Tess Conrad, CFRE
CEO and Principal Consultant
Tess is a seasoned fundraising professional with 10 years of experience and has held her CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) since 2021. She also holds a Certificate in Fundraising Management from BCIT, and a BFA in Theatre Performance from SFU. She’s a high achiever with a passion for Planned Giving - the type of fundraising she believes drives the most meaningful relationships between nonprofits and their supporters.
As a child, Tess faced housing and food insecurity and was a beneficiary of nonprofit programs. She’s seen first-hand the importance – and shortcomings – of our sector. Her interest in Planned Giving stems from her desire to create long-term growth and stability for charities – allowing them to serve their communities for generations to come.
Paul Nazareth, MFA-P
Advisor
Paul Nazareth has worked in Canada’s philanthropic sector for over 25 years. He continues to teach philanthropic tax, financial, estate and gift planning with the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) part-time. Paul was previously VP at the charity CanadaHelps, was a philanthropic advisor with a national wealth management firm in a trust company and spent 15 years working with charities from Universities to Churches. Paul is part of the Governing Circle of The Circle on Indigenous Philanthropy, on the board of Word on the Street, Canada’s largest literary festival, taught fundraising at Georgian College and is on the editorial committee of The Philanthropist Journal. He serves as faculty for the Master Financial Advisor in Philanthropy (MFA-P) program led by CAGP, Knowledge Bureau and Spire Philanthropy, and is a frequent instructor to both charities and advisors. Paul writes on philanthropy for a variety of publications and regularly appears on national radio and television to speak about finding meaning in generosity.
Aldera Chisholm
Data Specialist
Aldera has spent over 15 years in leadership roles in Canadian charities ranging from the arts to wildlife conservation. She is now a consultant working out of Nova Scotia. Aldera focuses on the behind-the-scenes magic: database optimization, prospect management, and data-driven strategies.
Her expertise is backed by professional certification for two of the leading non-profit databases, allowing her to combine technical know-how with a deep commitment to helping non-profits thrive. Aldera loves blending the art and science of fundraising: using data and technology to give fundraisers the support they need to do what they do best - building great relationships. Always focused on making a difference, Aldera’s mission is simple: to help non-profits succeed, one clean dataset and one happy donor at a time!