Chapter Leader Q&A with Teresa Marques
Tell us about your mentor program and the new members who are joining?
Our partnership with RBC enabled us to to launch the AFP Ottawa Future Leaders mentorship program in 2019: the first of its kind in Canada. We were delighted to renew this partnership for year 2! As part of this program, promising young people aged 19 to 35 from the national capital region are paired with experienced fundraising professionals. The mentees also benefit from complimentary participation in all AFP Ottawa professional development opportunities throughout the year.
How are you changing your National Philanthropy Day celebration, and what types of philanthropists will you be honoring?
In celebration of National Philanthropy Day, AFP Ottawa organizes the annual “Philanthropy Awards” (also known as the “Phils”). It’s a unique opportunity in Ottawa for multiple sectors to come together in celebration of giving, volunteerism and community building. It’s definitely a highlight of the fall social calendar! We annually honour a range of individuals and organizations, ranging from youth, to volunteers, philanthropic groups to corporate philanthropists. For 2020, in light of the extraordinary circumstances of this year, we have created a special new award to honour exemplary contributions to this crisis. The Outstanding Emergency Response award will be open to individuals, philanthropists, volunteers, businesses, foundations or charities who have demonstrate remarkable leadership in their contribution and response to the crisis of COVID-19. We hope it will be an important way to celebrate the community that is emerging from this crisis.
What value does AFP membership have for the chapter members?
I like to consider AFP membership as the backbone to our profession – offering a complete range of learning and mentoring opportunities, professional development, advanced education, and sharing of best practices. But more than this – and particularly in these strange times we’re in - it offers a real sense of community. It’s been so heartening to see how members in our community here in Ottawa have rallied and responded to the completely digital world we’re now in. It definitely reflected a pivot for us as a chapter, but one that our membership has embraced – and then some! I’m excited about what the future holds.
What about your chapter makes you the most proud?
Many things! But if I had to narrow it down, it would probably be the volunteer contribution that makes all of it possible. As a chapter we have a strong base and solid core of cyclical events and offerings for members, but definitely a shared appetite and culture of trying out new ideas, piloting new initiatives for our members, and a bias towards constant improvement. And all driven by volunteer directors and committees, each with their own “day jobs.” The commitment of our volunteers to the chapter has really been the most extraordinary element that I’ve uncovered since becoming President of the chapter. It makes the role so much more rewarding when the culture of collaboration, innovation and community is so strong.
