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 collaborators Tania Cheng and Hanifa Kassam 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!
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.
Social justice
We apply an equity lens and intersectional feminist understanding to all we do.
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/they)
Principal
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 parent, and always aspires to be a caring, active granddaughter, daughter, friend, partner and community member. Originally from Texada Island, BC, she lives in Montreal and is bilingual.
Tania Cheng, MPNL (she/they)
Senior 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.
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
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.
Lorena Almaraz De La Garza, BA (she/they)
Evaluation and Research Associate
Lorena is a Master of Information student at the University of Toronto with concentrations in Data Science and Critical Information Policy. Her primary focus is the protection of racialized children and youth online through evidence-based education and self-advocacy. Her work stems from, and expands upon, research that reveals the relationships between power, technology, education, and justice. Before graduate school, Lorena led the development and implementation of publicly-funded programs in culture, education, and interdisciplinary research. As a Mexican immigrant and settler in Canada, Lorena is committed to volunteering in favour of equity-seeking and systemically excluded groups, including young parents and their children, and persons living with HIV/AIDS. She serves as Chair of the Master of Information Student Council Diversity Working Group, as co-organizer and co-host of the Toronto Data Workshop, and is a Junior Fellow at Massey College. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo in Fine Arts and Cognitive Science. Her academic research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Daniel Belbas, BA
Research Associate
Daniel is a Master's student at McGill University’s School of Urban Planning. He has a background in Planning, Political Science, and Geography, with his honours research having focused on the privatization of Montreal’s public spaces. He is interested in how planning from the perspective of social and environmental justice can be used to build healthy communities that are resilient, strong, and environmentally sustainable. Born and raised on the Canadian Prairies, and an avid cyclist, he relocated to Montreal to pursue a car-free lifestyle, learn French, and immerse himself in the culture and history.
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.