2025 Committees

The AFP Greater Vancouver Chapter relies on volunteer committees to develop and manage programs that provide value to its membership, including Professional Development, Accreditation, National Philanthropy Day, Mentorship and Scholarship and more.

Communications Committee

The goal of the Communications Committee is to inform AFP Greater Vancouver members of valuable chapter programs, activities and events through regular and meaningful updates that keep them connected to their local chapter and each other.

The Communications team also supports fellow committees by assisting with content updates on the chapter website, providing communication support through social media and email updates and coordinating a chapter communication schedule.

Chair

• Vacant

Members

• Vacant

Government Relations Committee

The Government Relations Committee’s primary role is to educate members regarding public policy issues which impact membership. The committee also has a role to make advocacy on behalf of the sector and government relations work of AFP relevant to the Chapter membership. The committee leads engagement with government officials, especially those holding elected office in the Lower Mainland.

The committee actively monitors the issues and legislative changes at all levels of government that could both potentially impact membership and develops strategies and plans to advocate on behalf of membership, including mobilizing the membership. The committee also serves as a resource to government officials connecting to, and providing, relevant industry expertise.

Chair

• Neil McEachern – Director of Fundraising & Donor Relations, Vancouver Police Foundation

Members

• Vacant

IDEA Committee

The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Committee supports the implementation of inclusive practices by AFP Greater Vancouver and its members at the philanthropic and organizational levels. Working in partnership with Chapter committees, members, and community stakeholders, we ensure that diverse communities are engaged, represented, and supported in philanthropy through leadership, membership, mentorship, and professional development activities.

Co-Chairs

• Kevin Chi, CFRE – Development Officer, UBC Faculty of Medicine
• Mandy Ling, CFRE – Director, Development, Western Canada, Arthritis Society Canada

Members

• Abhishek Jha – Development Practitioner
• Kitty Au, CFRE – Philanthropy Manager, Variety – The Children’s Charity of BC
• Margaret Tam, CFRE – Managing Director, Advancement Services, UBC
• Melodie Mallinder – Director of Development, Backpack Buddies
• Puneet Dhillon – Manager, Sponsorship & Community Partnerships, Arthritis Society Canada
• Sharan Kooner – Manager, Fundraising (Campaigns),  Indigenous Stewardship Fund
• Thais Venditti – Manger, Annual Giving, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation

Membership Committee

Membership Committee focuses on ensuring that members have a full understanding of the benefits of membership in AFP Global and the local AFP Greater Vancouver chapter. We work to find ways to promote membership with both new and returning members through effective marketing and member feedback. We encourage individual membership that represents a broad spectrum of local charities and non-profits.

Chair

• Regan Collins, bCRE, CFRE – Associate Director, Fundraising Technology & Data Management, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice

Member

• Jaimie Murray – Director, Stewardship & Donor Relations, St. Paul’s Foundation
• Vishakha Uppoor – Development Officer, Monthly Giving, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
• Actively recruiting more committee members.

Young Professionals Lead

• Carissa Konesky, CFRE – Advancement Officer, Leadership Giving, SFU

Mentorship & Scholarship Committee

The Mentorship and Scholarship Committee runs both the Mentorship and Scholarship Programs for the AFP Greater Vancouver Chapter. In the mentorship program, the volunteer committee works to match experienced fundraising professionals as mentors with less experienced fundraisers as mentees for a one-year partnership. As part of the program we offer support to the pairs and at least two professional development events to participants, an intake session and a roundtable event. The committee also solicits and reviews applications for scholarships to various local, national, and global AFP professional development opportunities.

Chair

• Christine Harris – Director of Advancement, Faculty of Environment, SFU

Members

• Amanda Millar – Director of Business and Development, Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People
• Brenda Ulmer – Vice President, Fund Development and Special Events, YWCA Metro Vancouver
• Laurina Wong – Development Officer, Leadership Giving, BC Cancer Foundation
• Milo Dron – Director of Philanthropy, Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association
• Morgan Won – Senior Philanthropy Officer, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation

National Philanthropy Day Committee

The National Philanthropy Day (NPD) Committee plays a pivotal role in organizing our annual
National Philanthropy Day celebration and the Giving Hearts Awards, a premier event in the
Greater Vancouver area that celebrates philanthropy and recognizes the exceptional contributions
of individuals, organizations, and volunteers in the nonprofit sector. This highly anticipated event
brings together hundreds of philanthropists, volunteers, fundraisers, and support staff from local
nonprofit organizations.

Co-Chairs

• Kyle Tiney, Director, Development, Family Services of Greater Vancouver
• Lucy Isham-Turner, Director, Development, Family Services of the North Shore

Members

• Katie Miller – Regional Director, BC & Yukon, Breakthrough T1D
• Lana Lincoln – Account Executive, Belmar Consulting Group
• Lisa Sanchez – Manager, Philanthropy, Family Services of Greater Vancouver
• Tara Alexander – Senior Philanthropy Officer, Heart & Stroke
• Actively recruiting more committee members.

Partnerships Committee

The Partnerships Committee works to build meaningful partnerships with businesses that touch our industry and support positive change in our communities. Our partners support the work of the AFP Greater Vancouver Chapter by helping professionals in our industry connect with other caring humans, build their networks, create a sense of belonging, receive valuable coaching and mentorship as well as provide education specific to fundraisers.

As a non-profit association we seek support from industry partners that share in this passion and goal to create positive change in our communities and those professionals in our industry working to create that change. We seek to create a meaningful connection with companies to partner with us on our mission to further support those that work hard in this rewarding profession.

As a committee member you would be an integral part of a dynamic team of fundraising professionals creating the magic that happens when we create meaningful partnerships with community minded organizations. You will find yourself immersed in a world of like-minded people who share passion and drive to create the healthiest communities possible.

Chair

• Vacant

Members

• Anna Polden – Development Manager, Global Health Initiatives, BC Women’s Health Foundation
• Actively recruiting more committee members.

Professional Development Committee

The Professional Development Committee plans and organizes educational, training and networking opportunities throughout the year for AFP Greater Vancouver Chapter members and others working in the fundraising sector. We focus on offering events that address current issues in fundraising as well as issues that affect the local fundraising community in particular. Membership has its benefits as all events offer a discount rate to members and some events are members only.

For a listing of AFP Greater Vancouver professional development activities, please view the Events Calendar.

Chair

• Tor Smith, CFRE, PhD – Director of Philanthropy, The Greater Vancouver Food Bank

Members

• Connor Culhane – Financial Advisor, Vancity
• Lori Muñoz Malcolm – CEO and Founder, BrokersofGood
• Rachael Zapp – Manager, Signature Programs, Canadian Cancer Society
• Shuai Gu, CFRE – Manager, Major Gifts, Burnaby Hospital Foundation
• Tori Behie – Senior Development Officer, Corporate Partnerships, BC Cancer Foundation
• Actively recruiting more committee members.