Building a strong community through philanthropy.
Our board
The WFRE board and its directors work to foster the development and growth of fundraising professionals in Waterloo Region and Wellington County in an effort to preserve and enhance philanthropy and volunteerism. WFRE works hard to promote high ethical standards in the fundraising profession and throughout our communities.
WFRE PRESIDENT
Jacqueline Watty
Jacqueline’s fundraising career has spanned over 20 years in the advancement and development world, where she has developed sustainable cross-faculty programs, secured million-dollar-plus gifts, worked on collaborative campaigns, overseen alumni associations, and led and mentored staff and volunteers.
Jacqueline believes that showing up and doing the work is the best way to build trust and collaboration – essential for reaching ambitious goals.
A committed volunteer, Jacqueline is the Past - President of The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth, current President of the Waterloo-Wellington Fundraising Executives board, and active in several organizations in her community.
WFRE PAST PRESIDENT
David Barker
David enjoyed a 32-year career with a major insurance company, in various capacities involving insurance, investments, and banking, culminating in leadership and executive roles.
In 2017, David eagerly took on his role as a Gift Planning Consultant with Abundance Canada where he acts as a generosity sherpa, guiding people on their generosity journey.
WFRE DIRECTOR
Nick Burke
Nick is an experienced strategic professional in fundraising, business development, and event operations. He has previously worked for charities nationally and locally including the Humane Society of Kitchener-Waterloo & Stratford-Perth Jack.org.
Nick has experience working nationally and internationally with Bell Media and the LPGATour. Nick is passionate about not-for-profit leadership and capacity building.
WFRE DIRECTOR
Peter Hoppe
Peter Hoppe is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with over 30 years of experience in the charitable sector. Before establishing his first fundraising agency in 1995, Peter worked in senior leadership positions for several major organizations. Peter is also a part-time professor at Seneca College, where he teaches graduate-level courses on philanthropic trends, fund development strategies and social enterprises.
Peter is well-connected in the non-profit sector. He makes it a priority to cultivate relationships with organizational leaders, established fundraising practitioners and the young professionals he taught who share his passion for innovative social change..
WFRE DIRECTOR
Tania Framst
From small non-profits to academic and research institutions, Tania’s approach is disciplined and outcome-driven. As the Director of Advancement at Perimeter Institute, Tania provides strategic leadership and tactical direction on the Institute’s ambitious campaign and coaches and mentors the Advancement team.
Before joining Perimeter, she was Vice President of Operations and Sales at Lucky Iron Fish, a Canadian social enterprise that helps alleviate iron deficiency worldwide. Tania played a crucial role in the company’s growth from a small start-up to an award-winning B Corporation recognized by Forbes, Oprah, E&Y, and many others.
Tania is the 2016 recipient of a YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Award for business and entrepreneurship. She was also a 2015 Fellow at the Unreasonable Institute in Boulder, Colorado and a 2018 Saving Lives at Birth Accelerator Fellow with Duke University, USAID, and the Gates Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya.
WFRE TREASURER
Kelly Legge
Kelly is a passionate and driven Senior Development Officer at The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital, where she plays a vital role in advancing the Foundation’s philanthropy program. With over a decade of leadership experience spanning non-profit management, financial services, and community-focused initiatives, Kelly has become a trusted figure in building meaningful relationships and driving strategic growth to support the Foundation's mission.
Her career has been rooted in creating lasting change and fostering connections that have a positive impact on individuals and communities. Kelly’s journey includes eight years in various leadership roles at Up and Running, a mental health-focused organization where she served as Executive Director.
Kelly was honored with the 2019 YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Award. This accolade celebrates her outstanding contributions to community well-being and her unwavering dedication to creating positive change
WFRE DIRECTOR
Ryan Brejak
Ryan is an experienced leader in Higher-Ed fundraising, with a passion for philanthropy. With a career spanning nearly two decades in fundraising, Ryan is currently the Director of Annual Giving and Data Systems at Wilfrid Laurier University where he provides a unique blend of strategic vision, innovative thinking, and hands-on-experience.
Ryan previously was a member of the Wilfrid Laurier University Board of Governors, where he sat on the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, the Finance, Investments, and Property Committee, and the Executive Committee. Ryan also currently co-chairs Laurier's United Way campaign.
