Amanda Kristalovich Consulting

08/19/2026

If you're interested in applying for a grant, it's a great time to attend this session since the Community Foundation has their Fall Community Needs grant application deadline coming up in September!

And if you have questions about getting your application together, I am always happy to chat 😊

Your Community Foundation is now welcoming grant applications that strengthen housing, community safety, mental health, prevention of violence and inclusion. These priorities are aligned with areas of need identified in the Kenora Community Safety and Well Being Plan, specifically:

o Housing and homelessness prevention

o Violence prevention and survivor supports

o Mental health and substance-use services

o Downtown and community space safety

o Indigenous-led healing, reconciliation, and community supports

We are actively encouraging applications that bring organizations together in collaborative initiatives addressing CSWB priorities in the Kenora & Lake of the Woods area.

Find out what’s new by joining us for lunch at 11:00am on September 2, 2026 at Kenora Seniors Centre. We will share new grant updates and guidelines, community priorities and grant application tips. Register by phone 807-467-4427, or email [email protected].

06/13/2026

NEW BLOG POST ✨

No matter how much planning goes into a new program, there are always things that only become obvious once you put it out into the world.

You can spend months preparing, building processes, recruiting volunteers, and thinking through every detail, but the first time real people start participating, you'll almost always learn something unexpected🤦‍♀️

That's one of the reasons I'm such a fan of piloting. It creates space to test assumptions, gather meaningful feedback, make adjustments, and learn before investing even more time and resources into a full roll-out.

I shared some thoughts on the value of piloting in my latest blog post: http://bit.ly/43zVmz3

If you're thinking about launching or piloting a new program and would like to talk through your ideas, I'd be happy to chat 😁

05/13/2026

I want to share some gratitude to a fellow woman entrepreneur who’s inspired me ✨

I reached out to Alexis Ashworth in 2020 when I was just learning about horticultural therapy as a field 🌿 Alexis had just started .in.nature , an organization that strengthens human health by connecting people with plants and nature through therapeutic horticulture, while serving as a training hub and professional growth platform for practitioners in the field. Root in Nature has grown immensely since then and in such interesting directions.

Alexis has always been so generous with her time for me. She has always looked for ways that we could work together, made beneficial connections, and took time to chat about gardening. She was incredibly supportive when I reached out to her about starting my business.

I feel honoured that I got to be a small part of Root in Nature over the years by facilitating therapeutic horticulture activities with youth with autism at Just Food Farm, developing draft program plans for schools, and being part of building Root in Nature’s initial activity database.

Alexis and Root in Nature are reminders to me to be open and flexible because different exciting directions come up over time.

Thank you for your generosity Alexis!

05/01/2026

Sharing this article as it sums up what I’m hearing from a lot of people in the nonprofit industry about sustainability. It's disheartening when organizations who serve the same overall community begin to feel competition and resentment towards one another.

Most people involved (management, staff, volunteers, board members), do what they do because they want to see individuals and communities getting healthier not because they think their organization is the only one making a difference.

I hope to see more and more partnerships and cross-sector collaboration. It can be hard work but so impactful when people share the work.

I am also hearing more about social enterprise being a key piece of sustainability that organizations are exploring and I expect we will see more of that in the social services sector.

What creative sustainability efforts are you trying in your organization or are seeing others try?

Check out this article by Amanda Rogers: Diversification is the new sustainability: Rethinking funding in today’s nonprofit sector.

04/21/2026

I wrote my first blog post! Would love for you to check it out here: https://bit.ly/4eA2Okd

It speaks to something we often see in community programs... low participation 😣 Which is so frustrating when you've put in tons of work and and know that managers and funders need to see numbers for the program to continue being offered.

Hope this makes you feel seen and sparks some ideas for you going forward 🤩

04/14/2026

Got an idea to help your community but have no clue where to start? 🔦

This isn’t an exhaustive guide but something to help you get started if you have an idea and have been feeling frustrated or stuck on how to get started.

Would love to chat more in-depth if you're feeling stuck or just curious about an idea. Send me a message if this is you!

04/03/2026

So honoured ☺️ to be featured in the local newspaper and to spread the word about some of the issues local organizations are facing!

Community-focused organizations are doing life-saving work, while juggling growing demands with limited resources.

I’ve seen firsthand how consistent and engaging support in planning (whether it’s community engagement, program development, or strategy) can make a huge difference and this is exactly the kind of support I provide.

Have you ever had the privilege of being in your local newspaper? What was it for?

🔗 See link in comment!

04/03/2026

So honoured to be featured in the local newspaper and to spread the word about some of the issues local organizations are facing!

Check out the article here ➡️ https://bit.ly/4sfNCMh

Community-focused organizations are doing life-saving work, while juggling growing demands with limited resources.

I’ve seen firsthand how consistent and engaging support in planning (whether it’s community engagement, program development, or strategy) can make a huge difference and this is exactly the kind of support I provide.

Have you ever had the privilege of being in your local newspaper? What was it for?

04/03/2026

So honoured to be featured in the Kenora Daily Miner & News and to spread the word about some of the issues local organizations are facing!

Check out the article here ➡️ https://bit.ly/4sfNCMh

Community-focused organizations are doing life-saving work, while juggling growing demands with limited resources. I’ve seen firsthand how consistent and engaging support in planning (whether it’s community engagement, program development, or strategy) can make a huge difference and this is exactly the kind of support I provide.

Have you ever had the privilege of being in your local newspaper? What was it for?

04/03/2026

Super honoured to be featured in the local newspaper and to spread the word about some of the issues local organizations are facing!

Check out the article ➡ https://bit.ly/4sfNCMh

Community-focused organizations are doing incredible work, always juggling growing demands with limited resources.

I’ve seen firsthand how consistent and engaging support in planning (whether it’s community engagement, program development, or grant writing) can make a huge difference and this is exactly the kind of support I provide.

If your or someone you know is navigating similar challenges in your organization and could use some support, I’d love to connect! 😊

Have you ever had the privilege of being in your local newspaper? What was it for?