There are close to 200 members in our Chapter and many more supporters. In this regular feature of the Pipeline, we will introduce you to long-serving members who have shaped the profession and the Chapter. Our Finders will introduce you to some of the newer Chapter members and people you may meet in one of our upcoming events
Member Profile – Founder:
Brian Duclos, BA, CFRE
| Brian E. Duclos was widely recognized as a key player in the inception of the fundraising profession in Alberta. During his more than four decades in the third sector, he always combined his work responsibilities with advocacy for the development of the profession. Brian was highly respected for his deep commitment to fund development. He is a role model for young professionals because he exemplified how to “walk the talk”. Brian initiated his career at the Banff Centre in 1970s as the General Manager of the Canadian Association of Youth Orchestras, organizing the first National Youth Orchestra Festival. Always aware of the “big picture”, he ensured Western representation in the formation of the Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) in 1981, while serving as Director of Development at the Strathcona Tweedsmuir School in Calgary. In 1989, he hosted the first national CAIS conference held outside of Ontario or Quebec. Parallel to his seminal work as Alumni Affairs Director at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in the 1990s, Brian was a founding board member of the Calgary Chapter of National Society of Fundraising Executives (NSFRE), later renamed the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and became its first male president. Brian upheld the importance of fundraisers holding the CFRE professional designation in order to ensure recognition in the workplace and the commitment to a strict professional code of ethics. He saw AFP as pivotal in positioning the profession vis-à-vis both institutions with fundraising initiatives, and donors. He truly believed in philanthropy, as separate from sponsorships and naming opportunities, often reminding himself and colleagues in the profession about “the millionaire next door”. Brian was a master at developing relationships with donors, in part because he believed so deeply in the significance of giving. He shepherded novice donors and new fundraising professionals alike as he worked at cultivating a culture of philanthropy. He raised millions of dollars for educational institutions in Alberta and Quebec, before joining the Calgary Zoo as the Director of Development in 1999. He left an important legacy but remained humble about his achievements for the sector. Brian’s motto was succinct: “to raise money is to realize dreams”. He loved his profession; advocated for high professional standards; enjoyed teaching and sharing his knowledge and wisdom about the fundraising profession; and was devoted to mentoring and supporting newcomers to not-for-profit management. Forever Remembered January 20, 1951 – December 22, 2020 |
Member Profile – Founder: Brian Duclos, BA, CFRE
AFP Calgary members: if you wish to leave memories or tributes about Brian, please do so here in the comments. WE will ensure that his family is aware of this memorial page.