By Rudy Ruttimann
In the dynamic landscape of social entrepreneurship, where innovation meets philanthropy, there often arises a pivotal moment—a moment of vulnerability and resilience, where the strength of community intertwines with the quest for sustainable change. As a seasoned executive within the non-profit sector, I have navigated this terrain with unwavering determination, propelled by a vision of amplifying the transformative power of creativity for social and economic advancement.
Yet, despite decades of immersion in the intricacies of community and leadership development in the arts and culture sector, the challenge of resource scarcity persists—a sobering reminder that even the most promising initiatives require support to flourish and are challenged to find it.
An economy based on competition, scarcity and extraction is void of the things that drive me on my journey as a financial activist. In stark contrast, grounded in the concept of radical love, I founded the Foundation for Leadership, Imagination and Place (FLIP), a public foundation aimed at catalyzing systems change through the amplification of young leadership. To me, radical love is an embodied experience where empathy, collaboration and an unwavering commitment to collective well-being emerge. FLIP is a manifestation of this radical love—it is a manifestation of our belief in the power of emergent leaders, collective action and the arts to shape a better world.
However, remaining a well-resourced and sustainable organization is a journey fraught with obstacles. After only two years of operating, FLIP needed immediate assistance. The nascent nature of our organization combined with the volatility of resource flow rendered FLIP’s future precarious.
Enter the Just Economy Institute—a bastion of innovation and solidarity, where financial activists converge to redefine and reimagine economic and social justice. It was here, amidst a gathering of like-minded visionaries, that I was once again reminded of the power and impact of radical love.
With trepidation and hope, I took the opportunity to beseech my cohort for help with a request to support FLIP’s viability in the months ahead. The response was awe-inspiring. Ten individuals stepped forward, their hearts brimming with compassion and minds ablaze with solutions. In the ensuing hours, a symphony of collaboration unfolded as ideas converged and networks intertwined into a tapestry of collective action, grounded in love.
The zeal with which my peers approached my plea for assistance was matched by the depth of care and solidarity that permeated every interaction. Discussions expanded far beyond FLIP’s immediate considerations and evolved into a robust conversation around the short-term and long-term needs of the whole group. Everyone was given the chance to share resources they needed and those they could offer, and the response was a crash-course in integrated capital; the group explored financial, emotional, natural, relational, intellectual, spiritual and political capital to resource one another’s work and dreams.
In a testament to the transformative power of collective action, support emerged within a mere six hours—an achievement made more remarkable by the spirit of equity and compassion that underpinned every contribution. As FLIP’s urgent needs were met, a sense of gratitude and humility washed over me as I recognized the boundless potential that emerges when individuals come together in pursuit of a common goal.
As I reflect on this transformative experience, I repeatedly return to the profound impact of radical love—a force, too often de-centered in our work as change agents, that transcends boundaries, unites communities and empowers individuals to effect meaningful change. Equipped with newfound lessons and a spirit of solidarity, I am determined to share these insights with my local community. My hope in sharing this story is to illuminate all that is possible and catalyze a ripple effect of compassion, collaboration and collective action that will reverberate far beyond our immediate sphere of influence. In the end, it is through acts of radical love that we pave the path towards a more just and equitable world—for ourselves, and for generations yet to come.
A few years ago, Rudy Ruttiman stumbled upon the term “financial activist,” and it immediately resonated. After years of fighting for social justice, Rudy hungered to create tangible change. The concept of financial activism ignited a fire within her and has been the bedrock of her mission ever since. With two decades at SKETCH Working Arts, Rudy has been on a rollercoaster ride of nurturing creativity and empowering young minds. Now, she is diving headfirst into FLIP-Foundation for Leadership, Imagination, and Place, a journey to shatter barriers in the arts, amplify creative industries, and energize communities across Canada. Rudy hopes to revolutionize systems, share wisdom, and pioneer social change in community. When not immersed in the realm of arts and activism, Rudy is lost in the enchanting embrace of Northern Bruce Peninsula’s nature–gliding on water, tracing hidden routes, and embracing the thrill of discovery. Rudy is a queer mom of four, a Toronto & Northern Beauty Seeker, kayaking addict, movie magic devotee, book nerd, and laughter aficionado. Rudy hopes to laugh, learn, and reshape the globe one adventure at a time.
