The following account was written by Carrie Brodi, communications officer, York University Foundation.
Cathy Cupani, senior development officer of the York University Foundation, was recently declared "Outstanding New Fundraising Professional" by members of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Toronto Chapter. This important award recognizes fundraising professionals early in their careers who display exceptional talent and demonstrate outstanding achievement.
"We are proud of Cathy who has demonstrated exceptional talent and has a great future in the fundraising profession," said Paul Marcus, president and CEO of the York University Foundation. "She is part of a great development team we have at York."
Cupani has focused her career on fundraising since graduating from the University of Toronto in June 1999. At the Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation of Toronto, she was part of the Major & Planned Gift and Campaign Management teams and is very proud to have been part of the Best Medicine Campaign that raised over $150 million in its first phase, making it the largest fundraising campaign in Canadian hospital history at the time.
Nominations for AFP awards are made by association members, and include such criteria as professional experience, volunteer contributions to the not-for-profit sector, seminars/courses towards fundraising certification, and the extent to which nominees have made a difference to the advancement of philanthropy.
One of Cupani’s peers and a member of the nomination team commented, "Cathy’s people skills engender respect, confidence and affection in others. Her creativity, initiative and hard work mean that she will be an excellent employee and serve her donors well."
Cupani currently supports the Office of the President and the CEO of the York University Foundation. This includes the president’s prospect management as well as special project work in establishing and maintaining the infrastructure of the foundation.