One in four women in fundraising experience sexual harassment. You’re not alone.

The National Day of Conversation (#NDOC) is a day of digital conversation to raise awareness of sexual harassment of fundraisers in the charitable and nonprofit sectors. ​The second annual National Day of Conversation (NDOC) is taking place online on November 26, 2020.

Everyone has a right to feel safe at work.

Fundraisers are in a uniquely vulnerable position when meeting with donors, board members, and other influential members of the community - often alone. In a 2018 Harris Poll we learned that one in four women in fundraising reported being sexually harassed on the job.

Why is this Day Important?

Everyone has a right to feel safe at work.

A 2018 Harris Poll survey by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) found that:

• 25% of female fundraisers, and 7% of men, have experienced sexual harassment in their work.
• 48 % of respondents had either personally experienced, witnessed, and/or heard second-hand about incidents of sexual harassment.
• In 65% of the cases reported in the survey, the perpetrator of the harassment was a donor
• In nearly all cases (96%), the perpetrator was a male.
• 13% of those who reported feel that their organization places a greater value on the loyalty of donors than the safety of its staff.
• The impacts of sexual harassment are far-reaching. The trauma on the fundraiser and the organization are significant. Individuals experience impacts to their physical and mental health and lose trust in their organizations ability to protect them. In many cases, reporting can result in a complainant leaving their organization.

Founded in 2019, this day is to raise awareness about the issue of sexual harassment of fundraisers in the charitable and non-profit sectors. This conversation is open to everyone. Whether you are a front-line fundraiser, a manager, or a board member, there is content for you. Please join us to learn more about how you can help create safer sectors.

To register to attend a full day of sessions hosted by the team at Fundraising Everywhere. This is a “pay what you can” model. All funds raised will be donated to projects working on prevention of sexual harassment in Canada.

This is a summary of materials received from Liz LeClair and Wanda Deschamps by Ann Rosenfield. Any inaccuracies are due to Ann's error.

Liz LeClair, CFRE is a Co-Founder, National Day of Conversation and Director of Major Gifts, QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation Liz LeClair is proud to call herself a fundraiser and a feminist. She brings more than 15 years of experience to her role as the Director of Major Gifts at the QE2 Foundation in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Liz is a long-standing member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals; sits on the board of Certified Fundraising Executive International, volunteers on numerous national boards and committees, and is the current Chair of the AFP Women’s Impact Initiative, an initiative started in response to the #MeToo Movement in the non-profit sector. In January 2019, Liz published an op-ed with CBC on issue of sexual harassment in the non-profit sector followed by numerous industry articles on this issue.

Wanda Deschamps is the Co-Founder, National Day of Conversation and Principal, Liberty Co. Prior to founding Liberty Co, Wanda enjoyed a twenty-five year career in the philanthropic sector, serving as a consultant for KCI (Ketchum Canada Inc.), a leading fundraising consultancy, as well as an institutional development leader.