Parental leave coverage and leadership capacity support for JA Central Ontario

Challenge (What We Saw)

JA Central Ontario experienced a temporary leadership gap when both the Senior Director and Associate Director of Development went on parental leave. 

To maintain momentum across fundraising and partnerships, the organization brought in Balanced Good for external interim support to ensure continuity and team stability during this key period.

Our Perspective/Process

Two of our team members stepped into the Senior Director of Development role to ensure continued progress across fundraising, corporate partnerships, and donor engagement. Our team integrated quickly, providing stability while helping to lead and support a dedicated four-person development team.

Our collaborative approach ensured that funding relationships were maintained, the team remained focused and supported, and planned initiatives continued to move forward.

Opportunity for Change (What We Did)

• Interim Leadership & Team Support: Delivered hands-on leadership across core fundraising areas, including corporate partnerships, major events, and individual giving. Maintained critical momentum while reinforcing staff engagement and morale during a time of transition.
• Organizational Sustainability: While fulfilling day-to-day responsibilities, our team also identified an opportunity to support JA Central Ontario. We worked closely with the CEO to reassess responsibilities and provide recommendations for optimizing the team structure.
• Capacity Building: Assisted in designing a new fundraising position to support key revenue-generating initiatives, including the gala and peer-to-peer campaigns—allowing for a more balanced distribution of responsibilities moving forward.

Outcomes

Our collaboration with JA Central Ontario reflected the organization’s commitment to proactive planning, team well-being, and long-term sustainability. Together, we ensured continuity during a period of change and helped position the development team for even greater success in the future.