Strategy Starts Here

 
 
 
 

Who We Are

successful fundraising
is built from meaningful relationships

ACM is a full service fundraising strategy firm with a focus on client relationships. We support your organization’s evolving needs and provide you with the tools to create a foundation for sustainable fundraising growth.

 

What We Do

CUSTOMIZED STRATEGY TO
MEET YOUR EVOLVING NEEDS

The path to achieving fundraising success is unique to every organization. Through a highly customized, client-centred approach, we partner with you to reach your strategic goals in ways that embody the unique culture and values of your organization and the people who make it great. We are here to support you every step of the way.

  • Strategic Counsel

    • Create and execute fundraising strategy

    • Assess campaign readiness and create implementation path

  • Internal Assessments

    • Evaluate structural and staffing strengths

    • Explore opportunities to build internal capacity

  • Customized Coaching

    • Coach key staff and volunteers around achieving fundraising goals

OUR SERVICES

Meet Avon

Avon MacFarlane is a senior fundraising strategist with 35 plus years experience. Throughout her career, she has been a strategic partner to clients across all sectors within Canada, and internationally. 

Avon is passionate about creating partnerships with her clients that are creative, sustainable and highly collaborative.

Learn More

 

  • ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO

    “Avon has an extraordinary ability to grasp complex dynamics quickly and offer solution-based advice that is clear and actionable. A natural mentor, she approaches people and projects with openness and encouragement. And rather than presenting a cookie-cutter approach, Avon listens with intention and customizes her counsel to our distinct needs. Her advice has helped us to solidify our campaign strategy with confidence and tackle even the most challenging questions.”

    — Kate Halpenny, Chief Development Officer

  • KIDS HELP PHONE

    “There is no one in Canada who can inform strategy and inspire advancement professionals better than Avon MacFarlane. She has helped to inform critical strategies for campaigns and fundraising platforms either with me directly as CEO or with members of advancement teams for more than 15 years. I cannot imagine launching any type of campaign of any size without Avon’s wisdom, clarity and, yes at times, “devil’s advocate view” in the mix! And knowing how many organizations Avon has touched across Canada, I know that Avon has also had a direct impact of positively influencing the social fabric in the country – quite a ripple effect! I would highly recommend Avon MacFarlane and her team!“

    — Katherine Hay, ICD.D, President + CEO

  • INSEAD, THE BUSINESS SCHOOL FOR THE WORLD

    “Avon is the most knowledgeable person I know anywhere about the art and science of fundraising strategy, hands down. Her experience enables her to get to the heart of things quickly – be it on strategy execution or technical or operational questions. What really differentiates Avon is her innate ability to share her expertise in a really straightforward and accessible way. She can demystify seemingly complex questions and issues like no other person I have ever worked with. The guidance she provided to me and each of my team members around major gift fundraising was invaluable in helping us all up our game – and our results. She really does know how to help you move the needle and have fun doing it!”

    — Marisa Clarke, Senior Director, Development

  • UPPER CANADA COLLEGE

    “Avon can be counted on to bring both a broad industry perspective and client-specific recommendations to any organizational challenge, large or small. Avon has a unique ability to hone in on what makes a given organization or project unique, and helps arrange the pieces of strategy and tactics to best fit the opportunity and goals. Avon is knowledgeable, strategic and efficient!”

    — Brendan Dellandrea, Vice Principal, Advancement