Category: Canada Associates

Senior Associate

Lisa Di Veto is an accomplished fundraising and communications professional who has made significant contributions to strategic development and marketing programs for leading nonprofit organizations. She has served in a number of diverse development functions for religious institutions, children’s causes, and natural resource associates. As a consultant, her clients have included the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo, and the Royal Botanical Gardens. In these capacities, Lisa was responsible for drastic increases to fundraising revenue and donor bases, as well as the successful development and implementation of numerous strategic plans.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Lisa has extensive experience in all aspects of charitable fundraising including creating and implementing innovative strategies to diversify income and increase revenue from annual giving, major gifts, legacy giving, government and foundation grants. In addition to helping charities reach and exceed revenue goals, she enjoys finding previously unrealized income potential, enabling the organization to advance its mission for years to come.

Sector Experience: Over the past decade, Lisa has helped hundreds of churches with declining donations and increasing expenses strengthen their sustainability through the development of revenue generation strategies for major and legacy gifts, grants and annual giving programs. She also successfully counseled arts and cultural organizations as well as charities in the health, science and environment sectors.

Lisa’s fundraising must have: A compelling case for support, motivated board, knowledgeable staff, solid financial data and strategic plans are all useful when creating a tailored approach to meet your group’s needs.

Contact Lisa at: [email protected]

Associate

Frances Buczko is a passionate and savvy fundraising professional with almost 15 years of experience collaborating with organizations like WWF-Canada, Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation, Bridgepoint Health, Gallery Lambton, and YWCA. She has a track record of exceeding objectives through skilled capital campaign management and has led projects from $3 – $60 million.

Working in the banking industry for nearly 20 years, Frances possesses a formative perspective and diverse skill set. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science degree. She holds certificates in Fundraising Management, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management, and completed The Original Canadian Gift Planning Course and the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ First Course in Fundraising.

Frances is committed to community engagement and encouraging a culture of philanthropy. She has been an active volunteer with the Bata Shoe Museum Resource Development Committee, Canadian Association of Gift Planners, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Rotary Club-Toronto Forest Hill, United Way, CNIB, and Women’s Assault Helpline. 

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Frances’ core expertise is in Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning. She also has extensive experience in Campaign and Volunteer Management, Major Gifts and Sponsorship Solicitation, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Campaign Audits, Feasibility Studies, Proposal Writing, Planned Giving, Prospect Identification, , Leadership and Human Resource Management, Event Sponsorship Solicitation and Project Management

Sector Experience: Healthcare, Arts & Culture, Social Services

Frances’s fundraising must have: Passion – stakeholder engagement that is built on relationship building through information sharing, collaboration and brand awareness.

Contact Frances at: [email protected]

Junior Associate

Gaurav (Gary) is an experienced web developer specializing in custom web application development, digital marketing, and data analytics for nonprofits. His previous work has included roles as Senior Front End or Web Developer at the University of Toronto, CIBC, and hjc. His work with nonprofits has included web development and digital marketing for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation of Canada and CIBC’s Run for the Cure, Sunnybrook Foundation and RBC’s Race for the Kids, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s Big Bike, Ride for Heart, and Jump Rope for Heart, and the WWF’s CN Tower Climb, among others. Gary holds a Bachelor of Technology degree from Swami Vivekanand Institute of Engineering and Technology, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Web Development from Humber College, and he is currently completing a Data Science Certificate from the University of Toronto. Gaurav is an active volunteer in his local community as well as in India, and in 2018, was awarded the President’s Excellence Through Innovation Award from the University of Toronto.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning

Sector Experience: Education; Healthcare

Gaurav’s fundraising must have: A captivating, user-friendly website with coordinated digital marketing campaigns.

Contact Gaurav at: [email protected]

Associate

Tanya Astolfo is a seasoned information professional with over 20 years of experience with hospital foundations and consulting firms. Tanya’s career began in academic libraries and evolved into prospect research and prospect management. She has built and managed a research office and collaborated in the development of a prospect management system at a healthcare foundation. Tanya is an APRA International and APRA Canada member and volunteer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in History and Anthropology from St. Thomas University in New Brunswick, Canada.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Tanya’s core expertise is in Advancement Services. She also has extensive experience in prospect research and prospect management.

Sector Experience: Consulting, Hospital Foundations, Healthcare

Tanya’s fundraising must have: Strong prospect pipeline and informed fundraisers

Contact Tanya at: [email protected]

Junior Associate

Kristina has close to 10 years of experience in marketing and communications, with a focus on creating inspiring content and collateral for print and digital platforms. She began her career working in professional sports and currently works for the fundraising arm of a university healthcare facility. Kristina earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Concordia University in Canada.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Kristina’s core expertise is in Donor and Constituent Engagement. She likewise has a wide experience leading marketing and communication projects, developing and aligning strategic messaging to specific audiences, and sharing engaging stories with the community at large.

Sector Experience: Hospital Foundations; Healthcare

Kristina ‘s fundraising must have: Compelling stories – they are how we connect with our families, friends, and community. Ask us how we can help with that.

Contact Kristina at: [email protected]

Junior Associate

Gillian Aitken has over 5 years of experience in fundraising and strategic development. In this time, she has executed a wide range of fundraising initiatives from writing grant proposals and cultivating funding relationships with corporations and foundations, to managing major gift programs and direct mail campaigns. While most of her career has been spent fundraising for charities in Canada, she spent four months in Varanasi, India, preparing successful grant proposals for a local literacy charity. Gillian earned her bachelor’s degree in Global Politics from Carleton University.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Gillian’s core expertise is in Major and Principal Gifts. She also has extensive experience in Donor Engagement and Donor Journey; Direct Mail; Board Relations; Fundraising Events.

Sector Experience: Education; Youth Empowerment; International Development

Gillian’s fundraising must have: Internal donor strategy meetings.

Contact Gillian at: [email protected]