Global Philanthropic Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Christi Cruz as Vice President, Sponsorship & Corporate Engagement and Senior Consultant. Christi brings bold energy, deep expertise, and a heart for impact to Global’s team, where she leads the creation of a new service line focused on sponsorship, community investment, and corporate engagement.
“Joining a team that shares my deep commitment to purpose is exciting,” say Christi. “Together, we’ll blend proven expertise with fresh ideas to create values-driven sponsorships and curated corporate engagement opportunities – delivering stronger outcomes for our communities.”
Recognized across Canada’s charitable and corporate sectors as a visionary connector, cause champion, and respectful disrupter, Christi’s commitment to community development continued in her role as Vice President of Business Development & Partnerships at #NIMC, an organization dedicated to ending child trafficking.
“I’m very proud to be able to welcome Christi to the Global professional team,” shares Guy Mallabone, CEO & President of Global Philanthropic Canada. “Her deep experience and recognized expertise in the Canadian corporate community investment and sponsorship sector, along with her understanding of the corporate giving marketplace, will bring enormous value to our existing clients and enable new relationships with corporate, government and social sector organizations.”
During her three-decade career at TELUS, Christi designed and led social purpose programs, building a national team and launching award-winning initiatives that fused technology with social impact. She secured over $250 million in government funding to deliver high-speed connectivity to 39 underserved rural and Indigenous communities and oversaw the allocation of $100 million in grants to more than 9,000 Canadian charities. Additionally, she supported sponsorships with major partners such as WE Day, Hockey Canada, the NHL, CFL, and the Grey Cup and led community sponsorships.
A sought-after speaker and thought leader in sponsorship strategy, cause marketing, corporate partnerships, and community investment, Christi holds a Master of Education from the University of Western Australia and an Advanced Certificate in Corporate Citizenship from Boston College. She received the Hazel Gillespie Community Investment Award and was one of only two Canadians selected for Boston College’s inaugural Leadership Academy for community investment leaders.
“We are thrilled to welcome Christi Cruz to Global,” adds Corrie Fortner, Vice President, Prairies & Territories. “Her stellar experience and deep knowledge of strategic partnerships bring invaluable expertise to our team and will undoubtedly strengthen our national impact.”
By leading the development of these new service offerings, Christi is helping organizations expand their sponsorship capacity through practical, innovative strategies that strengthen relationships and maximize impact while providing a full-service approach to meeting the needs of the organizations that we serve.
Christi offers organizations a complimentary 30-minute session to assess their sponsorship, community investment and corporate engagement needs.
Global Philanthropic Canada is Canada’s fundraising consultancy comprised of highly experienced practitioners. With 70 + team members, we deliver professional and accessible fundraising counsel to organizations of all sectors, sizes and missions. We advocate for and believe in the power of a respectful and inclusive environment for all. We build capacity, striving to maximize the impact of your mission. We value every collaborative project with our clients, working on the ground with you, not for you. We aim to support, teach and propel you to meet and exceed your goals.
