Dear Fellow Fundraisers,

It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and I just came back from a beautiful walk outdoors. The sun was shining, and there was just the right amount of crisp wind to shake off my post-turkey coma. The leaves are still deciding whether they’re ready to turn colour, and the houses are all decked out with pumpkins and mums of every shade. It is the perfect fall day, and a perfect moment to reflect on all that I’m thankful for.

Naturally, my thoughts first go to family, especially when one of your children has an October birthday (happy birthday, Anthony!). And of course, I’m grateful for friends; the ones who keep me vertical (Beth that is for you) and make life brighter and lighter. As my son Anthony likes to say, "it's not that deep mom".

For me, that gratitude extends to my fundraising family as well. I’m so thankful for the many friends I’ve made in our sector, including this group pictured here, whom I first met when I joined the board of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada. Thank you, Muneeb, Kirsten, Niambi, and Whitney, for your friendship and kindness. I love you all!

Last month I missed thanking Global Philanthropic Canada for their generosity in being the presenting sponsor of our Maritime Fundraising Conference. The success of this annual event would not be possible without their leadership. Thank you Guy and the Global Philanthropy Canada team for your continued support!

As National Philanthropy Day approaches, I encourage you to think about the colleagues you turn to for advice, support, and mentorship. You can honour them in a special way and help raise funds for our sector at the same time. Read below to learn how.

And while you’re at it, maybe you and a fundraising friend might like to co-write an article for our new AFP Substack! It’s a wonderful way to share ideas, experiences, and insights with our community. We’re kicking things off with an article on ethics (yes, October is Ethics Month!) co-authored by Katie MacDonald and Kathleen Provost. Thank you both!

Fiona

Fiona Valverde

President, AFP Nova Scotia

National Philanthropy Day 2025
Presented by CharityCan

Date: November 14th, 2025 – 1:30pm-3:30pm

Location: Zatsman Sportsplex, 110 Wyse Rd. Dartmouth NS

“The Threads That Connect Us”

Philanthropy is about more than gifts — it’s about the connections we create between people, organizations, and communities. Every act of generosity, every volunteer hour, and every shared story forms a thread in a larger tapestry of impact.

This year, AFP Nova Scotia invites you to celebrate National Philanthropy Day by recognizing the diverse stories of giving that strengthen our communities. Grounded in our commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA), we will gather to: 

• Honour generosity in all its forms — gifts of time, talent, and resources.
• Highlight the diverse threads that weave together our philanthropic ecosystem.
• Engage in storytelling and reflection, ensuring every voice has a place in the tapestry.

Together, we will celebrate the relationships, collaborations, and stories that connect us — in our work, across our sector, and for our communities.

Mark your calendars and join us in weaving the threads of generosity toward a stronger philanthropic future in the Maritimes. Stay tuned for more details on speakers, programming, and how you can participate.

Introducing Fundraising Field Notes

We are excited to announce the launch of AFP Nova Scotia Fundraising Field Notes, a Substack channel for articles, stories and reflections by fundraising professionals for fundraising professionals. We'll share submissions from members on a wide variety of topics from campaigns and stewardship strategies to sector reflections and real-life experiments and more. Check out our first post, Learnings from a year of using TipTap, by AFP NS Board Member Shaylyn MacAulay. 



Interested in contributing to Fundraising Field Notes? Check out our contributor guidelines and complete our form to share your idea with us! We'd love to hear from you. Not quite ready to submit, but want to learn more? Reach out to Shaylyn at Shaylyn.MacAulay@nscc.ca.

The Mentorship Program

The program is designed to match a junior fundraiser, with 3 years or less experience with a seasoned fundraiser for coaching in an area or areas they would like to learn more about. It provides an opportunity for the mentee to get one-on-one coaching and learn more about the pragmatic side of fundraising in complement to the more formal professional development courses available. It provides the opportunity for the mentee to hone in on specific skill they wish to cultivate and allows the mentor to help advance the profession of fundraising in Nova Scotia.

October is Mi'kmaw History Month (MHM)

The theme - A’tukwemk aq A’tukowinu’k – Storytelling and Storytellers - celebrates the power of stories in Mi’kma’kik—stories shaped by the land and waters, carried through generations, and alive with laughter, teaching, and truth. Storytelling remains a living record of Mi’kmaw science, history, and values, connecting people to each other and to the ancestors who came before.

Learn more: https://mikmaqhistorymonth.ca

Upcoming Events: https://mikmaqhistorymonth.ca/events/

Celebrate Your Mentors This National Philanthropy Day

National Philanthropy Day is coming up on November 15 and we’re inviting AFP members to honour the mentors who have shaped their fundraising careers. The campaign will kick off on November 10, and you’ll receive an email with your personal campaign link.

Make a gift to the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada’s unrestricted fund in recognition of someone who has inspired you, and your donation will also count toward your chapter’s Every Member Campaign goal.

Navigating Canada Post

Charities rely on Canada Post for not only outreach and stewardship but as a means to collect donations. While we aren’t sure how this year’s strike has affected Canadian Charities the 2024 strike is estimated to have contributed to approximately $266 million in donation losses.

The strike has shifted to a rotating strikes, which will delay deliveries and continues to leave us anxious about what will happen. Learn more about rotating strikes here:

https://www.thestar.com/business/how-are-canada-posts-rotating-strikes-impacting-mail-delivery-heres-what-you-need-to-know/article_31cec06a-61a5-46cc-aadd-44aedf2b137c.html

Review the original article written by Canadahelps.org here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/forcharities/resources/resources-for-postal-strike-2025/?utm_medium=website&utm_source=marketing&utm_campaign=skinny_banner

October is Ethics Awareness Month

Every October, AFP celebrates Ethics Awareness Month because ethics makes philanthropy and fundraising possible. The theme for Ethics Awareness Month 2025 is “Ethical Fundraising in a Changing World.” Without ethics, giving doesn’t happen. Fundraising doesn’t happen. Change and impact don’t happen.

Ethics makes it all possible, and THAT’S worth celebrating.

Promoting ethical fundraising has been a key part of AFP’s mission since our founding, but how we define and live out our ethical fundraising principles has changed with the times, throughout the last sixty plus years.

We are excited to share the 2026 AFP in Canada Leadership Retreat will be in Halifax next summer by the AFP Nova Scotia Chapter! 

As we prepare to welcome AFP Leaders from across the country, we are beginning recruitment for our Chapter Planning Committee. This is a great opportunity to get involved, connect with fellow fundraising professionals, and help shape a retreat that reflects our local culture and embodies our chapter’s commitment to IDEA.

To learn more and sign-up, please connect with Whitney MacLean and Whitney Machin at whitney.maclean@nscc.ca and whitney.machin@mscanada.ca.