Finding Belonging, Leading with Purpose

My path to becoming a lifelong fundraiser started with a phone call.
As a student at McMaster University, I worked a part-time job with the Office of Alumni Advancement, calling alumni to ask them to support a capital campaign. I enjoyed talking to people, and it felt natural to engage them. I was fundraising without knowing it.

That was my first exposure to the profession. Since then, I’ve come to understand that fundraising is not just about raising money—it’s about engaging people, building community, and creating lasting impact. That mindset has shaped every step of my career and led me to this important role as your AFP Global Board chair.

After graduation, I joined the United Way of Halton & Hamilton, Ontario. It was a training ground where I developed core skills like volunteer engagement and organizing community campaigns. It was also during this time that AFP first came into my life. I attended my first ICON conference in the late ’90s as a Chamberlain Scholar. It was my first professional conference, and I still remember how energized I felt. It was like drinking from a fire hose—but in the best way. What struck me most wasn’t just the content, but the community. I realized that AFP was more than an association—it was a place to belong.

Over the years, my experiences—from national roles at Parkinson Canada to leadership at The Bishop Strachan School and Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation—have reinforced three core values for me: the power of connection, the confidence of belonging, and the agility of innovation. Whether planning a $40 million campaign at Niagara Health Foundation or completing my MBA and chartered director certification, I’ve learned that successful leadership is about listening, making space for others, and being ready to adapt.

These values also guide how I view the future of our profession. Fundraising is evolving rapidly. Influences like artificial intelligence, donor expectations for involvement, and shifting work environments—especially after the pandemic—have all transformed how we engage. Traditional models alone no longer work. We need new approaches, new leadership development pathways, and stronger support systems for fundraisers at every stage of their journey.

That’s why the 2025–2027 AFP Strategic Plan is so critical. We developed it as a community—with input from members across the globe. It’s bold and forward-looking, with a strong focus on inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. It centers on what truly matters: strengthening the member experience, fostering ethical standards, reimagining leadership development, and modernizing our governance ecosystem so everyone with a heart to serve can see a clear path to leadership.

This work resonates deeply with me. As a cis-gendered brown male, I’ve experienced racism, exclusion, and environments where I didn’t feel seen. Those moments have fueled my belief in the importance of belonging—not just as a concept, but as a feeling. You can’t fully contribute if you don’t feel you belong. So as AFP Global chair, I’m committed to ensuring every member—no matter their background—feels connected, valued, and heard.

To do that, we’re asking hard but important questions: What does belonging mean to you? How do you experience AFP in your chapter or community? How do we live out our ethics? These conversations are crucial to shaping not only AFP’s future, but the future of our entire profession.

My own AFP journey started more than 25 years ago, and it’s been shaped by mentors, colleagues, and countless moments of learning and growth. I’ve served on the AFP Greater Toronto Chapter board, helped grow the AFP Golden Horseshoe Chapter, and led the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy–Canada. I’ve seen firsthand how this organization builds leaders. Today, I carry that legacy forward—and I’m grateful to those who came before me who championed equity and belonging. I will continue that vital work.

A donor once told me that fundraising is really about “friendraising.” That stuck with me. You can’t fundraise from behind a desk. You need relationships. You need connection. And when you have that—when you feel part of a mission—you will love what you do.

AFP is your community to help build those connections. Through peer conversations, virtual courses, leadership opportunities, and conferences like AFP ICON, we are here to help you grow, thrive, and belong.

I look forward to visiting chapters, meeting members, and hearing your stories. Please reach out—whether to talk about identity, the profession, or your own AFP journey. You can reach me at [email protected].