'We're feeling the pinch at both ends' : AFP Ottawa's Bronwen Dearlove

‘We’re feeling the pinch at both ends’ : AFP Ottawa’s Bronwen Dearlove

Published On: January 22, 2025By Caroline Phillips

It’s not the least bit surprising that someone from Ottawa’s professional fundraising community would know that yesterday was National Hugging Day.

Andrea Olsen-Black mentioned it, after it was announced she’d been selected to attend an upcoming conference for fundraisers in Settle, Washington. A portion of her costs will be covered by the Ottawa chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) through its Chamberlain Scholarship.

Olsen-Black, who’s the new manager of philanthropic and community engagement at supportive housing provider Ottawa Salus, wanted to give AFP and its members one big hug to show her gratitude. Had it been possible, I have no doubt it’d have been a real rib cracker.

While charitable fundraising can be a competitive industry, it is equally collaborative and supportive. The local chapter of AFP has roughly 200 members, some of whom attended Tuesday’s after-work New Year Social, returning for its third consecutive year to Coconut Lagoon restaurant on St. Laurent Boulevard. It’s owned by humanitarian chef Joe Martin Thottungal CCC, who was honoured several years ago by AFP Ottawa Chapter with a philanthropy award.

The space was filled with enthusiasm and great energy — just the vibe AFP Ottawa’s new board president, Bronwen Dearlove, CFRE, was going for. She’s been a member of AFP Ottawa for nearly 20 years.

“My personal goal is to make this chapter as welcoming for others as it was for me when I first joined in 2007,” said Dearlove, who stepped into her volunteer leadership role earlier this month. She’s chief development officer for the Ottawa Humane Society.

Attendees kept busy during the event connecting and reconnecting. Members of the business community included TAG HR chief executive Priya Bhaloo, board vice chair of the Ottawa Board of Trade (OBOT), and OBOT’s former director of organizational advancement, Lynn Ladd, who’s now chief of staff at OTUS Financial Solutions.

Dearlove took to the stage — or, rather, the staircase — to address guests. She was joined by the board’s head of membership, Traci Spour-Lafrance, acting ED at Ottawa Community Housing Foundation, and AFP Ottawa’s past president Jeff Todd , vice president of marketing and business communications at The Foundation (WCPD) and GIV Bahamas.

In an interview, Dearlove said she values the face-to-face conversations AFP Ottawa events allow her to have with her colleagues. “I don’t mean colleagues from the same organization but colleagues from other organizations, all working together in our own ways to make the community the best it can be.”

AFP Ottawa also hosts a one-day Fundraising Day conference in the spring, and an annual awards dinner in the fall to celebrate philanthropy (this year, it’s being chaired by board member Glenn Sheen (he/him) from RBC).

A change in political leadership south of the border and the promise of one — maybe two — elections this year in Ontario has created a mood of uncertainty that is negatively impacting charitable behavior, said Bronwen, adding that charities are having to do more with less.

“We’re feeling the pinch at both ends. Donors who really want to support us are having to make tough choices, possibly unable to contribute as much, while our community needs us more than ever. So, we all have to stretch our donor dollars as far as we can to meet that need.”

President’s Awards, in the form of certificates, were given to fundraising executive Claire Lewis, CFRE (Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement) and to marketing and branding professional Stephen McGill from McGill Buckley.

There were also certificates of appreciation awarded to Derek deLouché MPNL, CFRE (senior development officer at Carleton University) for chairing the 2024 Ottawa Philanthropy Awards, to David Gourlay (CEO of Shepherds of Good Hope) for his recent leadership of new membership, to Solange Tuyishime Keita (founder, president and CEO of Elevate International) for leading last year’s Fundraising Day, Patrick Newton Bondo, and to Mark Savenkoff (Algonquin College) for being in charge of professional development. Kylie Patrick, CFRE , assistant director of donor impact at Carleton University, received both a certificate of appreciation and a lifetime achievement certificate from AFP Ottawa.