Meet Chantelle

Chantelle Ohrling, the proud daughter of an Afro-Taino immigrant and the first in her family to attend post-secondary education, is a dedicated advocate for decolonizing planned giving. In her role as the Philanthropy Officer for Planned/Legacy Giving at Ecojustice, Canada's leading environmental law charity, she focuses on reshaping the landscape of planned giving to promote equity and justice. Ecojustice has a proven history of winning key cases and securing environmental protections, safeguarding Canada's natural environment for future generations.

Chantelle actively engages with key organizations, including the Greater Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners and The Black Canadian Fundraisers Collective. The Black Canadian Fundraisers Collective is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the fundraising sector, fostering a more representative and equitable philanthropic community.

Her involvement also extends to the Hogan's Alley Society's Fund Advisory Committee, where she contributes to highlighting Black history in Vancouver and British Columbia. Chantelle's deep respect for the land and its ecosystems is evident as she acknowledges the enduring stewardship of these lands by the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish & Coast Salish nations. Through her work and personal values, she plays a crucial role in advancing the cause of decolonization for a more inclusive and just future.

How do you intend to use the funds?

With this award, Chantelle plans on advancing her education in legacy giving to further her development of a legacy giving strategy that is rooted in justice, equity, diversity, accessibility and reconciliation. By taking the Certificate in Legacy Fundraising by the Institute for Philanthropic Psychology, Chantelle hopes to be able to apply the learnings to Black & Indigenous communities to better serve them. Once this strategy has proven to be successful, Chantelle will share it in an attempt to diversify and decolonize legacy giving.