Deborah brings more than three decades of nonprofit leadership experience to Global Philanthropic Canada, with a career spanning healthcare, social services, arts and culture, and community-based organizations. A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), she also holds a Graduate Certificate in Philanthropic Studies (2026) from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Throughout her career, Deborah has helped organizations raise millions of dollars to address community needs, engage Boards and volunteers, and build lasting relationships with donors.
What Deborah enjoys most is helping organizations find clarity. That might mean shaping a compelling case for support, building a program from the ground up, recalibrating a campaign that has lost momentum, or helping a Board become more confident in its role in philanthropy. She combines strategic perspective with practical experience to the table and a focused approach in relationships, curiosity, and what is achievable for each organization.
In her consulting practice, Deborah works with organizations at very different stages of their journey. Recent engagements have included campaign planning and readiness studies, multi-year fund development plans, cases for support, donor stewardship strategies, policy development, and coaching and recruitment support for fundraising teams and leaders. Her clients span mental health, housing, disability inclusion and community living, animal welfare, children’s education, and healthcare. She also speaks at conferences and professional learning events on philanthropy and fundraising practice.
Over her career, Deborah has had the privilege of working with organizations including Diabetes Canada, the Alzheimer Society, Canadian Cancer Society, Children’s Health Foundation, KidsAbility Foundation, and the London Children’s Museum, experiences that continue to shape her approach to philanthropy and nonprofit leadership.
Fun Fact: Deborah loves creating travel adventures almost as much as taking them. From annual “sister reset” trips and ancestry pilgrimages through Italy, Scotland and Sweden to mystery day trips for friends’ special occasions, she believes half the fun is in planning an experience people will treasure.