Each issue Foundation Magazine provides a mini-profile of five people whose work and commitment make Canada a more liveable country. We thank them for their service.
Wilfreda Edward
Executive Director – Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience
ccndr.ca
The nonprofit sector contributes 8% of Canada’s GDP, employs one in 10 Canadians, and serves communities across the country that few others reach. Yet despite its scale and impact, chronic underinvestment leaves many nonprofits vulnerable in the face of rapid digital change.
Wilfreda understands this challenge. With more than 13 years of experience in the Government of Canada, she witnessed how data and emerging technologies were transforming the way the country operated—and the risks and disruptions that came with them.
She joined the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR) a year ago. Since then, Wilfreda has been building on the momentum created by CCNDR’s founders—working to ensure that nonprofit organizations have the digital tools and data capacity to connect their data to outcomes, and use emerging innovations to share their impact and take ownership of their stories.
To achieve this goal, CCNDR assesses sector needs through research, helps nonprofits access digital resources, acts alongside them to pilot solutions, and amplifies their learning and successes. This includes launching a collaboration with Imagine Canada & Microsoft to benchmark the level of AI adoption in the nonprofit sector and develop a Nonprofit AI Impact Hub.
Wilfreda serves on the Board of the Canadian Black Policy Network (CBPN) and her rich Creole heritage, deeply rooted in the art of storytelling, informs her work as well as her favourite travel destination, St. Lucia!
Laura Lavie
Executive Director, The Globe and Mail Foundation
www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-globe-and-mail-foundation/
The launch of The Globe and Mail Foundation in spring 2025 fulfills a long-held ambition to create a charitable organization that can promote strong ethical standards and excellence in the field of journalism. Leading this effort is Laura Lavie, the Foundation’s first executive director. Laura brings two decades of experience running programs, campaigns, and working with philanthropists to support organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto, Child Development Institute, Luminato, Aga Khan Museum and more recently, The Walrus.
It was her five plus years working closely with the executive publisher and editorial staff at The Walrus that sparked in her a passion for the power of journalism to change minds, impact policy, and create better communities. Like many others in the industry, Laura believes that safeguarding independent, fact-checked media as a cornerstone of democracy has never been more important, and that more resources are needed to counter the many challenges the sector faces.
The foundation plans to support more high-quality journalism, including investigative work and beat coverage that will be accessible to all, as well as provide media literacy training to question and combat dangerous forms of misinformation. The foundation is also working on photojournalism training opportunities for emerging and established professionals, particularly those in underserved areas of Canada including New Brunswick.
Laura lives in Toronto with her husband and three boys.
Richard Morgan
Vice President, AFP Canada
afpglobal.org/afp-canada
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Canada recently welcomed Richard Morgan, CFRE, as its new vice president, effective September 8. He succeeds Lisa Davey, who served as VP of AFP Canada since 2018.
A bilingual leader based in Ontario, Richard joins AFP Canada from the Humanitarian Coalition, where he spent the last eight years as executive director, providing leadership to the collaborative humanitarian response and resource mobilization efforts of 12 member agencies. Prior to his work at the coalition, he held leadership and advancement roles at Trent University and Caritas Canada/Development and Peace, with a career-long focus on donor, volunteer and community relations.
His professional experience is complemented by numerous advisory and volunteer positions, including chair of the Catherine Donnelly Foundation, past chair of the Emergency Appeals Alliance, and guest lecturer at several universities across Ontario and Quebec. This extensive resume of nonprofit service is grounded in a strong educational foundation, including degrees in sustainability studies and international relations, multiple certificates in nonprofit management, and the CFRE credential.
Morgan’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for AFP Canada, which continues to advance its mission to empower individuals and organizations to practice ethical fundraising through professional education, networking, research, and advocacy.
Alongside AFP Canada’s volunteer leaders, Morgan aims to expand and build upon key ongoing initiatives, such as working with government to create a dedicated secretariat for the charitable sector, raising the profile of the fundraising profession, leadership development, and promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, access and anti-racism.
Paige Phillips
Director of Philanthropy
www.kidsability.ca/
As KidsAbility Foundation’s Director of Philanthropy, Paige Phillips centres her passion around nurturing meaningful relationships to connect the community to the tremendous impact of financially supporting pediatric rehabilitation at KidsAbility. She engages with major donors and corporate giving leaders whose values and interests seek to fuel critical funding to advance KidsAbility’s initiatives in pediatric research, innovation and care for kids with disabilities and developmental delays and their families.
With a degree in nonprofit management and over 15 years of experience in developing philanthropic partnerships, Paige is recognized for her strategic approach to fundraising and her ability to align donor interests with projects that deliver meaningful impact. Her experience spans the arts, culture and healthcare sectors, which gives her a broad perspective on community needs and the unique challenges faced by each. She is known by colleagues and partners alike for her collaborative spirit, excellent communication skills, and unwavering dedication to advancing KidsAbility’s purpose and vision. As such, she is deeply committed to cultivating long-term partnerships and securing transformative gifts, all while ensuring donors feel deeply connected to the outcomes of their generosity.
Beyond her professional work, Paige enjoys supporting local nonprofits and participating in cultural events, underscoring her belief in the power of community and how it guides and inspires her.
Leigh Sandison
Managing Director, Real Path Experience Design
www.realpath.ca
Leigh Sandison has spent her career figuring out what makes people tick—and how organizations can respond in ways that inspire action. She began in fundraising in the UK, diving into donor strategy, innovation, and partnerships. Early on, she realized the best ideas don’t come from spreadsheets or assumptions—they come from listening closely to real people.
From there, she moved into research and strategy, and later into experience design for global companies—uncovering key customer and employee insights and turning them into actionable, insight-led strategies. Across sectors—from health, education and politics to tech, media, and sport—she has helped companies and organizations understand their audiences and designed experiences that make supporters feel seen, understood, and ready to act.
Through her company Real Path, Leigh brings a human-centered approach to the nonprofit sector. She works with organizations to surface real insights, uncover hidden motivations, challenge assumptions, and create supporter experiences that strengthen relationships and drive engagement. Her focus is on practical solutions that turn insight into impact, whether that means growing donors, members and advocates or improving outcomes for beneficiaries.
Leigh’s work is grounded in authenticity, clarity, and empathy. She isn’t interested in jargon or flashy trends—he’s interested in results: stronger connections, deeper engagement, and measurable impact. Her goal is to help nonprofits do what they do best—make a difference—while ensuring the people who support them feel seen, understood, and valued at every step.
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