The Kezber Social Innovation (KSI) program is a key initiative by Kezber aimed at supporting non-profit organizations (NPOs). Beyond simple financial contributions, Kezber leverages its technological expertise to provide innovative solutions that help NPOs optimize their operations and increase their impact. Edward Kezber, son of founder Alan Kezber, leads this program with passion and dedication, structuring and organizing the company’s philanthropic efforts to maximize their efficiency and reach.
Edward Kezber: A Passionate Philanthropist
With a name like Kezber, Edward can hardly hide his family connection. As the son of Kezber’s founder, Alan Kezber, he has been actively involved in the company for six years. While working closely with clients, Edward has also taken charge of Kezber’s philanthropic efforts. Passionate about giving back to the community, he has structured and organized the company’s charitable initiatives through the Kezber Social Innovation program. Through this initiative, Kezber not only provides financial resources but also technological expertise to support non-profit organizations (NPOs), enabling them to achieve much more than they could with a simple donation.
A Few Questions for Edward Kezber
Q: Edward, can you tell us the story behind the social innovation program and your involvement in it?
Edward Kezber: Of course. Kezber has always been strongly involved in the community and philanthropy. Long before I joined, my father, Alan, participated in many auctions and golf tournaments on behalf of the company and served on committees for organizations like the Magog Hospital and the Alzheimer’s Society. When I joined the company, we decided to structure these efforts. The KSI program was born out of this desire to organize our philanthropic actions and do more for the community. Kezber is a successful company, and it made sense for us to give back and be present for organizations in the Magog region. Today, we are extending the same commitment to the Brossard area, where we also have an office.
Q: Why is philanthropy personally important to you?
Edward Kezber: For me, giving back to the community is essential. It gives meaning and purpose to our work. As a company, we naturally focus on profit and growth, but it’s even more rewarding to see how we can use our success to make a positive impact on society. It’s easy to say, but what mattered to me was making it concrete, and that’s exactly what we’re doing with the KSI program.
Q: How does the KSI program work? How do you select the NPOs that Kezber collaborates with through the program?
Edward Kezber: Our social mission is to help NPOs in their digital transformation so they can better support their causes and increase their positive impact on their communities. We offer them the opportunity to have an up-to-date website with all the necessary features for efficient and secure fundraising. We want to provide them with an attractive online presence that allows them to promote their mission and gain the autonomy needed to maximize their social impact.
Applying is simple: NPOs must submit an application through our website by filling out a form that helps us understand their mission, goals, and financial situation. We aim to support those whose website is in real need of a redesign. We also evaluate the potential impact of our intervention—where our efforts will have the greatest effect, whether in terms of donations, volunteers, or increased interest in the organization.
Q: What tangible impact has the KSI Social Innovation program had?
Edward Kezber: Having a professional and modern website greatly helps an NPO improve its image, securely collect online donations, and attract volunteers. For example, a food bank often struggles to invest in technology without affecting its operations. By taking care of this aspect, we allow them to focus on their mission while benefiting from technological advancements.
Q: How are Kezber employees involved?
Edward Kezber: Our employees are highly engaged, especially our development team, which works on the websites. We also have a philanthropic committee made up of four members, including myself, who decide which projects to support. Developers, project managers, and even our support team ensure that projects progress efficiently. Our philanthropic commitment is also a major reason why new talent joins our team, and we take great pride in that.
Q: What is your vision for the future of the program?
Edward Kezber: In the short term, we aim to automate and simplify the website development process for NPOs so we can respond to more requests quickly. In the long run, I’d like to extend our technological expertise beyond websites. For example, we could offer Business Intelligence (BI) solutions or custom application development for NPOs. The goal is to continue using our expertise to create significant benefits without fostering technological dependency.
For more information about the KSI program, please visit our dedicated program page. We also encourage anyone who knows an NPO that could benefit from our support to share this information.
