Meet Muthoni

Muthoni’s lived experience as a mother, a Black Professional Fundraiser, and community advocate informs her desire for equity, inclusion, and social justice.  For the last decade, Muthoni has been advocating for a more just and equitable Canadian fundraising sector. Through building strong donor relationships, Muthoni brings donors in proximity to the problem the organization seeks to solve. Muthoni believes we cannot change the world if we stay at a distance from the problem. There is power in proximity. 

Muthoni is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE), a graduate of the Master of Philanthropy and Non-Profit Leadership program (MPNL) from Carleton University. Muthoni is also a contributing author of Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love, a book documenting racism and survival by 15 accomplished Black fundraisers working across the United States and Canada.  Muthoni has 15 years’ experience working within a variety of organizations across the non-profit landscape. Currently, Muthoni serves as the Senior Philanthropy Officer at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) where she is raising major gifts to support CAMH’s $500M comprehensive Campaign. Prior to CAMH Muthoni served as the Manager of Development and Communications at Hospice Vaughan and has held senior roles at Dorothy Ley Hospice, Yonge Street Mission, Children’s Aid Foundation, The WoodGreen Foundation and Toronto General & Toronto Western Hospital Foundation.

How do you intend to use the funds?

I knew once I received my C.F.R.E. designation, I would, at some point in my career, begin the process of pursuing the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive (A.C.F.R.E.) designation. It will be a significant professional career milestone to receive the A.C.F.R.E. designation. Earning the (A.C.F.R.E.) credential will demonstrate to my peers, employers and the philanthropic community that I possess an advanced level mastery of fundraising leadership, management, ethics and professional standards. Receiving the Birgit Burton R.I.S.E. Funds will enable me to begin the journey of working towards my A.C.F.R.E.