When fundraising is built on relationships, trust, and a deep understanding of what inspires people to give, experience matters. With more than 35 years of fundraising and advancement expertise across Ontario, Barbara Track joins Global Philanthropic Canada as a Senior Consultant, bringing a distinguished career spanning arts and culture, healthcare, and post-secondary education.
Based in Toronto, Barbara brings to Global’s Central team a reputation for meticulous strategy, exceptional stewardship, and thoughtful leadership in high-level donor engagement.
More Than Three Decades of Fundraising Leadership
Barbara’s career has been shaped by a commitment to building meaningful relationships between organizations, donors, volunteers, and communities.
Most recently, Barbara served as Executive Director, Advancement, Alumni & Communications at Woodsworth College, University of Toronto, from 2003 to 2025. During her tenure, she led advancement through two consecutive University of Toronto campaigns, helping exceed ambitious fundraising goals — raising $12.4 million against a $7 million goal and $22 million against a $15 million goal.
Her leadership extended beyond fundraising results. Barbara cultivated authentic relationships between academic leadership, high-net-worth donors, and dedicated volunteers, while strengthening a culture of personalized stewardship. She ensured donors understood not only the value of their contributions, but the impact those contributions made possible.
Her work also included highly visible initiatives such as sponsorship strategies for The President’s Annual Report and U of T Day, demonstrating her ability to connect institutional priorities with compelling opportunities for engagement.
A Career Across Ontario’s Philanthropic Landscape
Before her leadership at Woodsworth College, Barbara directed regional development and community giving for The Arthritis Society, where she managed a team of 20 across Ontario while working toward demanding financial targets.
She also served as a Senior Development Officer in the Division of University Advancement at the University of Toronto. Earlier in her career, Barbara held leadership roles with Ketchum Canada Inc. as Campaign & Planning Study Director and worked as a freelance consultant in development and communications.
Across these roles, she developed deep expertise in major gifts, special events, sponsorship, stewardship, and donor relations — with a particular ability to bring precision, professionalism, and genuine relationship-building to every engagement.
How Barbara Strengthens Global Philanthropic Canada
As a Senior Consultant with Global Philanthropic Canada, Barbara advises nonprofit organizations on:
- Major Gifts & Campaign Leadership: Developing strategies that connect organizational priorities with meaningful opportunities for philanthropic investment.
- Donor Relations & Stewardship: Building authentic, long-term relationships that strengthen donor confidence, engagement, and loyalty.
- Volunteer & Board Engagement: Supporting boards and volunteers in becoming effective partners in organizational advancement.
- Protocol & Public Relations: Bringing expertise and precision to high-profile events, donor experiences, and stakeholder engagement.
Barbara is particularly skilled at translating complex organizational needs into compelling cases for support and executing high-profile philanthropic experiences with care and precision — from major donor celebrations involving the Office of the President to engagements with visiting international delegations.
A Commitment to Professional Excellence
Barbara is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and holds a BA from the University of Toronto and a Primary School Specialist Certificate from Toronto Teacher’s College.
Her professional development includes training through CASE, AFP International, and AFP Toronto Congress, reflecting her ongoing commitment to advancing the practice of fundraising and philanthropy.
Her leadership in the sector extends into her community service. Barbara currently serves as Board Chair of the Christian Resource Centre Self-Help and as a Foundation Board Member at Belmont House. She is also a past Fundraising Day Chair and Congress Co-Chair for AFP Toronto.
In 2025, Barbara received the J.S. Woodsworth Award of Distinction for her service to Woodsworth College.
A New Chapter of Impact
Barbara’s arrival strengthens Global Philanthropic Canada’s Central team with decades of practical fundraising leadership and a deep understanding of the relationships that make philanthropy possible.
Her experience across education, healthcare, and arts and culture — combined with her expertise in major gifts, stewardship, sponsorship, and donor engagement — will provide valuable insight to organizations looking to strengthen their philanthropic programs and build lasting relationships with their communities.
At Global Philanthropic Canada, Barbara will continue doing what has defined her career: helping organizations create meaningful connections between their missions, their supporters, and the impact they seek to achieve.
We are delighted to welcome Barbara to Global Philanthropic Canada and look forward to the experience, perspective, and thoughtful leadership she brings to our team and our clients.
Fun Fact: Barbara has skydived!
