About Us
We support foundations, nonprofits and Indigenous organizations to surface insights and build transformative strategies - all towards creating a more just and sustainable world.
Our Story
Lumiere Consulting was created in 2015. After years of working in nonprofits, Juniper became especially focused on how funding could be transformed to better support social change work. She observed as Canadian grantmaking foundations came out of obscurity and opened up to new ways to do philanthropy, other than the hierarchical and transactional model of “charity.” Today many foundations are making the move to become collaborative system actors through good relations with communities, innovation in grantmaking and providing flexible resources. Lumiere Consulting helps them advance along that path. We also support high-impact nonprofits and Indigenous organizations to realize their goals. Juniper joined forces in 2020 with long time collaborator Tania Cheng to expand our offerings. And our team keeps growing! We look forward to working with you.
Our Approach
Make it easy
We explore what your organization needs through free consultations and decide with you if our team is a good fit. We provide a clear yet flexible service offer and workplan, and then get to it!
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Deliver quality
We meet timelines and communicate regularly about progress. We pay attention to the big picture and the important details. Our deliverables are of the highest quality, designed specifically for your organization - never from a template.
Our team aligns with yours
Some clients want lots of involvement along the way. Others want us to run with a mandate so their team can concentrate on other priorities. We are experienced with both.
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Social justice
We apply an equity lens and intersectional feminist understanding to all we do.
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Good relations
We commit to humility, listening, respect, and reciprocity.
Certifications
Why "Lumiere"?
Qualifications
Light is a symbol of the best in each of us and our communities. We support your team to find the light of insight and inspiration to take the next steps in your work. Our team is driven by the light of clarity, compassion and change.
Our Team
Juniper Glass, MPNL (she/elle)
Principal consultant
Juniper is a strategy, research and partnership specialist, with a focus on social justice, gender equity and systems change philanthropy. She created Lumiere Consulting in 2015 to support all kinds of organizations to improve their impact: grantmakers, philanthropic networks, Indigenous organizations, and national nonprofits. Prior, she worked for 20 years within social purpose organizations, becoming a Juniper-of-all-trades: managing teams, strategy and program development, research and evaluation, fundraising, external communications and policy. She draws on this practical experience to serve her clients well. In past roles, Juniper worked on diverse issues including gender equity, Indigenous community development, youth leadership, food security, wilderness protection, maternal health and affordable housing. She holds a Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from Carleton University. Juniper is an Innoweave coach, research associate of PhiLab and a Spring Associate for international projects. She volunteers on the Community Engagement Committee of the Foundation of Greater Montreal. Juniper is a proud queer woman and single parent, and always aspires to be a caring, active friend, family member and community member. Originally from Tla-a-min territory (Texada Island, BC), she lives in Tio'tia:ke (Montreal) and is bilingual.
Tania Cheng, MPNL (she/they)
Principal Consultant
Tania brings nearly 15 years of experience working and volunteering in charities, nonprofits, social enterprises, and foundations to advance youth engagement, climate action, and women's entrepreneurship. She has launched a national charity from its incubator; led digital transformation within an organization; oversaw the design, development and launch of a digital product; and scaled an organization to double its size within three years through fundraising and operational oversight. She specializes in design thinking, strategy, scaling impact, and equity and inclusion. Tania holds a Master in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from Carleton University and currently sits on the board of Imagine Canada. Previously, Tania served on the boards of Inside Out, The Otesha Project, and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. She was recognized with an Alumni Achievement Award by the University of Waterloo in 2017. As a queer, gender non-binary, and gender non-conforming woman of colour, she brings an intersectional analysis to the intersections in life, such as tech x innovation, philanthropy x social finance, data x design, equity x climate, and entrepreneurship x intrapreneurship. Tania lives in Halifax.
Sophia Lowe, MPNL, MA (she/they)
Senior Consultant
Sophia works with community groups, non-profit and social impact organizations and leaders to meet their research and evaluation, grant and report writing, organizational development and strategy needs. She supports groups that are values-aligned and actively trying to build a more just and equitable world. Sophia has over 20 years of non-profit leadership experience, working largely at the intersections of (im)migrant and refugee inclusion, education and employment, human rights and social justice. She holds a Master in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from Carleton University, a Masters in Immigration and Settlement Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University, a Project Management Certificate from University of Toronto, and an Honours Bachelor of International Development and Gender Studies from the University of Guelph. Sophia has served on several boards and is an active volunteer in her community, including leading several private refugee sponsorships. Sophia is a queer femme, a parent, a caregiver, and an activist and lives in Ottawa on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe land.
Erika Muñoz (she/elle)
Senior Consultant
Erika is an impact strategist and facilitator who helps mission-driven organizations get clear on their vision, align their work with their values, and create meaningful impact. With over a decade of experience in strategic planning, organizational alignment, community engagement, evaluation, and leadership development, she brings a thoughtful and dynamic approach to every project. She works in English, Spanish, and Franglais. Erika blends strategy, structure, and creativity while fostering spaces that are engaging, inclusive, and action-oriented. She believes that organizations thrive when their mission, values, and actions are aligned - allowing them to fully show up for their staff, volunteers, and communities. Grounded in equity, collaboration, and social justice, Erika approaches her work with resilience, curiosity, care, and gentle excellence. In doing so she creates meaningful collaborations that allow organizations to amplify their social impact.
Hanifa Kassam, MPNL (she)
Senior Consultant
Hanifa has worked for more than 15 years to advance social good and justice. She has extensive experience building and leading collaborations that drive, foster and support community. Hanifa has led a range of public sector initiatives to help communities transform themselves in the areas of community development, public health, civic engagement, and inclusive economic development. She has also worked in the non-profit sector, where she was responsible for overseeing a range of social programs in the areas of human capital, human services, public health, and community development. Hanifa earned a Master Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from York University. Hanifa served on the Board of Directors of the Laidlaw Foundation and was the President of the foundation from 2015-2018. Recently, Hanifa collaborated with Philanthropic Foundations Canada to produce two resources on equity and inclusion: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in Canadian Philanthropy and Governance and Grantmaking: Approaches to achieve greater diversity, equity and inclusion. Hanifa lives in Toronto.
Sarah Nelson (she)
Consultant
Sarah is an Ojibwe Anishianabe kwe from Animiiki Wekwedong, otherwise known as Thunder Bay, Ontario. On her mother's side her family is from Couchiching and Lac Seul First Nations. On her father's side, the family is originally from Ireland and England.
She has a decade of experience in the non-profit and public sectors. She is skilled at developing and implementing strategic plans, programs and evaluation of projects and organizations. She developed this experience through her current role as a Project Manager of the Northern Lights Collaborative with CatalystsX as well as past work with nonprofits, First Nations, First Nation Provincial Territorial Organizations and urban Indigenous organizations. She is Co-Founder and Advisor for the Indigenous Youth & Community Futures Fund at the Laidlaw Foundation, a fund that supports grassroots Indigenous youth-led cultural and language revitalization projects, and volunteer Director of Thunder Bay non-profit, Shkoday, which oversees a daycare and culturally based programs for children and youth. Sarah trained in decolonial research frameworks and methodologies with the 4Rs Youth Movement and Media Arts Network of Ontario, and experienced in community based research projects. She is trained in Art of Hosting as well as Path & Maps, Person Centred Approaches to Community Planning. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Learning from Lakehead University.
And more...
We draw on a fabulous network of other freelancers for translation, design, research and facilitation when needed.
Our Collaborators
We are proud to work with these fellow consultants.
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