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Audience: Emerging Trends clear filter
Thursday, October 8
 

TBA

Beyond the Middle: Rethinking Mid-Level Giving for Growth
Thursday October 8, 2026 TBA
Mid-level giving is one of the most important opportunities driving real growth in fundraising today. As acquisition costs rise and broad donor participation declines, value is concentrated among fewer supporters, with mid-level donors increasingly driving growth, retention and long-term value. Yet many organizations still define and manage mid-level programs based on outdated or overly rigid models determined bytransactions only. 

This session reframes mid-level giving as a strategic growth engine, not simply a pathway to major gifts. Drawing on new research and leading program insights, our speakers will explore how to identify high-potential donors based on affinity and behaviour, design differentiated journeys and leverage donor experience development to unlock greater value. 

We will also examine how breaking down organizational silos and aligning strategies across teams can create a more cohesive donor experience. Attendees will leave with a practical framework to reposition mid-level, strengthen pipelines and unlock sustainable growth and lifetime value. 

Learning Outcomes: 
  • Rethink how mid-level giving is defined, moving from static thresholds to behaviour and future potential. 
  • Identify distinct mid-level audiences and apply segmentation approaches that reflect motivation, life stage, and giving pathways. 
  • Explore strategies to align teams, journeys and channels to reduce silos and strengthen donor engagement. 
  • Be inspired to think differently about mid-level giving and reposition it as a core driver of long-term revenue and lifetime value. 

Speakers
avatar for Aneil Gokhale

Aneil Gokhale

Lead, Philanthropic Advisory Services, Toronto Foundation
Aneil Gokhale is Lead, Philanthropic Advisory Services at Toronto Foundation, where he helps individuals, families, and professional advisors design values-based approaches to giving. Since joining in July 2012, he has helped grow the Foundation’s platform from a few hundred funds... Read More →
avatar for Kimberley Blease

Kimberley Blease

EVP, Strategic Growth & Innovation, Blakely
Kimberley Blease brings over 40 years of leadership at the intersection of fundraising, marketing and strategy. As EVP of Strategic Growth & Innovation at Blakely Inc., she leads product innovation, thought leadership and growth‑focused consulting across the sector and is a sought‑after speaker on the topics of high‑value and legacy giving and industry trends. In addition to consulting... Read More →
avatar for Rachel Hunnybun

Rachel Hunnybun

VP, Donor Experience, Blakely
Rachel has over 17 years industry experience in helping charities build retention through long term strategies and donor experience. At Blakely, as Director of Strategic Solutions, Rachel develops insight-based solutions, value propositions and journeys to enhance income and deepen... Read More →
avatar for Anna Kissin

Anna Kissin

Manager, Community Giving, Sunnybrook Foundation
Anna Kissin, CFRE, brings over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector. She currently serves as Manager, Mid-Level Giving at Sunnybrook Foundation. Her work is grounded in building authentic relationships with donors, helping them connect their generosity to meaningful impact... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 TBA
MaRS Centre

TBA

Digital in Motion: The Trends Redefining Engagement
Thursday October 8, 2026 TBA
Digital is evolving fast—and it’s reshaping how non-profits engage, inspire and grow relationships and revenues. From AI-powered personalization to the rise of community-led engagement, the rules of digital fundraising are being rewritten in real time. In this forward-looking panel, industry leaders unpack the trends changing how organizations connect with supporters across channels. We’ll explore what’sgaining traction now, what’s coming next, and how donor expectations are shifting as a result. Expect honest perspectives to help you cut through the noise, focus your efforts, and build digital strategies that are more connected, effective and future-ready. 
 
Whether you’re leading digital strategy, fundraising or marketing, this session will leave you with a clearer view of where to focus—and how to adapt with confidence in a rapidly evolving landscape. 
 
Learning Outcomes:
  • Understand the key digital trends shaping fundraising today, and what they mean for your organization 
  • Explore how to build more connected, multi-channel digital strategies that engage supporters across touchpoints 
  • Learn how evolving donor expectations are influencing digital content, channels and experiences 
  • Identify opportunities to strengthen engagement, trust and retention through more intentional digital approaches 
  • Leave with actionable ideas to adapt and evolve your digital strategy for sustained growth 
Speakers
avatar for Claire Kerr

Claire Kerr

Senior Director, Care2
Claire is a nonprofit veteran who has worked for organizations in economic development, education, and fundraising sectors. At Care2, she works with charities and nonprofits as they use digital channels to acquire new supporters, as well as advocate for progressive causes online... Read More →
avatar for Jay Aber

Jay Aber

President, The Aber Group
Jay is the Founder and President of The Aber Group, an independent media planning and buying agency based in Toronto that specializes in the charity and not for profit sectors.  The Aber Group works with large, medium, and small clients and has more not for profit clients than any... Read More →
avatar for Amparo Jardine

Amparo Jardine

Executive Director, Donor Response Marketing, Diabetes Canada

Thursday October 8, 2026 TBA
MaRS Centre

TBA

New Audiences, New Possibilities: Engaging Diaspora Donors
Thursday October 8, 2026 TBA
Canada’s fastest-growing communities are already generous, but often under-engaged by traditional fundraising. Nearly 80% of multicultural Canadians donate, and the majority say they would give more if asked or better connected to causes.  

This panel explores how diaspora and multicultural audiences give, what motivates them, and what they expect from the organizations they support. Through a dynamic conversation, experienced fundraisers will share insights on building trust, designing relevant donor experiences, and unlocking new opportunities for growth. 

The future of fundraising growth in Canada will be shaped by how well we engage the audiences we have yet to fully understand. 

Learning Outcomes: 
  • Understand the opportunity of diaspora giving: Recognize the scale and growth of diaspora and multicultural giving in Canada, including the strong intent among these audiences to increase their support.  
  • Explore motivations and behaviours: Identify what drives diaspora donors, including values-based giving, strong community ties and connections to both local and global causes. 
  • Rethink traditional fundraising approaches: Examine how giving behaviours differ across audiences, including informal and cross-border giving, and why one-size-fits-all strategies fall short.  
  • Identify practical strategies for engagement: Learn how to build trust, increase relevance, and create meaningful donor experiences that resonate across diverse communities.  
  • Unlock growth through inclusion: 
Speakers
avatar for Serena Hak CIM®, MFA-P™

Serena Hak CIM®, MFA-P™

Executive Partner, Director, Donor Motivation Program
Serena Hak started her career at Free The Children in 2009, and has since become Head of Philanthropic Advisory Services at CI Assante Wealth Management and Executive Director of The Donor Motivation Program® Canada.

With a decade of experience in the philanthropic sector, she is committed to helping Canadians realize their giving potential. She has been featured in The Globe and Mail and National Post’s Guide to Charitable Giving and is a frequent speaker with the Association of Gift Planning... Read More →
avatar for Sana Mahboob

Sana Mahboob

 Sana Mahboob is a sought-after multilingual speaker whose work is shaped by her experiences as an immigrant, community leader, and a public servant. Her work has explored the intersections of philanthropy, leadership, diaspora experience, ethical service, and anti-black racism – grounded in convers... Read More →
avatar for Nader El Nakib

Nader El Nakib

Head of Private Sector Partnerships, UNHCR Canada
Nader El Nakib is the Head of Private Sector Partnerships at UNHCR Canada. Previously, he
served as the Chief of Partnerships for UNHCR MENA.He is a results-oriented manager and a
certified Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Practitioner with over 28 years of experience,
demonstr... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 TBA
MaRS Centre

TBA

The Legacy Opportunity Map: New Audiences, New Motivations, Big Growth
Thursday October 8, 2026 TBA
Legacy giving is expanding into new territory, and many organizations need a new way to navigate the opportunities. Interest is rising across generations, yet many programs remain anchored in strategies designed for older, long-on-file donors. The result: intention is rising, but many programs are still built for a different donor, a different moment and different expectations.

Drawing on insights from more than 60 affinity surveys, multi-market research and years of performance data, this roundtable explores the key friction points that prevent donors from moving from values alignment to intention sharing—and how to reduce them. Through the lens of a modern “legacy opportunity map,” panelists will share how leading organizations are identifying new audiences, reducing barriers and applying content and stewardship strategies that turn interest into meaningful engagement. 

Together, we will examine how shifting demographics, life stages, and expectations are reshaping the legacy landscape. Participants will leave with a clear roadmap to unlock growth, simplify pathways, and build stronger, more sustainable legacy programs. 

Learning Outcomes: 
  • Identify the most common points of friction in the legacy journey and diagnose where outdated assumptions and systems are limiting engagement. 
  • Learn how to segment and prioritize emerging legacy audiences based on life stage, motivation, and readiness. 
  • Apply practical strategies to reduce complexity, strengthen donor confidence, and improve progression from interest to intention sharing. 
  • Develop a clear, actionable roadmap to modernize your legacy program and unlock new sources of long-term growth. 

Speakers
avatar for Kimberley Blease

Kimberley Blease

EVP, Strategic Growth & Innovation, Blakely
Kimberley Blease brings over 40 years of leadership at the intersection of fundraising, marketing and strategy. As EVP of Strategic Growth & Innovation at Blakely Inc., she leads product innovation, thought leadership and growth‑focused consulting across the sector and is a sought‑after speaker on the topics of high‑value and legacy giving and industry trends. In addition to consulting... Read More →
avatar for Kudzai Riva

Kudzai Riva

Director of Planned Giving, UNHCR Canada
Kudzai Riva is a senior fundraising and marketing executive with over 16 years of progressive leadership experience in strategic fundraising, donor engagement, and organizational effectiveness. She currently serves as the Director of Planned Giving at the United Nations High Commissioner... Read More →
avatar for Richard Lefebvre, CFRE

Richard Lefebvre, CFRE

Associate Director of Development, National Ballet of Canada
Richard Lefebvre, CFRE, is Associate Director of Development at The National Ballet of Canada, where he oversees Individual and Legacy Giving. With 25 years of fundraising experience, Richard specializes in donor-centred strategies that inspire transformational philanthropy and l... Read More →
Thursday October 8, 2026 TBA
MaRS Centre
 
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From CA$395.00
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