What if everything we thought we knew about charity was wrong?
The Comox Valley Community Foundation is inviting the public to explore that provocative question at a free screening of Uncharitable, an acclaimed documentary that boldly challenges conventional thinking about the nonprofit sector. The event takes place Thursday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sid Williams Theatre in downtown Courtenay.
Based on Dan Pallotta’s groundbreaking book and TED Talk — one of the most-viewed in history — Uncharitable explores how outdated beliefs about overhead, frugality, and self-sacrifice have stifled innovation in the charitable sector and limited its potential to drive real change.
“This film honours the passion and commitment we already see in our community,” said Jolean Finnerty, Executive Director of the Comox Valley Community Foundation. “But it also asks us to imagine what might be possible if we truly empowered charities to do their best work — with the resources, trust, and freedom they need to lead.”
With stories from major U.S. charitable efforts that were constrained or dismantled by public scrutiny, Uncharitable pulls back the curtain on the hidden costs of a system that expects nonprofits to “do more with less.” It offers a compelling call to rethink how we invest in social change — and in the organizations delivering it.
Event Details
• What: Free public screening of Uncharitable
• When: Thursday, November 13, 2025
• Time: Doors open at 6:00 p.m.; screening begins at 7:00 p.m.
• Where: Sid Williams Theatre, 442 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay
• Tickets: www.sidwilliamstheatre.com/events/uncharitable-film-screening/
Following the screening, guests are invited to stay for a brief panel with local nonprofit leaders to reflect on the film’s themes, share perspectives, and hear what they mean for the Comox Valley.
More Than a Movie — A Movement
In an age of growing complexity and interconnected challenges, Uncharitable argues that the charitable sector can — and must — play a central role in solving our biggest problems. But that will require a cultural shift in how we think about risk, scale, and investment in nonprofit work.
“This screening is a chance for community members, nonprofit leaders, donors, and changemakers to come together and reimagine what’s possible,” said Finnerty. “We hope people leave inspired and with a renewed sense of how we can all support a more empowered charitable sector in the Comox Valley.”
