Donor Relations as Mission Control
Session 1D

Session Description: 

Over the past 10 years, the CAMH Foundation, which raises money for Canada's largest and leading hospital for mental health, has transformed from a small, entrepreneurial shop to a fundraising powerhouse, attracting Canada's largest gifts to mental health.

To manage this growth, the Donor Relations team spearheaded a massive systems overhaul across both the Foundation and the Hospital to make it easier for donors to create change and feel the impact of their generosity. We are now embedded in every part of the solicitation cycle.

Join us for a lively and fun-facilitated discussion where we will delve into the pain points between front line services, fundraising, and operations, and discuss what we can all do to make the system work better. We will learn from each other to identify challenges, create solutions, and select metrics that will demonstrate the value of donor relations. Participants will leave with practical tools.

Shop Sizes
Medium Shop (6–10 staff)
Large Shop (11+ staff)

Experience Level
Suitable for all levels

Sectors
Private College/University
Public College/University, Foundation
Private Secondary School
Healthcare
Religious Organization
Arts Organization
Foundation
Environmental Organization
Advocacy Organization
Social Services
Other Nonprofit

Categories
Donor Experience
Gift Documentation
Gift Management
Policies and Process
Metrics Reporting

About the Speakers:

Suzanne Duncan
Associate Vice President, Donor Relations
CAMH Foundation

Suzanne Duncan, MA, CFRE, has been helping social service organizations reach their philanthropic potential for the last 15 years. At Eva's Initiatives, YWCA Toronto, Frontier College, and The WoodGreen Foundation, she connected visionary donors to innovative projects. Suzanne was a major gifts fundraiser at the CAMH Foundation for five years. She recently became the Associate Vice President of Donor Relations for CAMH Foundation and is responsible for curating and creating the ways that donors engage with CAMH and ensuring they feel the impact of their giving.

Suzanne has volunteered her services to charities including Expect Theatre, where she is currently Treasurer; the Redwood, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Greater Toronto. She also redeveloped the Introduction to Fundraising course at Ryerson University, where she is an instructor.

Dawn Green
Donor Relations Officer
CAMH Foundation

Dawn Green, a Ryerson University Fundraising Management graduate, serves as Donor Relations Officer, Recognition with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation. Dawn has been thriving in the charitable sector for six years, working alongside organizations with a strong mission and program delivery.

Prior to working in the charitable sector, she was a Senior Project Manager in the communications industry. Her areas of expertise include project, event and relationship management, program development, and operations. With a focus on healthcare, she has held positions with Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, Lung Cancer Canada, and most recently the Artists' Health Alliance as their Executive Director.

Connecting with people and their stories is an important reason for the work Dawn does.
She is an avid volunteer and has given her time to a variety of organizations including The Brides' Project, Lung Cancer Canada, and Canadian Cancer Society.