Online Open to all

Communications Affinity Group – 2024 Meetings

17 October - 21 November 2024 / Registration Open

Who?

Open to all communications specialists and grantmaking practitioners from across our philanthropic and nonprofit network.

What? | Program

A regularly scheduled monthly meeting to discuss important or emerging strategic communications and public affairs issues relevant to Canadian foundations and philanthropy. The initiative supports the exchange of ideas, learning about relevant news, sharing intel and working together, while providing a forum for professional development, networking and dialogue.

Topics to be discussed and about which you can start thinking about in advance are:

  • Monday, September 23: The September meeting will take place in-person in Ottawa as part of the PFC National Conference Together25Ensemble (for conference registrants)
  • Thursday, October 17: Online Training workshop – A Practical Guide to Building a Government Relations Strategy
  • Thursday, November 21: Online Roundtable Discussion – Artificial Intelligence (AI) Implications on Communications

Past 2024 sessions:

  • February 2024: Roundtable discussion – Developing Annual Reports and other Impact Reporting
  • March 2024: Together 25 Webinar Series: Lobbying for Change
  • April 2024: Narrative Change and Impact Storytelling
  • May 2024: Roundtable discussion – Navigating the Intersection of Social Media and Philanthropy
  • June 2024: Training Workshop – Digital Communications and Accessibility

When and How? | Registration

On the 3rd or 4th Thursday of each month at 2 PM AT / 1 PM ET / 12 PM CT / 11 AM MT / 10 AM PT

Click on any date below to register for that session or for all sessions.

Abra Rissi

Director, Member Engagement & Communications

Abra is the Director of Member Engagement and Communications where she has the pleasure of working alongside an active and enthusiastic team. In this role, she leads the network’s engagement and communications strategies and activities in support of PFC’s convening, collaboration, and learning goals.

Abra joins PFC’s community of advocates and leaders with 15 years of experience in public affairs, operations, and public engagement. She has worked with not-for-profit leaders, elected and government officials, and within civil society – with a focus on partnerships, collaboration, and community-building in service of the public good.

A cyclist and crossword enthusiast, Abra has lived in Geneva, Paris, Vancouver and currently Toronto. A purpose-driven professional, she believes in the value of strong and inclusive civic engagement in advancing a more prosperous, equitable, and just society for all.

Sara Krynitzki

Director, Public Affairs & Research

Sara has spent over 20 years leading non-profit initiatives across Canada. She began her career in fundraising, has worked on Parliament Hill, and for over eight years managed community initiatives and granting for one of Canada’s largest community foundations, allocating millions of dollars annually, and connecting philanthropy to the greatest needs to tackle inequity.

As Director of Public Affairs and Research, Sara guides PFC’s thought-leadership, advocacy agenda, research, and public relations activities to foster good public policies for the sector and to advance impactful, forward-thinking philanthropy.

She has a BA in Political Studies from Trent University and a Master’s in Public Policy and Public Administration from Concordia University. She sits on the board of directors of Sustainability Network, and was appointed to the Technical Issues Working Group, for the Charities Directorate at the Canada Revenue Agency. Having lived across Canada and internationally, Sara is now based in Toronto with her husband and three children.   

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