Ellen Schappert

Background

About Ellen Schappert

As a development officer with experience working for hospital foundations and environmental non-profits, I craft successful funding proposals, streamline processes and procedures, and build mutually beneficial relationships with funding organizations, individual donors, volunteers, and colleagues. At Ocean Wise, I collaborate with program staff to identify and secure marine conservation grants from numerous Canadian government agencies. My responsibilities include diversifying Ocean Wise’s funding portfolio to raise revenue from other government sources in Canada and beyond and creating systems to increase fundraising effectiveness. Previously, as the Manager of Proposals & Projects at VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, I met with major-gift fundraisers and key hospital stakeholders to understand two hospitals’ priority needs and translate these into compelling cases for support and tailored proposals that helped to close 5- to 7-figure gifts. At BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, I strengthened legacy donors’ connection to the hospital while attracting new legacy donors. This is also where, as an assistant in a multimillion-dollar direct-response marketing program, I discovered fundraising. Attention to detail, timely communication, team work, and an ability to connect personally with grassroots donors were keys to success in this first role, sparking an interest in collaboration, project management, and donor connection that influence my work to this day. Career milestones include: Building back from Covid-19, in conjunction with colleagues, to raise more than $8M annually in government grants for research, education, and direct-action initiatives aimed at protecting and restoring the world’s oceans. Producing a wide range of marketing collateral and programs, including informational packages, one-pagers, ads, evites, surveys, fundraising events, videos, brochures, books, proposals, and donor and volunteer appreciation events. Developing and executing on outreach strategies - alongside an experienced volunteer committee - targeted to Cantonese-speaking potential supporters and financial advisors. Outside work, I’m passionate about functional health and nutrition. I enjoy all kinds of movement – yoga, Pilates, hiking, biking – and can often be found in a local grocery store perusing the produce section as I prepare to cook for family and friends. Enfin, je parle couramment le français und ich kann auch ziemlich gut Deutsch.