About me
Sharon Avery is President & CEO of Toronto Foundation, where she has led a shift toward more inclusive, participatory, and equity-focused philanthropy. She has championed gender-lens investing, built community-driven research like Toronto’s Social Capital Studies, and introduced approaches that move beyond dollars to build trust and social cohesion across the city. Previously, Sharon was Chief Development Officer at UNICEF Canada, where she oversaw $30M in annual fundraising, and spent nearly a decade at SickKids Foundation leading corporate partnerships and innovation. She is passionate about reimagining philanthropy to strengthen communities—using financial infrastructure for good rather than for asset accumulation.
