Who decided your walk was 5K? And more importantly — why did everyone just agree? In this episode, host Amy Milne takes a hard look at the sacred cows of nonprofit events: the formats, distances, and details we've inherited without ever questioning whether they're actually working for us. Using real stories from her own career — including a gala that changed its dress code to pajamas and a walk that was never supposed to be 5K — she makes the case that the details of your event are either telling your story or missing the opportunity to. This one is packed with tactics you can use before, during, and after your event, and one framework that will change how you look at every decision you make from here on out. Fair warning: you'll never see your opening ceremony the same way again.

"There's a difference between reading a fact on a banner and feeling something in your chest at 12 kilometers because you know why it's kilometer 12."

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"Why are nonprofit event professionals still so underserved? That question is the reason I'm back." After two years away from the mic, Amy's not back because things slowed down — she's back because they didn't. In this milestone first episode of the new era, you'll hear why Amy went quiet, what she's been building in the silence, and why she's more fired up than ever about the people doing work in the non-profit events space. This episode is part origin story, part honest reckoning, and part exciting announcement about what's coming next. If you've ever felt like your work is undervalued, under-resourced, or just plain misunderstood by the people holding the budget — this episode was made for you.

Tune in to hear:

• The real reason Amy stepped away from the podcast — and why she's back
• Amy's story from child and youth worker to launching some of Canada's most iconic peer-to-peer fundraising events including The Weekend To End Breast Cancer and Ride To Conquer Cancer
• The personal health journey that sparked a brand new cause and event series
• Three bold new chapters for Beyond Inc. — and what they mean for the sector and non-profit event pros
• Camp Beyond: what it is, why it matters, and why YOU need to be there in October 2026

"I didn't step away from this mic because I lost the fire. I stepped away because the fire got so big, I had to figure out what to do with it all."

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In this episode, your host Amy Milne gets real with Keith Clarke, Director, Corporate & Community Partnerships at The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Keith started his career at PMCF as a Coordinator, and his passion for fundraising to eradicate cancer in his lifetime is what has kept him going strong 14 years later. You will often hear Keith mention the word "lucky" throughout this episode and while luck may be in the stew, we also know that a lot of hard work, belief and willingness to be bold has helped his organization get to where they are today. Keith talks about the importance of always innovating and reminds us that failing fast, learning from it and trying something new is something to be celebrated. Keith's passion really shines through when he shares about his community events team. Rather than overcomplicate, his team works closely with corporations/companies/families to find out how they want to give back and provides first-class support to make it happen. The bottom line: let's make it as easy as possible for people to fundraise for our organizations!

If you're curious to see what an epic DIY program looks like, make sure you check out D.I.Y. to Conquer Cancer.

”Every partnership and group we steward or support is unique and different.” – Keith Clarke

Connect with us:

• Beyond Fundraising Inc: https://www.startingbeyond.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-milne-8946791/
• Instagram:
  • https://www.instagram.com/milneamyr/
  • https://www.instagram.com/startbeyond/

🏕️ Sign up for camp: Get your early bird ticket TODAY! 🎟️