AFP in Canada Report: 2024–2025

FRANÇAIS

AFP Canada and the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada proudly present this report showcasing highlights from our work together (as AFP in Canada) and independently as separate entities. Our work is guided by the 2022-2026 AFP in Canada Strategic Plan.

AFP Canada is a leading national voice for fundraising professionals who are vital in advancing charitable work. Formed in 2017, AFP Canada was created to complement AFP Global’s work. AFP Canada advocates before government on behalf of AFP and the profession, communicates the impact of fundraising in communities across the country, and focuses on uniquely Canadian priorities.

The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada, a registered charity, was created in 1999. As the philanthropic arm of AFP, the Foundation raises funds for its National Scholarship Program, the Fellowship in Inclusion and Philanthropy Program, research, ethics education, and leadership development. 

Highlights of the Work of AFP in Canada

AFP Canada and the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada

• Engaged the Power of Discourse to conduct an inclusion, diversity, equity, access and anti-racism audit of AFP in Canada. Read the report and the response.
• Struck a joint working group, made up of the chairs/co-chairs and chairs elect of both boards and the co-chairs of the IDEAA committee, to support the release of the report and the next elements of the plan.
• Supported AFP leaders by offering a relevant, engaging and thoughtful 2024 AFP in Canada Leadership Retreat hosted by the AFP Vancouver Island chapter.
• Convened meetings of leaders at AFP LEAD and AFP ICON, offering a virtual option at both.

AFP Canada

Government Relations (GR)

Advocating for an environment that strengthens effective and ethical fundraising to encourage more giving and greater impact

• AFP Canada’s request for a secretariat for the charitable sector remains our top priority. With support from Maple Leaf Strategies, our GR firm, we identify key government contacts to help move forward with our request for a secretariat.
• Last year, we had a few firsts including being invited to the Federal Budget Lock Up!
• AFP Canada representatives met with members of Parliament and government officials throughout the year including at Imagine Canada’s Hill Day. They also served on the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector and the CRA Technical Issues Working Group.
• Postal strike: AFP Canada immediately published an article on the day the strike started and conducted media interviews about its impact on fundraising and the importance of continuing to donate to charities. We wrote to the Minister of Labour and provided expertise for internal briefings for the Minister on the impact of the postal disruption on fundraising.
• Extension of donation year-end: To support fundraisers and charities, AFP Canada sent a letter to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of National Revenue urging government to allow Canadians to apply donations made in January and February 2025 to their 2024 tax year. The Minister of National Revenue’s office confirmed that the government was moving forward with the donation deadline extension and thanked AFP Canada for clearly outlining the reasons why this change would help the sector. AFP Canada expressed our appreciation. When Parliament was prorogued, we worked with government to determine the impact on the donation extension and shared regular updates with AFP members.
• Assistance in response to trade dispute: AFP Canada sent a letter to the Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs and the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development urging them to create a secretariat and to include our sector in assistance programs in response to the tariffs. We further amplified this request through our pre-budget consultation for the 2025 Federal Budget.
• Federal Election: Leading up to the election on April 28, AFP Canada ran a campaign to raise the profile of our sector, its impact in communities across Canada, and the need for a secretariat. We created dedicated webpages, a toolkit, conducted a pre-election survey, ran a social media campaign (bilingual), published Policy, Politics, and Charities: Ensuring Our Voices Are Heard and included weekly calls to action in the AFP Daily in Canada. Following the election, we held a post-election webinar (recording), conducted a post-election survey and sent personal letters and a backgrounder about the benefits of creating a secretariat for our sector to each of the 343 members of Parliament who were elected. We received great responses to these letters.

Communications

Promoting the value of the fundraising profession and AFP

• To raise the profile of AFP and our profession, the following were published in our national newspaper last year: the AFP/Globe and Mail National Philanthropy Day Supplement, the Countdown to GivingTuesday, the Giving Season, and the AFP/Globe and Mail Philanthropy in Canada Supplement.
• Media relations efforts focused on the postal disruption, the extension of the charitable donation deadline, and National Philanthropy Day celebrations. Interviews with AFP Canada spokespeople were featured on CBC Radio Maritime Noon, the Ottawa Business Journal, Future of Good, Ricochet, CityNews 101.1 - the Sam Laprade Show and An Hour to Give.
• The Narrative for Canadian Fundraising remains key to our work in Canada. Launched in 2019, the Narrative was developed as a toolkit for fundraisers as they engage in discussions about the value and impact of fundraising and philanthropy. The Narrative provides a lens through which to view the impact of fundraising by focusing on how it helps to change people’s lives. It asks, “What is it about fundraising that we value, and how can we get other people to value those things too?” Since its release, AFP Canada has successfully delivered 21 specialized training for 770 attendees, including sessions at AFP ICON. Last spring a toolkit was developed with resources available in both languages for chapters wishing to host Narrative sessions.
• AFP Canada published 27 articles, in both languages, from July 2024 to July2025.
• We provided, and continue to provide, relevant and informative content on the sector in Canada to members through the AFP in Canada newsletter, published each Thursday, and through the AFP Canada website.

AFP Canada Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) 

Taking meaningful actions on Truth and Reconciliation and making change with our IDEA work

• In addition to the work that AFP Canada does in collaboration with the Foundation and being mindful not to duplicate work underway at AFP Global or the chapters, AFP Canada focuses on bringing the principles of IDEA into our work.
• After a thorough review, AFP Canada published an updated version of the AFP Canada IDEA policy in both languages.  
• AFP Canada remains committed to our work on Truth and Reconciliation. In addition to publishing articles and sharing training resources, we struck a dedicated committee to lead this work as a priority this fall.
• AFP Canada offered national leaders the opportunity to participate in a special session called “Inclusive Teams and Inclusive Governance” delivered by Tanya Rumble. There was no charge, and it was offered via Zoom making it more accessible.
• The Inclusion, diversity, equity, access and anti-racism report lists a range of recommendations, some of which are straightforward and easily actionable, while others are more complex. Those that AFP Canada had already planned or actioned to date include:
  • Adding a link on the front page of AFP Canada’s website to highlight the work underway on IDEA and providing a link to work on Truth and Reconciliation.
  • Conducting a Web Content Accessibility Guidelines review to enhance usability for all members of the AFP website.
  • Asking for accessibility needs as part of the registration process for the 2025 retreat.
  • Encouraging those registered for the retreat to take one or more of the following courses: the University of British Columbia’s Anti-Racism Awareness course; the University of Alberta’s Black Canadians: History, Presence, and Anti-Racist Futures course; and the University of Alberta’s Indigenous Canada course.

AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada

National Scholarship Program

Provide opportunities for fundraising professionals in Canada to attend educational programs to enhance their skills

• The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada offers two applications periods annually on March 15 and September 15.
• Since 2024, the Foundation has provided 33 scholarships totaling $16,575 to fundraising professionals across the country.
• Specific outreach was made to the Circle on Philanthropy to encourage Indigenous fundraising professionals to apply for scholarships.

Complimentary Webinars

Provide complimentary educational programs to fundraising professionals throughout Canada

• Beyond the Basics: Turning Innovative Approaches into Real Results as offered in April 2025. 

Translation

An overarching priority for the Foundation is to provide resources in both official languages

• IDEAA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Anti-Racism) Audit for AFP in Canada was translated. 

Mentoring

Provide grants to AFP chapter in Canada that offer mentoring programs

• Since January 2024, the Foundation has provided four grants totaling $2,000 to chapters to help with their mentoring programs.

Regional Programs

Extend the reach of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada through grants to AFP chapters to offer programs and services in their geographic area

• Since January 2024, the Foundation has provided fifteen grants totaling $10,698 to AFP chapters.

IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) Governance Integration

Incorporate IDEA principles into the governance and leadership of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada

• Led the IDEAA audit work including striking an IDEAA audit committee, issuing a request for proposals and engaging a DEI firm to conduct the audit.
• Led the development of surveys and questionnaires, listening sessions and engagement of current and lapsed members to provide feedback for the audit.
• Supported the auditors’ review of policies and procedures and feedback from members.
• Published the report and joint response from AFP in Canada and developed education sessions for the AFP in Canada Leadership Retreat.
• AFP in Canada is committed to reviewing the audit findings and taking appropriate action on the recommendations.