The sector is in a time of reckoning, upheaval, and renewal and there is a need to create brave spaces for fundraisers to share collective wisdom to address the challenging situations we face inside and outside of our organizations. After hosting a number of webinars and writing articles on the topic of power and privilege in philanthropy, we received feedback that there was a lack of opportunity for fundraisers to learn from each other about this work. As well, folks were seeking opportunities to develop the language and skills to address the situations they face as fundraisers where power and privilege are almost always a factor.
Last month we launched a Community of Practice (COP) to do just that. We believe that this work is best done through the collective and that creating spaces for sharing, learning and unlearning, can be a powerful tool in supporting the transformation of the sector.
The COP was launched last month with a plan to have regular sessions to create a brave space for fundraisers to discuss situations and issues around philanthropy, equity, inclusion and accessibility that they encounter externally with donors and volunteers, and within their own organizations. There are two streams of sessions; one for people that identify as White and/or allies, and one for people with Visible Identities such as being racialized, transgender, and/or visbility disabled.
The first session was energizing with both streams engaging deeply with the content and each other. There were a few learnings from the sessions that we are using to build from. The first is there was a marked difference in the session streams of White folks and folks with Visible Identities. The session for people with visible identities had an accelerated nature in the discussion, and got into the more challenging topics of things like microaggressions and lived experience much quicker. The second learning was that the people that attended were across a diverse range of age, experience, seniority and types of causes. It was powerful to see that this type of space is wanted and needed by all types of fundraisers.
The next Community of Practice sessions are April 28th from 12:00 - 1:30 EST for White folks and allies and April 30th from 12:00 - 1:30 EST for people with visible identities. The focus will be on ‘Lived Experiences’. What are the opportunities and the challenges of bringing lived experience to the work internally and with donors? Seeking strategic counsel; looking for speakers for professional development activities and staff training; recruiting staff and volunteers; moving beyond consultation; and sharing our own lived experiences. How do you navigate this without creating harm to others and yourself? All our welcome, and we hope you will join us in this brave space. Registration links below - you can also register to be included on our email list for future COPs if you are unable to join us in April.
Reading about mountains does not make you a mountain climber; in these COPs you acquire new knowledge but also the practical skills to enact this knowledge.
April 28 CoP for White Folks and Allies: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/community-of-practice-philanthropy-equity-for-white-folks-and-allies-tickets-149462549509
April 30 CoP for Folks with Visible Identities: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/philanthropy-equity-community-of-practice-folks-with-visible-identities-tickets-149530065451
Tanya Hannah Rumble, CFRE (she/her) is the Director of Development, Faculty of Arts for Ryerson University
Tanya is a racialized settler of multi-ethnic origins living in Toronto. She is a fundraising leader who has raised millions for some of Canada's largest charities including Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, McMaster University and now Ryerson University. As a racialized philanthropy professional Tanya is honoured to share her influence and insights with students, emerging professionals and peers in the sector. Tanya regularly writes articles on the topics of inclusion, equity, and access; and power, privilege and fundraising for industry publications and speaks to professional audiences at learning events regularly.
She graduated with an H.B.A., Political Science from McMaster University, earned a Masters Certificate at NYU in Marketing Communications and has completed numerous professional certificates including Not-For-Profit Governance Essentials (Rotman School of Management, Institute of Corporate Directors) and Truth and Reconciliation Through Right Relations (Banff Centre). Tanya has been a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) since 2017, completed her Master Financial Advisor - Philanthropy (MFA-P™) in April 2020, and most recently was approved to take the certification exam for the Communication Management Professional (CMP) designation through International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
Additionally, she is an active leadership volunteer in the philanthropy and non-profit sector: Board Director with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Canada, and Board Committee volunteer with AFP Canada-Foundation; executive volunteer with the Canadian Association of Gift Planners; Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair of the HR Committee with FindHelp Information Services - operators of 211 Toronto; and Board Director with Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. In addition to sharing her knowledge, she is committed to lifelong learning - she is a graduate of the 2017 Association of Fundraising Professionals Inclusion and Philanthropy Fellowship, and 2010 DiverseCity Fellowship. Tanya gratefully acknowledges the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations, in whose traditional territory she lives and works with her husband and young son.
Nicole McVan, MA (they/them) Vice President, Philanthropy & Marketing United Way Greater Toronto
Nicole McVan is a strategic non-profit leader with 20 years of experience in Canada and abroad. Their experience spans many areas including corporate philanthropy, individual and community-based giving, volunteer development, national event management, and alumni giving As a white, able-bodied, transgender & non-binary person, Nicole uses an anti-oppressive lens in building philanthropy and marketing plans to work with and for communities. Nicole regularly speaks and writes on the topic of equity, privilege, and power dynamics for fundraising publications and at conferences and learning events.
Nicole volunteers their time in the community, including on the Board at Inside Out Film festival - an organization committed to the promotion and exhibition of film made by and about LGBTQ+ people of all ages, races and abilities. They hold a master’s degree in Non-profit Marketing and Fundraising from City University of London and is currently working on a certificate in Community Engagement, Leadership and Development at Ryerson University to build their knowledge of how to work with and for communities for lasting change.
Nicole is grateful to live and work on the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations and acknowledges their role as a treaty person to reconcile and rebuild the relationship between indigenous peoples and settlers on Turtle Island .
