Someone once said “Elderstone Resource Development – are you in Mining?!” My reply was, “I’m in prospecting… of sorts”. Whether I’m helping you find new donors, board members, volunteers or searching for a skilled ED, CEO or Fund Development expert, I truly enjoy the treasure hunt!
“Elderstone” was the name of the 1860 fieldstone farmhouse where I grew up near Elder Mills, northwest of Toronto. It was in our family for 47 years and gave me a solid foundation to my life so I’ve named my business in its honour.
“Resource Development” refers to my goal to identify and build on your board’s, volunteer’s and staff member’s strengths. I will teach your team how to fish and that promise requires a dedicated partnership! Together we identify the leadership and management resources everyone brings and then we tailor our work so that we’re filling in the gaps. Through a committed team effort, we can take your organization to new heights.
While I have a vast collection of tools to share with you, I will invite you to stretch your limits. If your board and senior managers are motivated to change and grow, nothing will stand in our way!
Cynthia J. Armour, CFRE – Career Highlights
- Certified FundRaising Executive (CFRE designation) – meeting strict recertification criteria every 3 years since 1995
- 29-year consulting practice and strategic catalyst, working independently, managing daily operations, financials, client acquisition, consulting on contracts and stewarding long-term, professional relationships
- Highly acclaimed international and national conference speaker and webinar presenter
- Instructor in all aspects of fund development, board governance and volunteer management for community colleges, clients, conference attendees and registrants in webinars run by Charity Village and Canada Helps
- Conducted stakeholder research, facilitated consensus-building strategic planning processes and made recommendations to aboriginal, national, provincial and regional organizations
- Assessed, trained and coached board/staff leadership teams in more than 200 nonprofit organizations in Ontario and beyond
- Project Manager and Fundraising Trainer for CRA-funded Charity Law Information Program (CLIP) to strengthen regulatory compliance in registered charities across Canada
- During CLIP, co-authored and directed virtual training and materials “Good Governance: Legal and Ethical Compliance for Charity Boards” with noted lawyer Mark Blumberg and consultant Linda Mollenhauer
- Initiated and co-facilitated two sold out sessions “Strengthening Board Leadership and Accountability” with national law firm Borden Ladner Gervais
- Conducted focus groups across the province to research and author report funded by the (then) Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration on the Governance Capacities and Needs of Ontario-Based Nonprofits
- Wrote a Fund Development Toolkit for staff, board members and volunteers of Ontario Parks Friends, based on best practices, tips and tools. Invited practical contributions from my international network of “trusted sources” collecting and compiling treasures from the world’s top fundraising experts
- Facilitated strategic planning processes and discussions with granting foundations and funders’ forums
- Conducted audit and made recommendations on the viability and future of a parallel foundation
- Trained adult educator, facilitator and coach requiring expert knowledge, clarity and sensitivity to those who struggle to understand – whether through fear or lack of experience
- Led the Foundation Division of Trent University’s capital campaign and exceeded my $2 million goal and secured one of three Canadian Challenge Grants that year from the prestigious US-based Kresge Foundation
- Proven commitment to the intrinsic, multifaceted value and necessity of identifying, cultivating and fostering ongoing interaction with donors, funders, volunteers, clients, members and all stakeholders
- Charity Village’s monthly Fundraising columnist for 4 years, translating best practices into accessible language to answer questions from a broad spectrum of audience experience, knowledge and skills