With thanks to our education sponsor, the Donor Motivation Program for sixteen years of providing support to our education program.
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Bruce MacDonald
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Au-delà des dons planifiés
LEVEL: General / Général
Canada is facing a philanthropic sustainability crisis; 22% of donors account for half of donations. Despite a growing intention to give, a follow-through gap remains. To fully unlock the potential of gift planning to create a world where everyone can thrive, we must broaden the idea of legacy from a transactional transfer of wealth into a transformational transfer of generational values. Advisors can unlock deeper, more meaningful client relationships while helping charities secure multi-generational donor loyalty that thrives long after the initial estate gift. This interactive workshop will discover new and innovative ways to engage families in the planning conversation.
Speakers: Duke Chang + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor: </strong
Duke Chang
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
In planned giving and strategic philanthropy, relationships are often the catalyst behind transformational gifts. Yet many professionals approach networking as an obligation rather than an intentional practice. This interactive session explores how fundraisers, gift planners, lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, trust professionals, and nonprofit leaders can build authentic, mutually beneficial relationships that strengthen collaboration and ultimately benefit donors and communities. Participants will leave with practical strategies to network with purpose before, during, and after conferences, cultivate trusted referral networks, deepen cross-sector partnerships, and create meaningful professional connections that extend far beyond exchanging business cards.
Melanie Riley + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Melanie Riley
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: General / Général
Legacy gifts are among the most personal expressions of philanthropy, rooted in trust and shaped through long-term relationships with an organization. Fundraisers often build close, meaningful relationships with legacy donors, but less frequently have the opportunity to explore in depth how donors made their decisions and why specific giving vehicles were chosen, such as bequests or other estate provisions. In this panel, three legacy donors will share what influenced their giving journeys, including the conversations, cultivation, and stewardship that built confidence over time. They will explore how trust is earned, how fundraisers can strengthen relationships, and what ultimately leads donors to formalize a legacy commitment that reflects their values and impact.
Speakers: Richard Lefebvre, Marcia McClung, Marje Virro, Ishrani Jaikaran + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Richard Lefebvre
Marcia McClung
Ishrani Jaikaran
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
What if every client conversation included a philanthropic question... regardless of why they walked in the door? This session makes the case that it should, and shows what happens when it does. Through three real case studies mapped to three stages of the wealth journey, financial planner Adam Malcolm, CFP, MFA-P, demonstrates how the giving conversation changes the plan: uncovering legacy intentions a tax strategy missed, revealing in-kind gift opportunities hiding in a retirement plan, and catching will language that would have undermined a donor's deepest wishes. Participants leave with the framework, the language, and the confidence to make this conversation standard practice.
Speakers: Adam Malcolm + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Adam Malcolm
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique, Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Join Hamilton Community Foundation and project partners for a candid case study on redesigning donation acceptance and asset development policies through Indigenous, equity, legal and community-centred lenses. Moving beyond theory, presenters will explore the governance questions, organizational tensions and practical decisions involved in aligning philanthropy with institutional values, Reconciliation commitments and community accountability. Participants will examine how policy changes related to donor relationships, naming, fund creation, third-party events, community consultation and reputational risk can influence organizational culture and philanthropic practice. Attendees will leave with practical tools, lessons learned and questions to consider within their own organizations.
Speakers: Andrea Buttars, + ACCR + ORG,
Shylo Elmayan, Niibin Advisory Services,
Tanya Rumble, Executive Director of Development for the Faculty of Arts and Yellowhead Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University and Co-founder Recast Philanthropy
Rudi Wallace, President & CEO, Hamilton Community Foundation
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Andrea Buttars
Shylo Elmayan
Tanya Rumble
Rudi Wallace
TOPIC STREAM: Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance
Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
The planned giving field has centuries of tradition and about a decade's worth of evidence. This session starts to close that gap. Drawing on a retrospective analysis of CRM interaction records from known estate donors at a Canadian hospital foundation, we will present preliminary findings on which stewardship interactions actually correlate with bequest realization. Providing data-driven recommendations about how best to engage donors in-life to meaningfully grow a planned giving program. But we're not stopping at one institution. We'll walk attendees through the research methodology step by step, so you can run this analysis on your own data and contribute to a sector-wide evidence base that planned giving has never had. Come for the findings. Leave with a recipe.
Speakers: Laura Nicholl + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Laura Nicholl
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Au-delà des dons planifiés
LEVEL: General / Général
Canada is facing a philanthropic sustainability crisis; 22% of donors account for half of donations. Despite a growing intention to give, a follow-through gap remains. To fully unlock the potential of gift planning to create a world where everyone can thrive, we must broaden the idea of legacy from a transactional transfer of wealth into a transformational transfer of generational values. Advisors can unlock deeper, more meaningful client relationships while helping charities secure multi-generational donor loyalty that thrives long after the initial estate gift. This interactive workshop will discover new and innovative ways to engage families in the planning conversation.
Speakers: Duke Chang + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Duke Chang
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
Speakers: NAME + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Tara Sandler
TOPIC STREAM:
LEVEL:
Speakers: NAME + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Gift planners spend decades helping charities build endowments, reserve funds, and legacy assets. Yet once those gifts arrive, the conversation often stops. While enormous effort goes into raising transformational gifts, far less attention is given to stewarding transformational assets. This session explores how charities can strengthen financial resilience through thoughtful governance, capital stewardship, and reserve management. Through practical frameworks and real-world case studies, participants will examine how organizations are rethinking charitable capital to better balance liquidity, mission, and community impact. Because fundraising may secure the gift, but stewardship determines its legacy.
Speakers: Aneil Gokhale+ ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Aneil Gokhale
TOPIC STREAM: Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance, Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
"Many charities have the basic ingredients for a gifts-in-wills program but struggle to grow. The Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan was one of them. They marketed gifts in wills and generated hand-raisers, but had more potential. They realized they were using the ""Pillsbury dough” equivalent of planned giving - cookie-cutter marketing that was largely based on templates. To create the “gourmet” version, they needed to take their program to the next level.
This session shares their journey and offers a roadmap for charities in the “messy middle” (not at 0, not huge). It explores the ingredients for success - leadership, systems, marketing, and donor conversations - helping participants leave with practical next steps to elevate their own programs.
Speakers: Maureen Harrison + ACCR + ORG, Rebecca Snider, CFRE, Manager of Major & Planned Gifts, Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan
Tess Conrad, CFRE, Founder & Principal Consultant, Full Potential Fundraising
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Maureen Harrison
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Au-delà des dons planifiés
LEVEL: General / Général
What's the financial thing you most want to stop pretending you understand? This session opens with that question, then puts it to the test, live. Using a real nonprofit's public financial filings, chosen with no connection to the presenters or to CAGP, an audit partner and a fundraising and leadership consultant read the numbers cold, the way a donor would: what does this say, what would you ask? Two lenses meet on the same page, what compliance confirms and what leadership still has to ask, surfacing the gap between a balanced statement and the real story underneath. Leave with three questions for your own organization's public record.
Speakers: Kathy Arney + ACCR + ORG, Danzel Pinto, CA, CPA, Partner, Assurance Services, Doane Grant Thornton LLP
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Kathy Arney
Danzel Pinto
Get ready for a twist on networking! Quizmasters Holly Greatrex and Holly Wagg take the main stage to challenge you with a mix of fun and thought-provoking planned giving questions. Questions will appear on the screens, and each table will work together to record their answers. At the end, tables will swap answer sheets for scoring. Top-scoring teams will win prizes—and, of course, bragging rights!
This lively, casual session is designed to spark conversation, help attendees connect on day one, and maybe even teach a few new things along the way. Come for the trivia, stay for the laughs—and see if your table can claim the top spot!
Table Talks Trivia Lunch Sponsor:
TOPIC STREAM: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction, General / Général
Speakers: NAME + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Laurie Fox
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Au-delà des dons planifiés
LEVEL: General / Général
Gift planning is technical on paper but human in practice. This session dives into the emotional labour, identity, bias, and personal transitions that shape how we show up for donors and for ourselves. These are the lessons we were never taught, but live every day. Through real stories and guided reflection, participants will confront the truth of what generosity asks of us and how our lived experiences shape the work. Expect honesty. Expect connection. Expect to leave with clarity, grounding, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Speakers: Rhonda Sogren + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Rhonda Sogren
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons, Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
After decades in planned giving, I’ve learned that legacy recognition only works when leadership truly believes in it — and nothing proves that belief like board members making their own planned gifts. This session shares how genuine board conviction in stewarding legacy donors became the foundation for a campaign that reshaped our pipeline. Anchored by a legacy donor wall — physical bricks for realized bequests, a digital wall for those who’ve committed — the strategy paired estate and will planning seminars with a legacy donor pinning ceremony. The result: every seminar attendee finalized their plans, existing donors upgraded their gifts, intergenerational legacies emerged as families began considering their own bequests, board members included the organization in their own estates, and lapsed donors returned. I’ll share the strategy, the tangible recognition tools, and a framework any
Speakers: Kim Cavener + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Kim Cavener
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
Charities routinely hold gifts tied to purposes or terms that have become impossible, impracticable, or obsolete. This session examines the legal tools available to modify donor restrictions under Canadian law, including cy-près, trust variation, and statutory mechanisms. Through case studies and comparative analysis, attendees will learn how courts balance donor intent against institutional need, and gain practical strategies for soliciting and documenting gifts in ways that proactively manage these challenges.
Speakers: Andrew Valentine + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Andrew Valentine
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
"As members of CAGP and other professional organizations, we sign codes of conduct and accept ethical standards. But true ethics extend beyond protecting the best interests of donors and charities – and they begin with the gift planner.
Gift planners occupy positions of trust and vulnerability. Ethics is a perpetual grey area; what is legal is not always ethical, and what is ethical is not always moral. This presentation explores how we should conduct ourselves as gift planners and act in everyone's best interests, including our own.
Speakers: Kathryne Cardwell + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Kathryne Cardwell
PREMIER SPONSOR HOLD
Jennifer Button
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
Life insurance is a valuable, yet often overlooked, component of charitable giving. This practical session explores life insurance from both the gift planner's and professional advisor's perspectives, focusing on what practitioners need to confidently identify, discuss, evaluate, and steward these gifts. Participants will gain a high-level understanding of four common life insurance gift structures, while examining donor motivations, tax considerations, administrative responsibilities, and risk management. Through practical examples and real-world insights, attendees will learn how collaboration between gift planners and advisors can unlock meaningful philanthropic opportunities and strengthen a comprehensive gift planning strategy.
Speakers: William Yu + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
William Yu
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
Every gift reflects a vision for the future. Indigenous Peoples have always understood that the futures we create depend on the relationships we nurture: with one another, with the lands and waters, and with future generations. Grounded in reciprocity and accountability, Indigenous ways of being invite us to reimagine how philanthropy can move beyond transactional giving toward relationships that uplift community well-being and lasting systems change. Drawing on Indigenous Climate Action’s work advancing Indigenous-led climate justice, participants will engage in storytelling, reflection, and dialogue that cultivates deep listening as a practice for building authentic partnerships and supporting transformative change.
Speakers: Sarah Hernandez, Minetta McNaughton, Development Manager, Indigenous Climate Action + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Sarah Hernandez
Minetta McNaughton
TOPIC STREAM: Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
This session will help give a different perspective to charities, development officers, planned giving professionals, and their respective donors make better long-term decisions
1. Managing Charitable Investment Portfolios
• Balancing income generation and capital preservation
• Asset allocation for different liability durations
• Best practices for reserve management
2. Investment Management for Endowments and Legacy Gifts
• Spending policies and preserving purchasing power
• Long-term investing for perpetual funds
• Governance and investment committee responsibilities
• Lessons from successful endowment programs
3. Market Volatility and Planned Giving
• How market cycles affect donor behavior
• Managing gifts of appreciated securities during volatile markets
• Communicating with donors during downturns
• Opportunities created by market dislocations
Speakers: Candice Jay + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Candice Jay
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
This session offers an inside look at how a Professional Advisors Network can strengthen gift planning and deepen donor/client relationships. Through intentional engagement, shared philanthropic values, and access to trusted legal and tax expertise, the network becomes a strategic asset that expands organizational reach. As advisors participate in events and learning opportunities, they also become ambassadors; sharing insights with clients and reinforcing philanthropic conversations. A senior volunteer and legacy giving manager will provide practical tools, case studies, and resources to build or enhance a Professional Advisors Network within any organization or community.
Speakers: Laura Byl + ACCR + ORG,
Scott Rands, Senior Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager, Scotia Wealth Management
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Laura Byl
Scott Rands
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
A practical workshop on how to review an estate accounting. The participants will be split into groups to review case studies of estate accountings and learn hands on what to look for and why charities should not just sign releases.
Speakers: Jennifer Stebbing + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Jennifer Stebbing
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général, Advanced / Avancé
Many donors express a desire to make a significant charitable gift, yet never take the final step. Why? This session explores the hidden psychological factors that influence giving decisions, drawing on insights from behavioural finance and decades of experience working with affluent individuals and families. Participants will learn how common behaviours such as procrastination, loss aversion, decision paralysis, and family dynamics can delay or derail charitable intentions. Through practical examples and real world observations, fundraisers will gain valuable tools to better understand donor motivations, deepen relationships, and help donors move from intention to meaningful philanthropic action.
Speakers: Tina Tehranchian, C.M. + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Tina Tehranchian
No Post Found
Speaker: Ritu Bhasin, ACCR, TITLE, ORG
Plenary sponsor:
Rita Bhasin
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique, Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
When a legacy donor passes, the estate file arrives, and with it, the most consequential moment in a gift planning program's history. Most charities navigate this without strategy, policy, or relational intent. Through anonymized case studies from real healthcare estate files—covering executor compensation disputes, beneficiary name discrepancies, release negotiations, and multi-jurisdictional complexity—this session reframes estate administration as active stewardship. Participants leave with frameworks to protect donor intent, engage grieving families, and strengthen advisor relationships at every stage.
Speakers: Elsa Nosi + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Elsa Nosi
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
There are 258 million widowed people in the world, you are going to <> some of them in your work. This masterclass gives you two things you can’t get anywhere else. In Part 1, you’ll build real skills for working with widowed donors and executors: understanding grief, secondary losses, and how philanthropy can be part of healing. In Part 2, you’ll put those skills to work in a human library, courtesy of Soaring Spirits Canada. You’ll get the chance to speak directly with widowed people, hear their stories, and practise the conversations that matter most. Leave with the confidence, language, and humanity to do this work well.
Speakers: Holly Wagg+ ACCR + ORG, Samantha Barr, Manager, Planned Giving, Trillium Health Partners Foundation
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Holly Wagg
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
What happens when a charity sets up an ""endowment"" without understanding the legal and accounting implications? At best, confusion. At worst, non-compliance and donor disappointment.
Endowments are attractive to donors and beneficial for your cause if done right, so come and learn the specifics, including when they are appropriate, tips and traps in drafting agreements, and the challenges accounting for and managing them.
The panel will also discuss real life examples of the trouble a poorly designed endowment can cause, and how these problems could have been avoided.
This will be useful for gift planners, major gifts, donor relations, policy, finance, administration, and professional advisors.
Speakers: Danzel Pinto + ACCR + ORG, "Terrance Carter LLB Managing Partner, Carter's Professional Corporation
Jill Nelson Senior Consultant, Global Philanthropic Canada Inc"
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Danzel Pinto
Terrance Carter
Jill Nelson
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
As the sector continues to evolve with new tools, data, and efficiencies, meaningful human connection remains at the heart of generosity. Drawing on insights from habit research and real-world fundraising experience, this highly interactive session explores how small, intentional acts of connection can strengthen donor relationships, deepen engagement, and foster lasting generosity. Participants will discover the 4 C’s of Connection and the Connection Habit Cycle, practical frameworks for building sustainable donor engagement habits. Through guided exercises, peer discussion, and action planning, attendees will leave with a personalized Connection Habit Plan and actionable strategies they can implement immediately to create meaningful donor relationships every day.
Speakers: Kristy Rousseau+ ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Kristy Rousseau
TOPIC STREAM: Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
Complex gifts often bring together donor wishes, organizational capacity, professional advice, ethical responsibilities and competing internal perspectives. Without a clear process, conversations can become dominated by urgency, hierarchy or premature solutions. In this interactive workshop, participants will use the Focused Conversation Method facilitation method to work through a realistic gift-planning scenario.
They will practice separating facts from assumptions, surfacing tensions, identifying missing perspectives and clarifying decision authority and next steps.
Participants will leave with a practical process and facilitation checklist they can use to strengthen collaboration across fundraising, finance, programs, leadership and professional advisors when the gift gets complicated in their organizations.
Speakers: Manal Sayid + ACCR + ORG, Jo Nelson
Senior Associate Emeritus
ICA Associates Inc."
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Manal Sayid
Jo Nelson
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Au-delà des dons planifiés
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
Every organization is a weave of two threads: the values it holds, and the governance systems it operates within. When those threads pull against each other - inherited legal frameworks, the concentration of power and wealth, decision-making cultures built for someone else’s table - the fabric strains. In this advanced session, Kerry Shillito hosts an in-depth conversation with two sector leaders — one from an Indigenous-led organization, one from a Black-led (Afrocentric) organization — who have each had to weave their own governance within and around systems not built for them, while Josée Thibault leads a live exercise so participants experience an alternative way of making decisions together.
Speakers: Kerry Shillito + ACCR + ORG, Josee Thebault
Practice Lead, Philanthropy & Social Innovation
The Discovery Group"
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Kerry Shillito
Josee Thebault
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique, Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
When a legacy donor passes, the estate file arrives, and with it, the most consequential moment in a gift planning program's history. Most charities navigate this without strategy, policy, or relational intent. Through anonymized case studies from real healthcare estate files—covering executor compensation disputes, beneficiary name discrepancies, release negotiations, and multi-jurisdictional complexity—this session reframes estate administration as active stewardship. Participants leave with frameworks to protect donor intent, engage grieving families, and strengthen advisor relationships at every stage.
Speakers: Elsa Nosi + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Elsa Nosi
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Au-delà des dons planifiés
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire, Advanced / Avancé
In January of 2024, while I was CEO of a public foundation, I learned of my colleague’s unauthorized investment activity that resulted in significant losses for the organization, and also his suicide. What followed was both personal and organizational grief as we came to terms with the full implications of his unauthorized activity. Time has passed and with it have come many honest moments of personal reflection and learning. The insights and lessons learned are applicable to anyone and especially to those with leadership aspirations.
Speakers: Darre Pries-Klassen + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Darren Pries-Klassen
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
A litigation-informed look at cases where charitable gifts failed or were challenged, and how drafting best practices can prevent disputes.
Speakers: Raman Johal + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Raman Johal
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction, Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Legacy and major gifts aren’t unlocked by tactics alone — they emerge from psychology, timing, family dynamics, and the cumulative threads of trust. This session reframes donor cultivation through a five-stage narrative arc, explores the hidden motivations behind giving, and demonstrates how consistent, values-based communication builds readiness for both major and planned gifts. Through real case studies, rural/urban donor insights, and the advisor–charity–donor triad, participants will learn how to navigate complex conversations with confidence. Attendees leave with practical tools, a 12-month touchpoint roadmap, and a renewed understanding of what truly moves donors to create lasting impact.
Speakers: Sarah Morkin + ACCR + ORG, Vincianne Tricand, Planned Giving & Major Gifts Professional, Jenna Trollope, Planned Giving and Major Gifts Professional with the Donor Motivation Program
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Sarah Morkin
Vincianne Tricand
Jenna Trollope
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: General / Général
When advisors lead with tax mechanics, donors delay. When they lead with purpose, donors act, and the technical outcomes follow. This interactive workshop reframes gift planning around a single question: what is this wealth actually for? Through real, anonymized case studies, including a corporate share donation that eliminated a seven-figure tax bill while creating a perpetual family giving fund, participants will learn how purpose-first conversations unlock both deeper donor relationships and stronger technical results. We will practice the questions that move donors from avoidance to action, and explore how strategic philanthropy becomes a tool for tax efficiency, family continuity, and living legacy, not charity at the expense of family.
Speakers: Elise Keller + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Elise Keller
TOPIC STREAM:
LEVEL:
Speakers: Sarah Zachariah + ACCR + ORG, Daniel Goldgut, Co-Founder & CEO, Epilogue
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Sarah Zachariah
Daniel Goldgut
Speaker: Moderator: Sharon Avery, ACCR, TITLE, ORG
Plenary Sponsor:
Sharon Avery
No Post Found
Join us for networking, drinks, and entertainment before the banquet begins.
Reception Sponsored by
Join us for delicious food, chatting with friends and colleagues, and of course, awards!
Banquet Sponsored by
Banquet Entertainment sponsored by
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Open seating - meet new friends, or organize a gathering together with others, the choice is yours.
Sponsor:
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
The next wave of fundraising growth is not driven by cash, it’s driven by assets.
As donors increasingly give from securities, donor-advised funds, real estate, and estates, many organisations are still structured around income-based approaches that limit both conversations and outcomes.
This session reframes asset-based giving as a strategic shift, not a technical skill. Through three expert lenses, marketing, fundraising, and wealth management, you will see how leading organizations are unlocking new opportunities by aligning strategy, language, and donor experience around how donors actually think about their wealth, their values, and their long-term impact. It’s also how organizations unlock blended giving and significantly increase donor lifetime value.
Speakers: Kimberley Blease + ACCR + ORG, Serena Hak, Executive Director, Partner, The Donor Motivation Program Canada, Nancy Horvath, Vice President Philanthropy, Sick Kids Foundation
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Kimberley Blease
Serena Hak
Nancy Horvath
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
What happens when good intentions collide with poor governance, weak oversight, or ethical blind spots? In this engaging and eye-opening session, we explore real-life “horror stories” from the charitable sector: cases involving compliance failures, conflicts of interest, fundraising missteps, financial irregularities, governance breakdowns, audits and investigations. Through real-life examples, attendees will discover how seemingly minor issues can escalate into serious legal, financial, and reputational consequences. More importantly, we will examine the lessons learned, sanctions imposed, remediation strategies, and practical steps organizations can take to strengthen compliance, foster an ethical culture, and safeguard the public trust that is essential to their mission.
Speakers: Jonathan Lafrance + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Jonathan Lafrance
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
Generosity is woven through relationships, stories, and the values we pass from one generation to the next. This workshop explores how the First Peoples' Cultural Foundation's intergenerational giving framework can help gift planners deepen donor relationships and reimagine legacy giving. Participants will explore how Indigenous perspectives on reciprocity, responsibility, and cultural continuity offer new approaches to donor engagement. Through storytelling and reflective activities, attendees will gain practical approaches to inspire meaningful conversations and help donors connect their legacy with a future they want to help shape.
Speakers: Magie-Mae Adams + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Magie-Mae Adams
TOPIC STREAM:
LEVEL:
Speakers: Becky Fallis + ACCR + ORG, Tammy Garcia
Director, Gift Planning, University of Toronto
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Becky Fallis
Tammy Garcia
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
To fully engage with the range of HNW donors, fundraisers need to shift from tax-driven giving → values-driven + impact-oriented giving.
• Rising role of: DAFs and family philanthropy governance
• Increasing expectations for transparency, measurable outcomes and flexibility vs restriction
• What turns donors off today is sdministrative friction, rigid gift structures and weak stewardship
With respect to legacy gifting, fundraisers need to move from passive e bequest marketing → active donor engagement.
• Integrating storytelling, family engagement and values-based planning
• Using DAFs as legacy tools and non-cash assets
As a practitioner at the intersection of wealth advisory, philanthropy and governance I can speak from live client and advisor experience and share how decisions actually are made.
Speakers: Karen Sparks + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Karen Sparks
TOPIC STREAM:
LEVEL:
DAF's not from the perspective of the providers of DAF's but from the Charities - the front line for community impact.
Delving into DAF's - The Charity Experience
What changes have you observed in DAF giving in the last 3 years
What value does DAF's create for your charity and your donors?
Has the growth of DAF's changed the way you build relationships with donors?
What practical strategies has helped your charity engage with DAF donors?
Delving into DAF's - Challenges, Tensions & Opportunities
How much transparency should exist around DAF assets, grant making & donor identifies?
Do DAFs help direct more resources to charities, or do they concentrate resources among organizations already well-positioned to attract major gifts?
Should there be stronger expectations or requirements around how quickly DAF assets are distributed to charities?
What should charities be doing today to prepare for continued DAF growth?
DAF's are a permanent and growing feature of the Canadian landscape for philanthropy
Charities of grants need to be a viable voice in this discussion challenging the status quo of DAF's. Understanding the opportunities, questions and challenges in this evolving landscape is imperative as we move forward.
Speakers: Susan Yakabowich + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Susan Yakabowich
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
The next wave of fundraising growth is not driven by cash, it’s driven by assets.
As donors increasingly give from securities, donor-advised funds, real estate, and estates, many organisations are still structured around income-based approaches that limit both conversations and outcomes.
This session reframes asset-based giving as a strategic shift, not a technical skill. Through three expert lenses, marketing, fundraising, and wealth management, you will see how leading organizations are unlocking new opportunities by aligning strategy, language, and donor experience around how donors actually think about their wealth, their values, and their long-term impact. It’s also how organizations unlock blended giving and significantly increase donor lifetime value.
Speakers: Kimberley Blease + ACCR + ORG, Serena Hak, Executive Director, Partner, The Donor Motivation Program Canada, Nancy Horvath, Vice President Philanthropy, Sick Kids Foundation
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Kimberley Blease
Serena Hak
Nancy Horvath
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance
LEVEL: General / Général
What if your next transformational legacy gift comes from a donor who gives $100 a year? Many organizations reserve legacy conversations for major gift donors or wait for supporters to self-identify. As a result, some transformational future donors are overlooked. remain hidden in plain sight. This session explores how meaningful one-on-one conversations can uncover legacy opportunities across all giving levels, deepen donor engagement, and inspire lifelong commitment. Drawing on real-world examples from The National Ballet of Canada, participants will learn practical strategies to identify overlooked prospects, create a culture where legacy giving is woven throughout the donor experience, and confidently engage donors in conversations about their lasting impact.
Speakers: Richard Lefebvre + ACCR + ORG, Nicholas Melymuk, Senior Manager, Individual Giving, The National Ballet of Canada"
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Richard Lefebvre
Nicholas Melymuk
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
Charitable giving is often discussed as a tax or estate planning strategy, but its greater power lies in the conversations it creates. This session explores how advisors can integrate philanthropy into every client relationship by connecting giving decisions to personal values, family legacy, and long-term stewardship of wealth. Through practical examples, we will examine how charitable planning can become a vehicle for deeper client discovery, next-generation education, and family engagement. Attendees will learn how to help clients move beyond transactional giving toward intentional impact, while giving children and beneficiaries meaningful opportunities to develop leadership, responsibility, and a shared sense of purpose.
Speakers: NAME + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Alysha Tse
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
A strong philanthropic culture is built through connection. This session explores how national and local YMCA partners work together to weave a fabric of generosity that strengthens communities across Canada. Attendees will learn how collaboration, shared purpose, and coordinated donor engagement can create greater impact than any organization could achieve alone. From a national brand platform/campaign and stewardship to storytelling and capacity building, this presentation offers practical strategies for aligning a national vision with local action while deepening relationships with donors and communities equitably.
Speakers: Kristen Wheaton Clayton + ACCR + ORG
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Kristen Wheaton Clayton
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
This panel will explore key strategic considerations for charities navigating legal disputes. The panelists will examine when and how to engage legal counsel, including consideration of the implications of doing so, the cost, and timing. The discussion will weigh the benefits and risks of collaborating with other charitable beneficiaries, addressing alignment, shared resources, and potential conflicts. Panelists will also review the litigation process, outlining what to expect from court proceedings, mediation, and settlement negotiations. Attendees will gain practical insights to make informed decisions, manage risk, and pursue outcomes that advance their organization’s mission while preserving relationships and resources.
Speakers: Liana Murphy + ACCR + ORG, Christie Geen-Difede, Manager, Bequest Administration
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, Matthew Urback
Partner, Shibley Righton LLP "
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Liana Murphy
Christie Geen-Difede
Matthew Urback
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
Securing transformational gifts increasingly requires engaging not only individual donors, but also the institutional structures through which significant philanthropic capital is deployed. Family offices and private foundations operate within complex legal frameworks that shape how charitable gifts can be structured. This advanced session examines how these vehicles operate under Canadian law, including disbursement quota requirements, transparency and disclosure obligations, and the legal constraints governing gift planning. Participants will gain practical guidance on working effectively with foundations and family offices while respecting their legal realities and advancing philanthropic opportunities toward a successful close.
Speakers: Robert Hayhoe + ACCR + ORG, Megan Davidson, Counsel, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Topic Stream Sponsor:
Robert Hayhoe
Speaker: Kardinal Offishall, ACCR, TITLE, ORG
Plenary Sponsor:
Sana Mahboob is a passionate advocate for inclusive philanthropy and values-driven leadership. A sought-after speaker, she has shared her voice across Canada and beyond on topics including Islam and philanthropy, values-based giving, mentorship, ethics in leadership, and anti-Black racism. Her transparent and thoughtful style resonates with professionals across the charitable, advisory, and public service sectors alike. For over a decade, Sana has helped organizations and leaders bridge generosity, purpose, and equity while serving in executive roles on local, national, and international boards spanning philanthropy, youth, sports, and technology. A proud graduate of the University of Manitoba, she continues to give back through mentorship through the President’s Student Leadership Program.
Building on this foundation of community and connection, Sana serves as a Senior Officer with the Government of Canada, where she contributes to advancing inclusive economic development and public service excellence. Sana has been invited to speak by the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, academic institutions across Canada, and AFP chapters throughout North America. Her insights have been featured by CBC on International Women’s Day, CTV Canada, and international media outlets in Pakistan.
As an immigrant to Canada, Sana brings a deeply personal understanding of belonging, generosity, and the shared responsibility we all have to build stronger, more connected communities – the kind that we are proud to call home.
Nathan Chappell is a thought leader, public speaker, author, and AI inventor, recognized globally as an expert on the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and generosity. Nathan serves as Chief AI Officer at Virtuous Software where he supports AI integration to help nonprofit organizations amplify mission at scale. In 2018, Nathan founded Fundraising.AI, a global advocacy organization for Responsible and Beneficial AI in the nonprofit sector. Additionally, he is author of two books, Nonprofit AI: A Comprehensive Guide to Implementing Artificial Intelligence for Social Good and the 2022 award-winning book, The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges, which has been deemed “required reading for this generation of fundraisers”. With over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Nathan is a global keynote speaker and content contributor. His work has been featured in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, NPR, Forbes, Fast Company and more. His podcast, Fundraising AI, is among the top nonprofit technology podcasts worldwide.
Nathan serves as an advisor for the OpenAI Users Forum, the AI for Good Foundation, the International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS), and the Forbes Technology Council.
He holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from University of Notre Dame, an MBA from University of Redlands, a certificate in International Economics from University of Cambridge, a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT, a certificate in Philanthropic Psychology from the Institute of Sustainable Philanthropy, is a certified fundraising executive (CFRE) and holds a credential by IAPP as an AI Governance Professional (AIGP).
Niigaan Sinclair is Anishinaabe from Peguis First Nation. He is an award-winning writer, editor and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba who was named by Maclean’s magazine in 2022 as one of the most influential people in Canada. Niigaan is a multiple nominee of Canadian columnist of the year (winning in 2018) and his commentary appears weekly on multiple platforms across Canada – from the pages of The Winnipeg Free Press to TV shows on CBC, APTN and on his co-hosted podcast Niigaan and the Lone Ranger. His first book Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre (McClelland & Stewart, 2024) was a national bestseller that won the 2024 Governor General Award for Non-fiction. He is a former secondary school teacher who won the 2019 Peace Educator of the Year from the Peace and Justice Studies Association based at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
Rob was appointed Director of the Policy, Planning, and Legislation Division of the Charities Directorate in May 2022. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served within the Directorate as an Audit Advisor and as Director of Compliance from 2014 to 2019. During his tenure in Compliance, he led a significant redesign of the Directorate’s compliance approach.
Rob holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia University and has over 28 years of experience with the Canada Revenue Agency. Beyond his work in the Charities Directorate, he has held various leadership roles within the Compliance Programs Branch, including auditor, audit team leader, audit program manager, and Director overseeing Business Intelligence and Case Management Teams.
How can we harness technology to make a difference in the world? That’s the question Jason loves to explore with organizations. Jason serves as Chief Digital Officer of the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience which aims to build a digitally-enabled nonprofit sector, where Canada’s diverse nonprofits use data and tech to advance their mission and multiply their impact. As an experienced digital executive, Jason has consistently provided leadership to help organizations stay ahead of the technology curve. He has successfully championed organization-wide digital-first approaches and has developed and implemented strategies that support operations, marketing, fundraising, and program delivery.
Jason also serves as an editor for Ledger, a journal focused on blockchain research, and has previously contributed his expertise to the boards of Ontario 211 and NTEN, promoting the skillful and equitable use of technology.
Bruce MacDonald is the President & CEO of Imagine Canada. When carnivals and social good combined, it pointed to a path and for 30 years Bruce has been walking that route. From working for organizations that provide services to young people, older adults, persons with disabilities, community service clubs and sports and recreation groups, Bruce’s experiences have lead him to Imagine Canada. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada where he participated in a collective effort to bring mentoring programs to kids. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Administration from Laurentian University, a Masters in Management in the Voluntary Sector from McGill University and a former record in the Guinness Book of World Records. From 2019-2023, Bruce served as Co-Chair of the Permanent Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector working with the federal government. In 2025, Bruce received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his distinguished achievements and leadership.