2001 Award Recipients

Ms. Dianne Lister, LL.B., CFRE

President and CEO of the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation (HSCF), Dianne Lister is an outstanding practitioner and an inspired leader in the fundraising profession. Before moving to HSCF in 1991, Dianne was with Catholic Children's Aid Society Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society, Metropolitan Toronto.

At the HSCF, Dianne has been a true innovator. She led the Foundation's first strategic planning process in 1992. Since 1992, the endowment has grown from $100 million to $400 million. Revenues from the HSFC's on-going fund raising programs and investment income has grown eight-fold since 1991-92. In 1997, she oversaw the launch of the "Help Make Sick Kids Better" campaign, the first endowment fund raising campaign for research.

Following the Campaign, to involve volunteers more actively in the philanthropic process, she established the HSCF Development Council and a "Breakfast of Champions" program that links community leaders with Sick Kid's scientific and medical champions. New Mission and Vision Statements along with Core Values Statement were developed for the Foundation under Dianne's leadership in a strategic visioning process in 1999.

Dianne Lister has heavily promoted certification in fundraising in her workplace: today the HSCF has a cadre of 11 certified staff, believed to be the largest number in any Canadian charitable organization. Tje code of Ethics is explicitly referred to the Foundation's Core Values Statement and Dianne acts as a pro bono mentor to many practitioners in the sector on ethical issues.

A graduate of Trent University and Osgode Hall Law School, Dianne has contributed a great deal of time and creative energy to the AFP: as Member of the Philanthropy Awards Committee for the Greater Toronto Chapter; as President of the Chapter in 1994-1995; as a faculty member for the survey course offered at the AFP Congress and most recently as Chair of the AFP Canadian Council and Chair, AFP Canadian Government Relations Committee.

Ms. Lister has been nominated by the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation for this year's Award.