Advising Services
You have the vehicle. You have the vision. What you need is a partner who can help you move from intention to action with the rigour, expertise, and judgement to ensure your philanthropy creates durable change. Here's how I can help.
Embedded Philanthropic Advisor
Full operational support for your foundation or Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
For foundations and families ready to move their philanthropy from vision to action, this is my most comprehensive offering. I embed myself in your philanthropic operation — designing your giving strategy, building your due diligence framework, sourcing and evaluating prospective grantees, making grant recommendations, and managing ongoing grantee relationships. You focus on the decisions that matter most. I handle everything else.
Prospect Sourcing & Due Diligence
Mission Development
Family Engagement
Grantee Relationship Management
Grant Strategy & Recommendations
“International development has always been central to the Peter Gilgan Foundation's mission, and we've never lacked ambition for what that work could become. What we lacked was clarity. Kim took our vision — compelling but undefined — and returned with a concrete strategy, rigorous research, and a plan of action that was both partner-centred and something I felt genuinely confident in. Kim doesn't just tell you what you want to hear. She brings real knowledge and honest perspective to ensure your philanthropy creates the change you actually intend. That's rare, and it matters.”
— Peter Gilgan, Chairman & CEO, Mattamy Asset Management
Philanthropic Vision & Strategy Design
From a bold idea to a concrete, research-backed plan
Think of it as handing me a blurry photo — you can see the outline of what you want your philanthropy to look like, but the details aren't yet in focus. That's exactly where I start. You know you want to have catalytic impact in a particular area, but where? Through which organizations? With what structure? Over what timeline? I take your vision, however nascent, and return with a concrete, research-backed strategy and a curated set of partners worthy of your investment.
Strategic Recommendations
Grantee Identification & Curation
Custom Projects
Landscape Research & Analysis
“We have known Kim for over 15 years, and when it came time to professionalize our family foundation, she was the obvious choice. Kim has a remarkable talent for creating a safe, collaborative space for honest family conversations — helping four family members with different priorities find a shared philanthropic vision. Her insights were so impactful that we asked her to stay on as the foundation’s Executive Director. Kim's ability to personalize her approach to our family's unique dynamic has brought our foundation alive in a way that feels meaningful and exciting to every member of our family.”
— Cheri Beck, Director, Beck Family Foundation
Family Philanthropy Facilitation
Creating space for families to find a shared philanthropic voice
Philanthropy has a unique power to unite families, but it can also surface tension. Different generations bring different values, priorities, and ideas about what giving should look like. This service creates the space for those conversations to happen productively. Whether you're launching a new family foundation, integrating a next generation into an existing one, or simply trying to find a shared direction, I facilitate the discussions that help families give together with clarity, alignment, and confidence.
Facilitated Family Conversations
Multigenerational Engagement
Shared Vision & Mission Development
“Kim has been a valuable thought partner. As my family prepared to launch our foundation, Kim was the perfect guide. She worked with us to build a plan tailored to our values and priorities. Thanks to Kim, we feel set up for success as we begin the foundation’s activities.”
— Anonymous Canadian family
Philanthropic Strategy Coaching
Expert thought partnership for donors who want to lead their own giving
You want to lead your own philanthropy but you don't want to do it alone. Philanthropic Strategy Coaching is for donors who are ready to make their own grant decisions but want a rigorous thought partner alongside them. It's also for the next generation stepping into their family's philanthropy for the first time — ready to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to give with intention. Whether you're evaluating a prospective grantee, designing your giving strategy, or finding your philanthropic footing, I bring the expertise and candour to help you move forward thoughtfully.
Thought Partnership
Next Generation Engagement
Grant Decision Support
Ready for
Impactful Giving
I work with a small number of clients at any given time — by design. Every engagement gets my full attention, expertise, and commitment. If you've read this far and something resonates, I'd love to have a conversation. Not a sales call — a genuine exchange to explore whether we're the right fit for each other.