For BuildGood founder and CEO Mike Dirkson, gathering people in person isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s core to how generosity spreads. His fundraising growth agency works with nonprofits across Canada, and while the team is fully distributed, Toronto remains a crucial meeting point for their clients and community.
This fall, BuildGood hosted Building Generosity, an intimate event that brought 50 nonprofit leaders together to share insights, compare notes, and reconnect with peers they rarely see in person. The format was intentionally human-centred: short presentations, practical case studies, and plenty of unstructured time for genuine conversation - the kind that simply doesn’t happen on Zoom.
Mike chose StartWell’s Level Up venue because it made the entire experience frictionless. With built-in cameras, mics, stage lighting, screens, lounge seating, and an onsite café bar, the space let his team “land in Pearson, walk in, and feel confident hosting an event that feels both vibey and highly professional.” No AV sourcing, no vendor wrangling, no surprises.
Instead of managing logistics, BuildGood focused on what mattered: curating the right room of leaders and giving them space to learn from each other.
As Mike puts it, “Why wouldn’t we do more events like this? All the headache disappears - and the human connection comes back.”
