Major Gifts are like Onions!

Major Gifts are like Onions!

Neil Hannam & Alison Casey

Hybrid Event

Major Gifts are like Onions!

They both grow in layers, with outer shells paper thin, textured, smooth or shiny, some are weighty and some light when peeled. They can make you weep or permeate a space long after they are gone. They are remarkably versatile, and when sliced open, they reveal the

core—a bud of growth, or a softening in the middle.

In this session, we’ll peel back the layers together, taste sweetness and the bitter bite of major gifts. This is a conversation for all levels, starting with basics and answering the big questions!

About Neil

Neil has over 25 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector. Before Neil started V Formation, he spent 12 years in healthcare fundraising and served as Executive Director of the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation. He then moved to the Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health. Neil also served on the senior management team of both hospitals.  

The V Formation team has led many capital campaigns, including BGK Kawarthas, Belleville Pregnancy and Family Care Centre, Westben, Pregnancy and Family Care Centre of Quinte West, St Joseph’s at Fleming, Peterborough Humane Society and the Ontario SPCA.

The V Formation team has led many recent capital campaign feasibility studies for organizations, including Metropolitan United Church and Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes. 

V Formation also worked on annual programs and annual fundraising with Fleming College, Jessica’s House Hospice, Kawartha Land Trust, Belleville General Hospital Foundation, Alzheimer’s Peterborough, Camp Kawartha, Hospice Peterborough, YES Shelter for Youth and Families, and Kawartha Lakes Food Source. 

Many of these projects also included assistance to the Boards of Directors and management teams with governance training, strategic planning, conflict resolution, and executive search. 

The V Formation team is widely recognized in the not-for-profit sector for its excellence in donor communication and digital advertising, resulting in impressive revenue increases for its clients.

Neil currently teaches the Revenue Generation module and has taught the Operations Management module of Ontario Tech University’s Not for Profit Leadership Certificate Program.  He completed a Master’s degree in 2013 with a thesis focused on organizational transformation.

About Alison

For more than 30 years, Alison built a career primarily fundraising with Canadian Cancer Society, United Way of Peterborough and Hospice Peterborough, this schooling provided opportunities to work in every aspect of fundraising—from special events to major campaigns, community projects, mentoring, and building strong development programs.

What she valued and enjoyed most was the incredible people that shared this journey. The privilege of working with talented and committed peers, volunteers, donors, community leaders, and organizations, was inspiring and humbling. Fundraising provided lifelong opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute, while navigating economic crisis, leadership changes, and pandemic ruptures.

The highlight of her career was with Hospice Peterborough for 17 years, beginning as the first fundraising staff to growing the department to ultimately leading the successful $10.8 million capital campaign. This accomplishment was especially rewarding and at times terrifying! From humble beginnings raising $127,000 its early days into a more mature organization with stable and sustainable $2M plus in annual fundraising. In many ways, that journey mirrored her own personal growth and transition as a fundraiser. 

After three decades, she says ‘I’ve learned that while charities, technology, and fundraising practices have changed enormously, the reasons people give have not. Philanthropy is still about people, relationships, trust, generosity, and the desire to make a difference.’

Now in (sort of) retirement, Alison is fortunate to be able to continue contributing through meaningful work with V Foundation on causes and charitable projects that align directly with personal interests and values. ‘It is rewarding and fascinating to be able to share knowledge and learn about others who also heard the call of this noble industry and invested their passions in good works and community betterment.'