Michelle Pruefer

Background

About Michelle Pruefer

Michelle is a fundraising professional with expertise in fostering meaningful relationships, which results in assisting donors to make impactful gifts that align with the impact they would like to make during their lifetime or through their estate. With a proven track record of raising over $30 million in estate, leadership, and major gifts, Michelle brings a wealth of experience across all facets of fundraising, including leadership giving, major giving, gift planning, and principal gifts. Her ability to work seamlessly with high-net-worth donors and their advisors has resulted in Michelle being viewed as a trusted partner by donors, their families, and their advisors. A passionate advocate for family wealth strategies and women in philanthropy, Michelle leverages her unique insights to create impactful, donor-centered giving experiences. As a strategic leader and innovative problem solver, Michelle excels in building processes and collaborative partnerships that drive long-term success. Her core competencies include relationship-building, data-informed decision-making, and strategic vision, which are complemented by her behind-the-scenes experience in database management, event coordination, and operational execution. This dual perspective, frontline fundraising and operational expertise, ensures her strategies are both ambitious and achievable. Michelle's corporate background in performance improvement, finance, special project management, and budgeting informs her thoughtful, results-oriented approach to fundraising. As a past member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Southeast Ontario chapter and a member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP), Michelle has made significant contributions to the field through leadership and service. She served for seven years on the Board of Directors for the LaSalle Foundation and was recognized with the CCAE Prix d'Excellence Gold Medal in 2020 for her collaboration on a nationally celebrated gift-planning flyer. In 2024, she co-presented at the 30th CAGP National Conference, sharing her expertise on "Looking After Legacies: Continuing the Conversation." Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Professional Master of Education from Queen's University. She earned her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification in 2025. Her dedication to lifelong learning and commitment to excellence underscore her passion for philanthropy.