overlook these issues as other priorities are usually more prevalent. It is important to note that these inefficiencies not only waste water, but also contribute to higher sewage bills.  

What can your business do? 

Even though these issues can cause significant financial and system impacts, there are steps you can take to improving the over health of your business:  

• Make sure you invest in up-to-date, advanced water sensor monitors – these systems will allow your company to view accurate data required to swiftly locate leaks. 

• Claim evaporation credits – these water sensor monitors can also calculate how much water your cooling towers evaporate. Using this data, your utility company will allow you to apply for credits in order to reduce your sewer charges. 

• Install modern equipment and technology – a simple change such as purchasing high efficiency toilets can decrease water usage tremendously, while preventing waste. Businesses in the restaurant industry can invest in touch-free faucets and high-pressure sprayers, these increase health and safety while conserving water.  

 In conclusion… 

Whether your business is considered industrial or if it sits on a smaller scale, it still can fall victim to water and sewage waste. Although they may seem minor in the grand scheme, these issues can easily be overlooked and wreak havoc on your systems. Luckily if you are proactive, there are solutions available so your company can hold its bottom line with confidence.  

/ March 30, 2026

Having friends at work can make work more enjoyable and the day go by more quickly, but there are numerous benefits to having workplace friendships that you may not have even considered. In this issue of the Pulse, we discuss the importance of workplace friendships and how employers can help foster them.

The benefits

According to a study conducted by KPMG, the majority of professionals feel work friendships help them “feel more engaged (83%), satisfied on the job (81%) and connected to their workplaces (80%)”. They also have a positive impact on mental health, with many citing that work friends “serve as a sounding board and source of empathy during challenging times (48%), enable greater resiliency (42%) and foster a stronger sense of personal connection and belonging (41%)”.

So, what can employers do to foster these workplace friendships?

Organize events where employees can freely socialize with each other

Many employers throw annual holiday parties, but there are a number of events that can be held throughout the year. This includes birthday parties, wedding and baby showers, and summer barbeques. If possible, consider holding the event during work hours. This will ensure all members of the team will be able to participate, without cutting into their personal time or having to find alternative care for their children and/or pets.

Run a workplace campaign for a local non-profit organization

Organizing a workplace campaign for a local non-profit organization is another great way to foster workplace relationships among your employees, while also giving back to the community. Ways to do this could include holding a donation drive, raising money for a shared cause, or volunteering together.

Encourage employees to bond over their shared interests

In all likelihood, you probably have some employees who share common interests. Encourage those employees to bond over their shared interests. This could look like creating a book club where employees can share recommendations with each other or starting a company baseball team.

Create a welcoming breakroom for your employees

Most workplaces already have a breakroom, but is your breakroom somewhere employees actually want to spend their lunch? Does it have comfortable seating? Does it have the necessary kitchen appliances, such as a refrigerator, microwave and kettle? Does it have any amenities, such as a coffee bar or communal snacks? If your breakroom isn’t a comfortable, welcoming space, chances are your employees will end up taking their break elsewhere, whether that’s at their desk or in their car, separate from other employees.

In conclusion…

Having workplace friendships comes with numerous benefits, both for the employee and the employer. Employers should consider ways they can foster these relationships for the benefit of everyone involved.