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Canada’s conference with a heart!
Type: Breakout session clear filter
Thursday, May 28
 

9:55am EDT

B1-1: Case Study: Building a Movement from Scratch: How Save The CBC Mobilized 100,000 People in Months
Thursday May 28, 2026 9:55am - 10:55am EDT
How do you build a movement when the stakes are high, the opposition is powerful, and your team is small?

When CBC came under threat, Save The CBC started with a small group of volunteers and quickly grew into a high-impact social media campaign with more than 100,000 followers. In this session, Harvey McKinnon breaks down how the campaign was built, what worked, and what non-profits can apply to their own advocacy efforts.

At a time when independent media is under pressure and civil society faces growing attacks, this session offers practical lessons in rapid audience growth, message development, volunteer-driven campaigning, and public mobilization.

If your organization wants to build support, cut through noise, and respond effectively in a polarized environment, this session will give you ideas you can use right away.
Speakers
avatar for Harvey McKinnon

Harvey McKinnon

President, Harvey McKinnon Associates
Harvey McKinnon has been a fundraiser for over 40 years and is recognized as one of North America’s leading fundraising experts. His consultancy raises money for hundreds of non-profits in Canada and the USA. He is a seasoned trainer who has delivered fundraising keynotes at conferences... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 9:55am - 10:55am EDT
Mandarin Ballroom AB

9:55am EDT

B1-2: Major Donors Are Closer Than You Think: Identifying Your Next Major Gift Donor From Within
Thursday May 28, 2026 9:55am - 10:55am EDT
No matter where you are in your campaign planning, building out a major gift strategy, or simply trying to breathe new life into a tired prospect pipeline, the goal is the same: engage and inspire more people to invest more meaningfully in your mission.

That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens with a system.

Your next major donor likely isn’t a headline name suggested at a board meeting or someone pulled from the latest news story. More often, they’re already in your database—quietly sitting in a report, tucked into an Excel spreadsheet, or waiting to be surfaced through thoughtful analysis. The opportunity? Hiding in plain sight.

This practical breakout session is designed for fundraising professionals who are planning a campaign, building or refining a major gift strategy, or looking to strengthen their prospect pipeline. Participants will learn to leverage internal data, recognize strong major-gift indicators, and implement a repeatable system for identifying and qualifying prospects.

We will walk through practical, real-world strategies to identify high-potential major gift prospects using the data you already have. Expect actionable tools, candid insights, and a bias toward implementation.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
  1. Apply a practical framework to identify major gift prospects using internal data and existing relationships.
  2. Recognize key attributes and behavioural indicators that signal major gift potential.
  3. Build or refresh a prospect pipeline aligned with campaign goals and the long-term major-gift strategy.

Speakers
avatar for Liz Rejman

Liz Rejman

Principal, Liz Rejman + Co.
Liz Rejman (she/her) is a fundraising operations strategist and donor data specialist with more than 20 years of experience supporting social service, arts, healthcare, and higher education organizations. Across her career, she has worked in nearly every facet of fundraising — from data management... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 9:55am - 10:55am EDT
Toronto Room

9:55am EDT

B1-3: The Mycelial Exchange: A Circular Dialogue on Community Centric Fundraising
Thursday May 28, 2026 9:55am - 10:55am EDT

In the forest, the mycelial network serves as a subterranean intelligence. A vast web of fungal threads connects individual plants into a collaborative ecosystem. This "wood wide web" facilitates reciprocal exchange, ensuring nutrients reach the most vulnerable and allowing the forest to communicate as a single organism. This session adopts a micellar learning model to explore Community Centric Fundraising (CCF).

Moving away from traditional, top-down lectures, this is a circular facilitated conversation designed to mimic ecological interdependence.

Participants are invited to submit questions ahead of time.

These inquiries will be grouped into thematic clusters: themes with the highest volume of questions will receive the most expansive time for discussion, ensuring an adaptive, emergent learning experience where we are all equal in learning and sharing.
Speakers
avatar for Chantelle Ohrling, CFRE

Chantelle Ohrling, CFRE

Senior Officer of Legacy Giving, David Suzuki Foundation
Chantelle Ohrling, CFRE (she/her), is the David Suzuki Foundation’s Senior Officer of Legacy Giving, helping caring Canadians alchemize their values and hopes into enduring environmental protections. Chantelle also serves as Chair of Communications and Chair of Equity & Reconciliation... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 9:55am - 10:55am EDT
Victoria Room

11:00am EDT

B2-1: Trends in Online Giving from the 2026 Edition of The Giving Report
Thursday May 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
This session explores key findings from the 2026 edition of The Giving Report, offering a national snapshot of online giving in 2025 and the trends shaping the sector. Presented by Mitchell Hillier (Director of Business Development, Environics Analytics) and Julie Fiorini (General Manager, Charity and Donor Services, CanadaHelps), it will highlight shifts in donor behaviour, the continued reliance on fewer donors, and the growth of emerging giving channels, such as monthly donations and securities donations. The session distills these broader trends into practical, actionable takeaways to help charities plan and adapt with greater clarity and confidence. Attendees will also learn how to apply these insights within their own organizations, using a toolkit from Environics Analytics to put the data into action.
Speakers
avatar for Mitchell Hillier

Mitchell Hillier

Director of Business Development, Environics Analytics
Mitchell is the Director of Business Development leading the Not For Profit, Education and Public Health sectors at Environics Analytics. Whether it’s a custom segmentation, developing a strategic plan, or building data literacy, he has worked with organizations of all sizes to... Read More →
avatar for Julie Fiorini

Julie Fiorini

General Manager of Charity & Donor Services, CanadaHelps
Julie Fiorini is the General Manager of Donor Services and Brand Marketing at CanadaHelps. Julie brings a diverse background in marketing, communications, and fundraising to support Canadians on their philanthropic journeys and to drive much-needed donations to charities working every... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Mandarin Ballroom AB

11:00am EDT

B2-2: Community Building 101: Welcoming All Voices into Philanthropy
Thursday May 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Building meaningful relationships across communities requires more than outreach tactics or fundraising strategy. It starts with trust, listening, and creating spaces where more people feel genuinely welcomed into philanthropy.
In this engaging breakout session, Jaya Mootoo will explore practical approaches to community building for fundraisers and community foundation professionals working to connect with broader and more diverse communities. Through stories, insights, and real-world experience, participants will leave with fresh perspective and actionable ideas for building stronger, more inclusive relationships that can deepen generosity and community connection over time.

Speakers
avatar for Jaya Mootoo

Jaya Mootoo

Director, Fundholder and Community Engagement / Equity Seeker, Oakville Community Foundation/ Jaya Mootoo Consulting
Jaya is a driven professional, dedicated to equity and inclusion in fundraising, the nonprofit and charitable sector and society. She has over 20-years of experience in social services and community development, including working with women and children experiencing intimate partner... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Toronto Room

11:00am EDT

B2-3: Interactive Content to Boost Online Donations
Thursday May 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Details coming soon.
Speakers
avatar for Claire Kerr

Claire Kerr

Sr. Director, Care2, Inc.
Claire is a nonprofit veteran who has worked for organizations in economic development, education, and fundraising sectors. At Care2, she works with charities and nonprofits as they use digital channels to acquire new supporters. She has presented online, social and mobile fundraising... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Victoria Room

11:00am EDT

B2-4: Beyond Fundraising: What Charities Are Learning About Reserves, Investments, and Mission Capital
Thursday May 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
As financial pressures grow and community needs intensify, many charities are reassessing how reserves, investments, and long-term capital strategies contribute to organizational resilience and mission sustainability.

This session will explore emerging shifts in how charitable organizations are thinking about financial stewardship beyond annual fundraising, including reserve policies, investment approaches, liquidity, governance, and the role of long-term capital in supporting mission impact.

Drawing on early sector insights and perspectives from sector and investment leaders, this interactive discussion will invite participants to reflect on the tensions, opportunities, and financial realities shaping decision-making within their own organizations.

Ideal for: executive directors, finance leaders, fundraisers, and board members interested in organizational sustainability, financial resilience, and the future of charitable capital.
Speakers
avatar for Aneil Gokhale

Aneil Gokhale

Director, Philanthropy, Toronto Foundation
Aneil Gokhale is Lead, Philanthropic Advisory Services at Toronto Foundation, where he helps individuals, families, and professional advisors design values-based approaches to giving. Since joining in July 2012, he has helped grow the Foundation's platform from a few hundred funds... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Seattle Room - 26th Floor

1:50pm EDT

B3-1: Braver Together: Community, Courage, and the Future of Fundraising
Thursday May 28, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm EDT
How to turn courage, collaboration, and belonging into measurable fundraising impact.

The fundraising sector is at an inflection point. Innovation is accelerating. Expectations are rising. Burnout is real. And too often, organizations respond by retreating into silos—between development and marketing, programs and leadership, generations and fundraising models.

But the future of fundraising will not be built by lone heroes. It will be built by teams and communities who know how to lead together.

In this interactive, skills-based workshop, Tammy Zonker and Floyd Jones equip fundraisers with practical tools to break down silos, align teams, and use community as a catalyst for growth. Participants will explore how courage and collaboration are not just cultural values—but strategic advantages that drive revenue and resilience. Grounded in real-world practice and built around Floyd’s 4Cs framework (Captivate, Communicate, Convert, Catalyst), this session provides a clear structure for strengthening alignment, deepening belonging, and activating supporters as partners in impact. Participants will leave with concrete tools and a defined 30-day action plan to unlock cross-team momentum and grow fundraising results—without sacrificing their humanity.

Participants Will Leave With:
  • A simple 30-minute silo audit to strengthen cross-team alignment
  • A practical way to apply the 4Cs framework to evaluate and improve fundraising strategy
  • Language that shifts teams from fear-based leadership to collaboration-centered messaging
  • A clear method for mapping the donor journey and removing one growth barrier
  • One specific community activation they can launch within 90 days
  • A defined 30-day action step to increase alignment and fundraising effectiveness

Speakers
avatar for Tammy Zonker

Tammy Zonker

President & CEO, Fundraising Transformed
Tammy Zonker is a passionate leader, strategic thinker, author, and recognized expert in major gift fundraising with nearly three decades of impactful experience. As the Founder and President of Fundraising Transformed, President of the Modern Institute for Charitable Giving, Aut... Read More →
avatar for Floyd Jones

Floyd Jones

Speaker, Coach & Community Builder, Floyd Jones Enterprises
Floyd Jones is a speaker, coach, and community builder based in NYC, dedicated to helping nonprofits and purpose-driven entrepreneurs create sustainable, engaged communities that drive lasting impact. As the founder of Floyd Jones Enterprises, a media and coaching company, and BackBlack... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm EDT
Mandarin Ballroom AB

1:50pm EDT

B3-2: Legacy Landscape Report: What You Need to Know Now
Thursday May 28, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm EDT
Epilogue Wills teamed up with Good Works to look at Canada’s Legacy Landscape in 2025, and the result is an insightful report that every fundraiser should read. Join him for the most urgent and actionable highlights.
Speakers
avatar for Arin Klug

Arin Klug

Co-Founder & COO, Epilogue Wills
Arin Klug is Co-Founder and COO of Epilogue. With backgrounds in Computer Science and Estate Planning, Arin co-founded Epilogue with the goal of democratizing estate planning for all Canadians.

avatar for Holly Wagg

Holly Wagg

Partner and CEO, Good Works
Holly Wagg, CFRE, leads both the people and business at Good Works - a Canadian fundraising agency that specializes in direct mail, digital and legacy giving for annual donors. She is the proud co-author of You Can’t Take It With You: The Art & Science of Legacy Fundraising (20... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm EDT
Victoria Room

1:50pm EDT

B3-3: Fundraising and Membership Structures
Thursday May 28, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm EDT
Historically, membership was an important source of funds for the nonprofit sector. This has declined in the 21st century, in part due to declining participation and in part due to modern corporate statutes such as the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act and Ontario's Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, which conferred increased rights on members; many nonprofits have switched to closed membership structures. This session would examine intersections of fundraising and governance concerns around membership structures, including:
  1. Unintended consequences of using the term "member" colloquially
  2. Why fundraisers should have an interest in discussions about membership structures
  3. Legal benefits of communicating to members over other groups

Speakers
avatar for Benjamin Miller

Benjamin Miller

Staff Lawyer/Policy Advisor Nonprofit Law Ontario, Ontario Nonprofit Network
Benjamin Miller (he/him) is a staff lawyer on the Nonprofit Law Ontario project, where he focuses on the legal needs of nonprofits and charities. Over the past 8 years, Benjamin has answered thousands of nonprofit law questions, developed and delivered hundreds of workshops, and developed... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm EDT
Vancouver Room

1:50pm EDT

B3-4: Thirty Top Tips to Boost Your DM Program
Thursday May 28, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm EDT
Join Sonya for this rapid-fire session where she’ll share 30 great suggestions to help you raise more money with your direct mail appeals.

These tried-and-true techniques have been carefully collected from Sonya’s wide-ranging experience both within charities and agency-side. Whether you’re in a small(er) shop or a large organization, and no matter if your DM activities are new or mature, this session will offer practical takeaways you can implement immediately.

You’ll head back to work full of ideas to improve your direct mail copy, enhance your DM packages, and strengthen your overall program – just in time for the critical fall and holiday fundraising season!

Speakers
avatar for Sonya Swiridjuk

Sonya Swiridjuk

Principal, Sonya Swiridjuk Consulting
Sonya Swiridjuk, CFRE, got her start in fundraising with her youth bowling league in Winnipeg, convincing her dad to make a “major gift investment” and buy her lot of chocolate after most of it had already been eaten. Today, Sonya’s fundraising activities and writing convince... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm EDT
Seattle Room - 26th Floor

3:15pm EDT

B4-1: Building Proposals That Work
Thursday May 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
How is your closing rate on proposals? If your closing rate is not 100%, this is the session that you need to attend. Learn the art of proposal development and understand how to move your closing ratio to 100%! (Just think of the leverage with your boss to be able to say… I deserve a raise… I closed every proposal I presented this past year… who else is doing that?)

The session will look at the format for designing a winning proposal, the steps for making a winning proposal, and the process of negotiating and closing a winning proposal. Whether that proposal is for a major gift ask or a sponsorship proposal, the process works.
Speakers
avatar for Brent Barootes

Brent Barootes

President and CEO, Partnership Group - Sponsorship Specialists
Brent Barootes has spent over 35 years in the sponsorship marketing industry, developing and delivering profitable sponsorship programs to charities and non profits that result in high returns on investment for these organizations. As President and CEO of the Partnership Group... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
Mandarin Ballroom AB

3:15pm EDT

B4-2: From Hello to High Impact: AI Powered, Multichannel Fundraising Across Phone, SMS and Digital
Thursday May 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
The way donors engage has changed—and tele-fundraising has changed with it. Today’s most effective fundraising programs place live conversations at the centre, supported by integrated SMS, digital touchpoints, and AI-informed insights that strengthen donor relationships across channels. In this interactive session, we’ll explore how tele-fundraising teams are working today within multichannel environments to create more connected, responsive donor experiences. You’ll see how SMS can thoughtfully support live conversations, how AI is shaping timing and follow-up behind the scenes, and why integration—rather than adding more channels—is the key to better engagement and retention. Using real-world examples, we’ll look at what it takes to align phone, text, and digital outreach into a cohesive donor journey without losing the human voice that makes tele-fundraising effective.

Participants will leave with practical insights on how to:
  • Integrate tele-fundraising, SMS, and digital channels into a seamless donor experience
  • Use AI-informed tools to support stronger conversations and smarter outreach
  • Improve donor retention through timely, relevant multichannel follow-up
  • Strengthen tele-fundraising programs in ways that are ethical, sustainable, and donor-centred
Whether you’re new to tele-fundraising, refining an existing calling program or rethinking how your channels work together, this session offers a grounded, practical look at how multichannel fundraising is reshaping tele-fundraising—and how to use it well.

Speakers
avatar for Alison Keys

Alison Keys

CEO, Keys Marketing Group
As Founder, President & CEO of Keys Marketing Group, has spent nearly three decades helping nonprofits and professional associations unlock transformational growth.

Over the past 29 years, she and her team have designed and delivered thousands of successful fundraising campaigns a... Read More →
avatar for Lisa Smith

Lisa Smith

Director of Operations, Keys Marketing Group
Lisa Smith is the Director of Operations at Keys Marketing Group, where she helps Canadian charities, non-profits, and member-based organizations build stronger donor relationships through thoughtful fundraising strategy, clear communication, and meaningful conversation.Lisa has more than a decade of... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
Toronto Room

3:15pm EDT

B4-3a: How to Connect with Multi-Racial Donors
Thursday May 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
Presented by Eric Saarvala, Executive Director of the Raymond James Canada Foundation

Fundraisers often talk about connecting with specific cultural communities — but what happens when more and more donors don’t fit neatly into just one group?
As Canada’s population continues to evolve, a growing number of people identify as multi-racial, bringing different lived experiences, perspectives, and identities to the donor journey. In this timely and thought-provoking session, Eric Saarvala will explore what this shift means for fundraising and how organizations can adapt to ensure more people feel seen, welcomed, and valued.
Participants will leave with fresh ideas for building stronger relationships and deeper donor engagement in the future of Canadian philanthropy.

Speakers
avatar for Eric Saarvala

Eric Saarvala

Executive Director, Raymond James Canada Foundation
Eric Saarvala is the Executive Director of the Raymond James Canada Foundation and Head, Corporate Sustainability. His 20+ years of consulting and management experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors focuses on social impact through sustainability, corporate social... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT
Victoria Room
 
Canada's Fundraising Conference 2026
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