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VANCOUVER FUNDRAISING DAY | Session Speakers
Our speakers come prepared to help you be in a better position at this time next year with more donors, high-value donations,
improved fundraising events and top-level engagement of business and foundational supporters. Build your donor base across all channels.
Session Speakers: Insights & Tools for all aspects of fundraising and & donor engagement
Allen Davidov, Senior Vice President and NonProfit Practice Leader, Environics Analytics
SESSION: The importance of understanding your Donors and putting them at the centre of your strategy. In today’s challenging economic climate and amidst global geopolitical uncertainty, there has never been a more critical time for Not-for-Profit and Charitable organizations to leverage data effectively. Understanding how data can strengthen donor engagement is key to starting, nurturing, and growing relationships that sustain your mission. This session will demonstrate how incorporating data into your strategies and planning can transform your organization into a truly data-driven entity—both now and in the future. Join Allen Davidov as he explores how many organizations are sitting on a goldmine of underutilized data. Learn how organizations of all sizes can harness internal data and collaborate with external partners to build future-ready strategies that engage current donors and attract new prospects in meaningful, impactful ways. Discover the art and science behind using data to create a holistic view of your donors and prospects. Gain insights into who your donors are, their engagement patterns, and their future goals—empowering your organization to plan and strategize with confidence. This transformation won’t happen overnight, but now is the time to embark on your data journey. Take a smart, stepwise approach to achieve tangible short-term outcomes while laying the foundation for long-term success.
Participants will learn…
• What goes into Environics Analytics data and where does it come from.
• Privacy and Governance and how we handle and produce data.
• What wealth, demographic, giving, psychographic and behavioural data sets are available for charities at the 6-digit postal code or DA level.
• How EA data compliments your organizations data and provides you with a wholistic picture of your donors.
Learning Objectives:
1. How can your organization utilize the data and tools available to identify strategies and opportunities and build a modernized view of their donor to implement efficient and cohesive donor journeys.
2. Learn how to maximize your database, regardless of if it’s in good or rough shape.
SPEAKER: Allen Davidov, MBA, CM. is the Senior Vice President, Practice Leader of the not-for-profit at Environics Analytics. With over twenty years of experience in marketing, analytics, and fundraising, he has worked with organizations of all sizes to unlock the value of donor information in decision-making and business strategy. Prior to joining EA, Allen successfully led marketing, and a variety of fundraising programs at a number of organizations, including Sinai Health Foundation, Habitat for Humanity GTA, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Ontario Region, St. John’s Rehab Hospital Foundation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and North York General Hospital Foundation. Allen is also an active member of the Canadian Marketing Association Not-For-Profit Council, a TTRA board member, and a member of Seneca College’s Marketing Advisory Council. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Liverpool, a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), a Creative Advertising diploma from Centennial College, and a Chartered Marketer certificate from the Canadian Marketing Association.
Aimée Lindenberger, Senior Consultant, Author, Global Philanthropic
SESSION: Legacy Giving Essentials: 10 Ways to Encourage Donor Legacies. Legacy giving can transform your nonprofit—but how do you encourage supporters to take that important step? In this session, we’ll cover the strategies, practical tips, and real-world examples that make legacy giving easier to integrate into your fundraising efforts. Whether you’re just starting a legacy giving program or looking to grow an existing one, this session will give you concrete ideas you can implement immediately to strengthen long-term support for your mission.
SPEAKER: Aimée joined Global in 2024. A gifted writer and speaker, Aimée authored How to Talk About Legacy Giving and brings over 20 years of marketing and communications experience, a tender heart, an insightful mind, and a drive to make meaningful connections with supporters in every organization she collaborates with. As one of the first in the world to complete a certificate in Philanthropic Psychology, she shares new approaches with charities across Canada — from the largest national organizations to local non-profits — helping them engage their supporters more deeply, particularly in legacy giving, which is her passion. She has assisted many organizations across Canada to raise funds including United Way British Columbia, Plan International Canada, VGH + UBC Hospital Foundation, Heart & Stroke Foundation Canada, WWF-Canada and The Salvation Army. Aimée has held leadership roles on the Greater Vancouver Chapters of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Lynne Boardman, Managing Director, Harvey McKinnon Associates
SESSION: Talk about Legacies! You already know the Why. Today we’ll talk about the Where, When and How to talk to your supporters about leaving a bequest in their Will. From the latest research, to the lessons we all learned from our grannies, we’ll share top tips on finding the best prospects for legacy giving and the most effective way to have that conversation. Along the way we will share our clients’ greatest legacy success stories. Puppies included!
SPEAKERS: Lynne has been working in fundraising for 25 years in both Canada and the UK, starting with an animal welfare charity in Vancouver who really did keep their donor records on recipe cards! She’s worked with a myriad of causes as a fundraiser and a consultant, from international aid to health care, environment, human rights, homelessness, and indigenous education. Lynne works as the Managing Director of Vancouver and Toronto-based consultancy Harvey McKinnon Associates, where she oversees strategy for clients like Amnesty International, Oxfam Canada, and Indspire.
Lynne will also be presenting with Karri LaJeunesse , Senior Account Manager. Karri joined the world of fundraising in 2010 and hasn’t looked back! With a background in Sales and Marketing she has the skills to help her clients meet and exceed their goals. She provides strategy for and helps manage the direct response fundraising programs for a variety of HMA clients. She also spent just over two years at the Rick Hansen Foundation Managing their Community Giving Program.
Anita Lo, Partner, Execution Services, Able & Howe
SESSION: Making the Most of the $10,000 Google Ad Grant: Turning Search Traffic into Supporters. Learn what nonprofits can access through the $10,000-per-month Google Ad Grant. This session outlines what the grant covers and highlights the role that thoughtful conversion goal setup plays in generating meaningful outcomes. You will learn which types of conversions matter beyond donations and how education-focused engagement can reveal supporter intent. The session also explores why a clear, well-structured website is essential for nurturing visitors, improving engagement, and supporting future Meta or TikTok campaigns that guide people from initial interest to long-term support of your mission.
SPEAKER: Anita is the epitome of a modern digital marketer; chic, successful, and savvy. Having spent years on the front-lines and in strategy rooms, she has translated her insights into a profound understanding of today’s consumer. Her approach exploits sophisticated data testing to remain adaptive to new trends and digital tools. Aided by her formal education in marketing, Anita specializes in retail, eCommerce, and B2B operations for growth-oriented brands.
Lucy Isham-Turner, CFRE, Director of Development, Family Services of the North Shore; President, AFP Greater Vancouver. 
Lucy is our Host and Conference Emcee. Strategic fundraising and development leader with 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector in Vancouver. I excel in strategic planning, corporate and donor relations, event planning, and nonprofit marketing and management. My passion for community drives me to cultivate meaningful donor relationships and foster corporate partnerships that generate impactful results. I thrive on designing strategic initiatives that align with organizational goals and enhance community engagement, ultimately contributing to the growth and sustainability of both the organizations I serve and the communities I care about.
Fred Reibin, Marketing & Communications Mgr, Saskatoon Community Foundation
Fred Reibin has lived in and around Saskatoon for most of his life. From riding his bike on the Meewasin to being involved in community gardens, the city has nurtured his spirit for many years. Fred is a passionate storyteller, social entrepreneur and creative strategist. In 2014, along with 3 others, he founded Unite Marketing Cooperative to help good messages spread in the community and purpose-driven organizations succeed. His work on the ground with Unite deepened his love of the Saskatoon community and drove his passion for building community. With the Saskatoon Community Foundation, Fred is continually inspired to make Saskatoon a great place for his children and the future generations. He holds a Bachelors of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan and serves as Chair of the Board for AIESEC Saskatoon. Fred is a committed student of Yoga, teaching at Ground Yoga on Broadway.
John Bromley, Founder & CEO, Charitable Impact
John Bromley grew up with charity at the core of his family’s values. He started his career in corporate finance working with PwC and RBC Capital Markets, and then went to work with world-renowned experts in charity law. After developing an in-depth understanding of the complex world underpinning the charity sector, John recognized a need to make giving more accessible and more effective. He saw that while wanting to help others comes naturally, knowing how to make a difference through charitable giving does not. With that in mind, John went on to launch Charitable Impact. Its mission? Nurture the generosity within each person, and bring the resources for creating change in the world to everyone. To date, Charitable Impact has facilitated more than $1.6 billion in donations and helps more and more people build the brighter future they imagine.
Sarah Bollozos, Chief Development Officer, United Way of BC
SPEAKER: Sarah Bollozos is the Chief Development Officer (CDO) at United Way British Columbia, bringing expertise in fostering healthy and inclusive communities. Their background reflects a strong focus on fundraising and donor relations, cultivated through a series of impactful roles. Prior to their current position, Sarah served as Director, Planned Giving at Heart & Stroke, where they focused on planned giving strategies. At the Canadian Red Cross, they held the role of Senior Director, Campaigns, Major Gifts & Planned Giving, and previously served as Campaigns, Western Director, Major Gifts (Canada). Within the humanitarian aid sector, they contributed to campaign development and major gift initiatives. During their tenure at Simon Fraser University, Sarah held several acting director positions, including Director, International Community Engagement, and Director, International Strategic Initiatives, SFU International. Their work history includes serving as Director, Major Gifts, Faculty of Education, demonstrating applied knowledge of donor relations within academic settings. Earlier in their career, Sarah was the Development & Donor Relations Head at the University of Central Asia, contributing to resource mobilization and stakeholder engagement. Their diverse background also includes experience as Manager, Marketing Strategy & Operations at TDCA, Programme Grants Officer at E3 Collaborative, and Marketing Associate at Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
Michelle Daly, Director of Philanthropy, Vancity Foundation
SESSION: Trust, Relationship, and Reciprocity: Community-Centric Fundraising in Practice. In this interactive session, we’ll explore h
ow trust, relationship-building, and reciprocity form the foundation of effective community-centric fundraising. Drawing on a case study of our work with Indigenous-led organizations, we’ll share practical strategies for shifting away from traditional donor-centric models and toward approaches that center the expertise, voices, and leadership of priority communities. Join us to discover actionable insights, ask questions, and reflect on how your own fundraising practice can become more community-centric and rooted in reciprocity.
SPEAKERS: Michelle Daly (she/her) is Director, Philanthropy, Vancity Community Foundation, where she leads the Philanthropy team, advancing community centric fundraising and trust based grantmaking practices. She will be presenting along with philanthropy team members Loucia Ho, Senior Manager, Philanthropy Resource Development and Terran Bell, Senior Manager, Community and Donor Advised Funds. Since joining the Foundation in 2005, she has held roles in communications, community engagement, and program development, and previously led the organization’s Communication + Engagement efforts. Michelle holds a degree in Communications and a Certificate in Community Economic Development from Simon Fraser University, along with certifications in public engagement. She is committed to reorienting philanthropy toward equity and justice and brings deep experience in collaborative initiatives across the sector.
Mike Leland, Principal, Linked Creative
SESSION: Fix Your Fundraising. Not enough NPOs harness the true power of their brand or they feel branding is something strictly for the private sector or corporate arena—I’ve heard this a million times over my career by NPOs leaders. BUT a well developed and defined brand can literally fix your fundraising challenges, and I’ll outline how. The two go hand-in-hand, but it’s not really the importance of each—it’s about the order of operations. I will outline this theory, the elements of a strong brand, where you need to start, the four keys and use a couple of case studies as examples, including what I like to call umbrella campaigns for NPOs with seasonal confusion or multiple campaigns around year end.
SPEAKER: As a senior executive with close to 25 years experience helping non-profit organizations advance their mission through fundraising, marketing and strategy development, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the leading brands in the sector. Working with—and learning from—some of the best in the business, I’ve developed campaigns at the provincial, national and international level. I’ve helped organizations raise millions, built brand platforms from the ground up, developed campaigns for national and international media, and worked with all three levels of government to advocate for social justice issues. For the past 15 years, I’ve provided executive leadership to some of the biggest non-profit organizations in Canada: Variety, the Children’s Charity, the Canadian Cancer Society, The Salvation Army of British Columbia and Easter Seals BC / Yukon. My commitment to making a difference in the lives of others, combined with my passion marketing and fund development, drove me to create Linked Creative—a full-service boutique dedicated to helping non-profit organizations achieve mission by providing effective marketing, fundraising and strategy development. A big believer in community development, I feel we all have a part to play and I try to live life following the philosophy that “…we must be the change we want to see in the world.” But we should never forget to have fun while doing it!
Shoni Field, Chief Public Engagement & Advancement, BC SPCA
SESSION: It’s Not You, It’s Us: How we’re undermining donor base health and what needs to change. In Canada, and internationally, the number of people giving to charities continues to decline. It’s been termed the “generosity crisis”. If these trends continue, the impact on charitable funding will be catastrophic. At the same time, the charitable sector is expected to solve unprecedented and growing challenges. Let’s ask the tough questions. Is the generosity crisis misnamed, and is this misdiagnosis leading to the wrong treatment? Are we ignoring the hope, the power and potential right under our nose? It’s imperative we shift from survival to thriving by understanding donors’ needs, where and how to focus our attention, and how to boldly build a roadmap for growth.
1. Learn the essentials of wellbeing and loyalty that drive donor base resilience.
2. Discover how to build a long-term roadmap for donor base growth.
3. Consider how to drive success through resource allocation, structure and team development.
SPEAKER: Shoni Field is a strategic fundraising leader with nearly 30 years of experience, specializing in direct response, digital transformation, public engagement and strategic growth planning. She’s the Chief Public Engagement and Advancement Officer at the BC SPCA, where she leads a team of 60+ fundraising, communications and community engagement professionals who inspire kind and caring British Columbians to work for a future where animals and humans thrive together. Shoni is the founder of For the Paws Summit, the first global conference for animal welfare fundraisers and marketers drawing attendees from six countries, and speaks at fundraising conferences nationally and internationally. She is also a long-time advocate for voting reform and citizen engagement. Shoni lives, and continues to learn and unlearn, in the unceded, ancestral lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, currently known as Vancouver.
Alison Keys, Keys Marketing Group
SESSION: From Hello to High Impact: AI Powered, Multichannel Fundraising Across Phone, SMS and Digital. 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.
SPEAKER: Alison Keys is the Founder, President & CEO of Keys Marketing Group, where she has spent three decades helping nonprofits and professional associations unlock transformational growth. With over 30 years of experience, Alison and her team have designed and delivered thousands of successful fundraising campaigns across North America, recently surpassing the $2.5 billion milestone raised on behalf of their clients. Driven by a passion for connecting people, purpose, and impact, Alison believes that effective fundraising does more than generate revenue—it inspires movements, strengthens communities, and empowers organizations to fulfill their missions. Her strategic insights and innovative approaches have positioned her as a trusted advisor to leaders seeking to elevate their fundraising outcomes. Alison brings clarity, energy, and a deep commitment to helping organizations thrive.
Annalissa Magleo, CFRE, Manager, Annual Giving, St. Paul’s Foundation
St. Paul’s Foundation raises funds for enhanced patient care, capital projects, equipment needs, research, teaching, and innovation to improve the care of patients and seniors at St. Paul’s Hospital and other Providence Health Care hospitals and long-term care homes in British Columbia.
Steve Mossop, Executive Vice President, Leger 
SESSION: The Role & Future of AI in Philanthropy, Fundraising and Mission Accomplishment
SPEAKER: Steve Mossop is an accomplished speaker and media personality and has been public speaking for 20+ years on a variety of social, economic, consumer and political trends in front of audiences all over North America. The foundation of his content is the hundreds of thousands of public opinion surveys he has conducted over a lifetime (40 years) spent in the marketing research industry. Steve has publicly released 1000+ different opinion polls on everything from politics, economic confidence, support or opposition to various environmental, social and economic policy issues, consumer & shopper trends, social media habits, healthcare issues, tariffs and trade wars, and AI trends. He has correctly predicted the outcomes of over 25 elections over his career. Steve’s presentation style is open, casual, entertaining and is full of story-telling examples to help captivate the audience and deliver content that is backed-up factually by a multitude of up-to-date public opinion polls that are custom-tailored to the audience he is speaking to. As Executive Vice President of Western Canada for Leger, he leads a team of 30+ researchers in BC and Alberta serving public and private sector clients with full-service market research solutions. Leger is Canada’s largest and best-known public opinion polling firm. Before this, Steve was president of Insights West who Leger acquired in late 2021, that offered insights-driven solutions via leading-edge tools and normative databases and a large consumer panel. Insights West had 15+ employees and $3M+ in billings annually in the 10 years it operated. Prior to this, Steve was at Ipsos for 17 years managing 30+ client service staff in multiple cities after starting his career at the Angus Reid Group and TNS in earlier years.