In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we take a close look at the insights revealed in the 2025 CanadaHelps Giving Report about the landscape of charitable giving in Canada, and what these insights mean for your nonprofit or charity. Joined by sector leaders, we examine donor trends, shifting patterns of giving, and the broader implications for fundraising in today’s uncertain economic climate.

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Meet Our Guests

Meet Our Guests (in order of appearance)

Nicole Danesi

Senior Manager, Strategic Communications and Brand, CanadaHelps

Nicole Danesi is Senior Manager, Strategic Communications and Brand at CanadaHelps where she leads the organization’s media, communications, and brand strategy. As a charity and Canada’s largest online donation and fundraising platform, CanadaHelps has raised more than 3 billion dollars for thousands of Canadian charities in Canada from more than 4.9 million Canadians.

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In her spare time, Nicole has volunteered for a number of causes including supporting arts and culture, student mentorship, civic engagement, alleviating food insecurity, and more. A graduate from the University of Toronto, Nicole resides in Mississauga.

 

Allen Davidov

Senior Vice President, Practice Leader of the Not-for-profit, Energy, and Tourism Sectors, Environics Analytics 

Allen Davidov, MBA, CM. is the Senior Vice President, Practice Leader of the not-for-profit, energy, and tourism sectors at Environics Analytics. With over twenty years of experience in marketing, analytics, and fundraising, he has worked with organizations of all sizes to unlock the value of information in decision-making and business strategy.

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Prior to joining EA, Allen successfully led marketing, and a variety of fundraising programs at a number of organizations, including Sinai Health Foundation, Habitat for Humanity GTA, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Ontario Region, St. John’s Rehab Hospital Foundation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and North York General Hospital Foundation. Allen is also an active member of the Canadian Marketing Association Not-For-Profit Council, a TTRA board member, and a member of Seneca College’s Marketing Advisory Council. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Liverpool, a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), a Creative Advertising diploma from Centennial College, and a Chartered Marketer certificate from the Canadian Marketing Association.

 

Aneil Gokhale

Director of Philanthropy, Toronto Foundation

Aneil Gokhale loves connecting donors to community. As Toronto Foundation’s Director of Philanthropy, Aneil counsels individuals, multi-generational families and professional advisors on philanthropic solutions including donor advised funds and private foundations. Aneil has proudly helped make Toronto Foundation the youngest and most diverse community foundation in North America, by bringing on over 250 young fundholders through a philanthropic MBA learning journey.

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Prior to the Foundation, Aneil worked at United Way Toronto and GE Healthcare. He currently serves on the boards of Visions of Science and Myriad Canada, and is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Toronto and CAGP.

 

Samantha Cooke

Samantha Cooke, Vice President, Philanthropy, Daily Bread Food Bank

Samantha “Sam” Cooke is an influential nonprofit leader with over two decades of experience in the physical health, mental health, and social services sectors. As a strategic visionary, she excels at building powerful coalitions of donors, volunteers, and partners to drive meaningful change. Known for her authentic leadership style, Sam creates inclusive environments where teams thrive, and individuals contribute their unique talents toward shared goals. Her positive presence inspires colleagues to deliver exceptional results while fostering a supportive, balanced workplace culture.

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Under Sam’s leadership, Daily Bread Food Bank based here in Toronto has achieved remarkable growth, quadrupling revenue over five years and bringing in nutritious food for distribution to a network of over 200 meal programs across the city. Her holistic approach to resource development has secured millions in both monetary and in-kind donations, supporting the 1 in 10 Torontonians that turn to Daily Bread Food Bank for support.

 

Sarah Midanik

President & CEO, Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

Sarah Midanik is an Indigenous professional who is passionate about increasing capacity and social impact within Indigenous communities. A member of the Métis Nation of Alberta from the historic Métis community of St. Albert, Sarah is a member of the Cunningham family. She is currently the President & CEO of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, a national charity that seeks to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.

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A dedicated volunteer, Sarah currently sits on the national board for the BGC Canada and the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business and supports the Indigenous Professionals Association of Canada. Sarah also sits on the CRA’s Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector and has an MBA in the Indigenous Business and Leadership program from Simon Fraser University.

About your Host

Mary Barroll

President of CharityVillage

Mary Barroll, president of CharityVillage, is an online business executive and lawyer with a background in media, technology and IP law. A former CBC journalist and independent TV producer, in 2013 she was appointed General Counsel & VP Media Affairs at CharityVillage.com, Canada’s largest job portal for charities and not for profits in Canada, and then President in 2021. Mary is also President of sister company, TalentEgg.ca, Canada’s No.1, award-winning job board and online career resource that connects top employers with top students and grads.

Additional Resources from this Episode

We’ve gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:

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