Professional fundraising may not be as challenging as, say, sulfur mining in an active volcano, but it’s still really hard work.
There’s the repeated rejection from potential donors and the never-ending cycle of having to make the big ask. As well, the competition for dollars can be fierce. Also worth considering are external factors, like when the economy hits a rough patch and donations dwindle. Sure, the job can be rewarding and fulfilling, but it can also be stressful and exhausting.
So, it should come as great comfort and relief to local leaders in the industry that they have a membership organization to turn to: the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
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On Tuesday, award-winning chef and philanthropist Joe Thottungal opened up his Coconut Lagoon restaurant on St. Laurent Boulevard for the second year in a row to host a reception for the Ottawa Chapter of AFP. It was an opportunity for fundraising experts in such sectors as health, education, social services, environment and the arts to come together in a friendly and relaxed environment.
There to welcome them was AFP Ottawa board president Jeff Todd, vice president of marketing and communications at the WCPD Foundation. It’s the donor-advised arm of Peter Nicholson’s Wealth (WCPD Inc), an Ottawa-based financial services business with a focus on philanthropic tax planning and tax reduction.
Todd has been volunteering as part of the leadership team at AFP Ottawa for almost seven years. The association did see its membership decline as a result of the COVID pandemic, but numbers are now on the rise again, he said.
“Last year was about getting back into the swing of things, but now we’re back — we’re really back, and I’m really excited about this year,” Todd said of their signature events happening in 2024.
AFP Ottawa Fundraising Day will take place May 1 at the Shaw Centre, with this year’s theme being Diversify: Unveiling the Power of Inclusive Fundraising.
The 30th anniversary of the Ottawa Philanthropy Awards, colloquially known as The Phils, is in November. Organizers are looking to refresh this year’s gala by going heavier on the social networking, lighter on the speeches, and by inviting back recipients from past years. Chairing the event this year is Derek deLouché, senior development officer at Carleton University and a past board president of AFP Ottawa.
A President’s Award certificate was presented during the reception to Jacky Duong, philanthropy associate with The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. It recognized his dedication and outstanding volunteer contribution and service to the board of the AFP Ottawa.
The charitable sector is facing challenges. The high cost of living has driven up the demand for charitable services. According to CanadaHelps’ 2023 Giving Report, 22 per cent of Canadians expect to rely on charities for basic needs while 57 per cent of Canadian charities are unable to meet the growing demand.
Charitable giving in Canada is also at a 20-year low, as reported by the Fraser Institute’s recent annual report measuring generosity. Fewer Canadians are giving to charity compared to a decade ago.
“I think it’s incumbent on the fundraising industry to come together,” Todd told OBJ.social, while emphasizing the need for leaders to be strategic and collaborative. “Basically, it’s about being innovative and sharing best practices, and finding out how we can make the most of the available capacity for giving.
“Good things happen when people come together and work together.”
At the reception was Lisa Davey, vice president of AFP Canada, which serves as a national voice for fundraising professionals. Also spotted were some of Ottawa’s higher-profile fundraising executives, including Tim Kluke from The Ottawa Hospital Foundation (it’s currently running the largest fundraising campaign in our city’s history as part of the building of a brand new hospital campus), Juniper Locilento (National Arts Centre Foundation), Tom Hewitt (Bruyère Foundation), Delphine Haslé (Perley Health Foundation), Mark Savenkoff (Algonquin College), Angela Begin (Ottawa Community Housing Foundation), John Brooman (Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival/Ice Dragon Board Festival) and David Gourlay (Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation). Gourlay, who’s also on the board of AFP Ottawa, is in charge of membership for the association.
Gourlay spoke to the room about AFP Ottawa’s role as a community for local professional fundraisers to share and discuss their work-related experiences, both the successes and failures that fundraisers face. “It’s okay to say sometimes we get a ‘No’,” said Gourlay of a response he views not so much as a setback but as a stepping stone to learning, growth and eventual success.
The reception was an opportunity for Locilento, who took over as CEO of the NAC Foundation this past August, to expand her network. “There are a lot of wonderful people here,” said Locilento, who’s held volunteer leadership roles with AFP Canada and its Toronto Chapter.
“Fundraisers are a community, and connecting with other fundraisers is really important,” said Locilento. “We’re so supportive of each other, and I think we understand the challenges of the work in a way that others can’t. Just having that support, and just having that person to celebrate with you, or commiserate with you or whatever, is really, really helpful.”
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