Lessons in Philanthropy: The Legacy of Barb McInnes is a vivid, human portrait of how one woman’s vision shaped the Ottawa Community Foundation and, through it, the very idea of what philanthropy can be. Told through thirty-six lessons grounded in lived experience, the book traces how Barb McInnes helped redefine community-giving through relationships, trust, and long-term commitment. It presents philanthropy in motion—deeply practical and deeply human—where generosity takes shape through action rather than abstraction.
The early chapters focus on the small, often invisible acts that quietly build community. A sidewalk project. A one-room classroom for street youth. A grassroots breakfast program. These are not headline-grabbing initiatives, but they are the kind of interventions that change lives. McInnes understood that philanthropy isn’t about big cheques; it’s about small wins that ripple outward. She respected the hustle of grassroots organizations, often taking risks on groups that larger funders ignored. Her approach was relational, not transactional. She listened, trusted, and empowered.
The book also offers a clear portrait of McInnes’s leadership style. Humility, curiosity, and a touch of mischief guide her work throughout. She believed in asking rather than telling, mentoring rather than directing, and building bridges across sectors. Donors, policymakers, and community leaders were not separate audiences, but partners in a shared project. Under Barb’s leadership, the Ottawa Community Foundation became a civic heartbeat, shaping community life beyond balance sheets.
Where the book truly lifts off is in Chapter 32, Act Locally, Think Globally. Here, the narrative widens from Ottawa’s neighbourhoods to the international stage. Canadian community foundations, shaped by McInnes’s influence, helped form models for networks in Germany, Mexico, the UK, and Eastern Europe. Conferences in Vancouver and Seattle evolve into launchpads for global collaboration. The Canadian model earns admiration not because it is the largest or oldest, but because it is organized, inclusive, and willing to share. This chapter is the wide-angle lens moment, tangible proof that grassroots philanthropy can scale across borders, that a spark in one city can ignite a chain reaction across continents.
The book has its uneven moments. Some chapters read like internal newsletters, and the pacing occasionally drifts. Still, its heart is undeniable. The lessons are clear, the takeaways actionable, and the storytelling often cinematic—McInnes excels at bringing moments to life, capturing Barb’s work and influence with the utmost clarity and care.
Ultimately, Lessons in Philanthropy grows beyond a tribute to Barb McInnes, emerging as a masterclass in generosity meeting grit. It shows how legacy becomes movement, and how empathy turns into sustained action. And at its core, this book connects Barb’s philanthropic DNA to the essence of Canada itself, reflecting a national spirit rooted in kindness and shared responsibility, and offering a compelling vision of philanthropy lived from the ground up.
—CANREADS BOOK REVIEW