The Fundraising Landscape in Vancouver
Join AFP Greater Vancouver’s Professional Development Committee for an afternoon that dives into what it really means to fundraise in Vancouver right now. This event pairs thoughtful networking (the kind where you actually want to keep the conversation going) with a candid panel featuring local voices who are shaping, challenging, and reimagining the fundraising space.
Together, we’ll unpack the nuances of our city’s fundraising landscape — from shifting donor expectations to emerging opportunities and persistent roadblocks. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of what’s ahead, what’s working, and how to navigate it all with intention, creativity, and a strong sense of community.
Purchase your tickets today — discounts available for AFP members!
Event Details
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Location: Creekside Community Recreation Centre (1 Athletes Way, Vancouver, BC)
Afternoon refreshments will be served.
Meet the Speakers
We’re excited to introduce our lineup of speakers, each bringing a wealth of experience and insight:
Panel Moderator: Jeff Sodowsky – Pacific Vice-President and Senior Consultant at Global Philanthropic Canada
Panelist: Angelina Li – Vice President – Public Sector, Non-For-Profit, Business & Professional Services at Royal Bank of Canada
Panelist: Chantelle Ohrling – Senior Officer, Legacy Giving at The David Suzuki Foundation
Panelist: Samantha Rogers – Associate Vice President, Community Giving at VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
Angelina Li, MBA (She/Her)
Panel Speaker
Angelina Li is the Vice President – Public Sector, Non-For-Profit, Business & Professional Services at Royal Bank of Canada. With over a decade of experience in commercial banking and corporate finance, Angelina has led high-performing teams, structured complex financing solutions, and partnered with organizations that drive economic and community impact. She holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia, with international studies at Yale School of Management and the University of Oxford.
Today, Angelina works with municipalities, post-secondary institutions, non-profit organizations, and business professional services firms to help them achieve their strategic and financial goals. She brings a collaborative, relationship-focused approach to leadership and is passionate about connecting people, building partnerships, and supporting organizations that strengthen communities across British Columbia.
Chantelle Ohrling, CFRE (She/Her)
Panel Speaker
Chantelle Ohrling, CFRE (she/her) is an award-winning gift planning specialist, essayist, and speaker blending technical estate expertise with community-centric philanthropy. As Senior Officer, Legacy Giving at The David Suzuki Foundation, she applies donor psychology and values-aligned approaches to build transformative supporter relationships. Chantelle actively shapes systemic change across the non-profit sector as Chair of Equity & Right Relations and Chair of Communications for CAGP Greater Vancouver, an Editorial Advisor for The Philanthropist Journal, and an active member of the Black Canadian Fundraiser’s Collective. The inaugural recipient of CAGP’s Emerging Catalyst Award, her work centers on anti-colonial frameworks and economic justice. A natural connector, Chantelle is usually introducing people to their next favourite book, colleague, or community gathering.
Samantha Rogers, MEB, BBA (She/Her)
Panel Speaker
Samantha Rogers is Associate Vice President, Community Giving at VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, where she leads a diverse portfolio of fundraising programs including Annual Giving, Leadership Giving, Legacy Giving, Fundraising Events & Corporate Partnerships, and Asian Strategy. In this role, she oversees initiatives that engage donors, corporate partners, and community leaders in advancing world-class health care, research, and innovation across Vancouver Coastal Health.
A respected leader in Canada’s non-profit sector, Samantha brings more than 15 years of experience in philanthropy, fundraising, stakeholder engagement, and organizational leadership. Prior to joining the Foundation, she served as Executive Director of Elements Society, where she grew the organization from a single staff member to a team of nine and helped expand its impact across British Columbia and Alberta. Her career has also included fundraising leadership roles with Ocean Wise, Arthritis Society Canada, and the Canadian Cancer Society.
Samantha is passionate about building strong, values-driven organizations and cultivating meaningful partnerships that create lasting community impact. Beyond her professional leadership, she is an active volunteer and governance leader, serving on the Board of Directors of Arthritis Research Canada and acting as liaison between the organization’s Board and Patient Advisory Board. She also chairs the Patient Advisory Board, helping amplify the voices of people with lived experience in healthcare research and decision-making.
She holds a Master of Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Business Administration with Distinction from Capilano University, where she received the Dean’s Award of Excellence. Samantha is widely recognized for her collaborative leadership style, commitment to community impact, and dedication to strengthening the healthcare and charitable sectors across British Columbia.
Jeff Sodowsky, MBA MA CFRE (He/Him)
Panel Moderator
Jeff Sodowsky is Pacific Vice-President and Senior Consultant at Global Philanthropic Canada, where he advises nonprofit, healthcare, arts, post-secondary, and Indigenous-led organizations on campaign strategy, feasibility, personnel and major gift fundraising. His career spans senior leadership roles including Interim President + CEO and Chief Development Officer at BC Women’s Health Foundation, Interim VP Advancement at Thompson Rivers University, and Executive Director of Opera Cleveland. Since arriving in Canada in 2008, Jeff has helped raise millions across campaigns spanning across BC and Canada. He holds an MBA, an MA in non-profit administration, and is a CFRE, and has served in leadership roles with AFP and CAGP. When not working in his garden or doing a home renovation project, Jeff loves to travel.