Editor
Our vigilant leader
George is an acknowledged nonprofit sector leader with an extensive and accomplished consulting background. He began his fundraising career in 1984 with an international consulting firm and after gaining further experience with two national consulting companies with an emphasis on capital campaigns, he joined The Goldie Company in 1996. A graduate of the University of Toronto, George earned his Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation in 1990. He has been an active participant with the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and is frequently asked to speak to organizations on the 12-Step Fundraising program.
Step 1
Writing a powerful case for support
Victoria is the owner of The Virtual Writer™, a web-based communications company that has been providing writing, editing and consulting services to clients across Canada and around the world since 2002. Specializing in the Case for Support document for The Goldie Company, she has written numerous Cases as well as collateral materials such as major gift letters for an astonishingly diverse range of not-for-profit clients and their missions.
Step 2
Develop a fundraising strategy
John takes great satisfaction in being a professional fundraiser having served a variety of charitable and community-based organizations over the past 30 years. It’s this extensive experience that has resulted in the knowledge and skills that make him an accomplished consultant, staff member, teacher, and volunteer. He is currently Director of Resource Development at Hull Services in Calgary, a 50-year-old charity making significant differences in the lives of children and their families.
Step 3
Special event best practices
Jennifer is the consummate diplomat, hostess and event manager; often seeming most “in-the-zone” when she is in high energy – even high stress situations. Jennifer solves problems on her feet and quickly puts her clients at ease. Jennifer and Sarah Varley met in 1996 as co-workers in the marketing department for the Swedish Telecom giant Ericsson. When the dynamic duo left their global roles at Ericsson in 2001, they formed Esteemed Events. They’ve never looked back.
Step 3
Special event best practices
Sarah is a no-nonsense, quick and detailed dynamo whose articulate and self-assured opinions and insights make her an asset in both the creative process and indispensible for on-the-ground activations. Precise logistics and planning are Sarah’s modus operandi. Sarah and Jennifer Hilborn met in 1996 as co-workers in the marketing department for the Swedish Telecom giant Ericsson. When the dynamic duo left their global roles at Ericsson in 2001, they formed Esteemed Events. They’ve never looked back.
Step 4
Donor recognition and stewardship: Lessons learned the hard way
Gina is Vice President, Philanthropy for the Heart and Stroke Foundation (Ontario). She started working in the nonprofit field in 1988 after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Sociology from the University of Winnipeg. Gina has worked with health charities since 1992, including two children’s hospitals, three long-term care facilities, two teaching/research facilities and four community hospitals.
Step 5
Develop a fundraising committee
Lee has worked as a fundraiser and volunteer in some of Canada’s largest cities and smallest rural areas. He is dedicated to community building and helping nonprofit organizations raise funds and manage their operations efficiently and effectively. With 20 years’ experience as a fundraiser, leader and volunteer, helping organizations realize their potential is his passion.
Step 6
Train volunteers on “making the ask”
Lee has worked as a fundraiser and volunteer in some of Canada’s largest cities and smallest rural areas. He is dedicated to community building and helping nonprofit organizations raise funds and manage their operations efficiently and effectively. With 20 years’ experience as a fundraiser, leader and volunteer, helping organizations realize their potential is his passion.
Step 7
Identify your key stakeholders
Liz has spent her entire career in the not-for-profit sector bringing her dynamic expertise to health care, education and the arts. Her professional focus has been on database management and prospect research for both large and small fundraising shops. She has a particular interest in social media as a research tool, media monitoring, and the effect of the internet filter bubble on balanced research.
Step 8
Planned giving: The philanthropic philosopher’s stone
Paul is a philanthropic advisor with Scotia Private Client Group since 2011. He spent 11 years working in planned giving with charities such as the University of Toronto and Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto. He teaches the national online planned giving course with the Georgian College postgraduate fundraising program and is a national instructor for the Canadian Association of Gift Planners. A former board member of the Canadian Charitable Annuity Association and several charities, Paul is currently chair of the advisory committee of the Humber College Postgraduate Fundraising Program and writes for the publication “Gift Planning in Canada” and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Step 9
Communications: Why you need a plan
Peter was Chair of the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington for seven years and is now past Chair. He serves as incoming Vice President of the Board of Directors of Hopewell Children’s Homes and is a member of the Campaign Cabinet for the Athletics Department, University of Guelph. Peter owns Petrona Associates, a training, facilitation and marketing company and is on the road about 100 days a year with a wide variety of clients. Peter also works with the Goldie Company where he handles marketing and communication strategies for Goldie clients. With Ed Sluga, he co-authored Worthy and Prepared, a fundraising how-to book for smaller charities, published by Civil Sector Press in 2009.
Step 10
Marketing through a newsletter: It’s about donor engagement
Ed is one of Canada’s most experienced planned giving professionals and is currently a Managing Consultant for PGgrowth. For over 15 years, he has helped hundreds of organizations develop and benefit from long-term, sustainable and proactive fundraising and planned giving programs. Focusing on developing organizational structures and operations so that they are positioned to experience success for the long-term, Ed’s chief motivation is helping organizations achieve the goals of their mission within their communities.
Step 11
The ‘C’ change: Making the case for creative
President and Creative Director of wishart, John is one of the most accomplished and award-winning creatives in Canada, having won well over 200 awards. He credits his success not just to his staff and clients, but to his wife and four kids who are forever asking, “are we there yet?” Ever searching for new and better ideas, John is always thinking; always creating the greater good. His agency, wishart.net, has helped Canadian charities raise more than one BILLION dollars in the past ten years.
Step 12
Being vigilant
George is an acknowledged nonprofit sector leader with an extensive and accomplished consulting background. He began his fundraising career in 1984 with an international consulting firm and after gaining further experience with two national consulting companies with an emphasis on capital campaigns, he joined The Goldie Company in 1996. A graduate of the University of Toronto, George earned his Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation in 1990. He has been an active participant with the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and is frequently asked to speak to organizations on the 12-Step Fundraising program.
Step 12
Being vigilant
Jim has managed and supervised studies and major capital campaigns and programs throughout Western Canada and the Northwest Territories. He has extensive experience in all facets of fundraising, both professionally and as a volunteer. Before moving into a career as a professional fundraiser, Jim spent more than 25 years in the broadcast communications industry. Jim not only talks the talk, he “walks the walk” with a strong dedication to volunteerism, demonstrated on a daily basis.
