nhaddad

Member Spotlight


nadine-haddadNadine Haddad
Director of Philanthropy
Confederation Centre of the Arts
AFP member since 2021


Why did you join AFP NS? What has your experience been like so far?

I joined AFP NS to connect largely with the fundraising community in the Maritimes. I recently moved back to PEI after being away for 7 years and I knew the importance of AFP’s impact in the big city. Since I’ve joined AFP NS- I’ve connected with some members here in PEI and in NS. I am so excited to attend the Maritime Fundraising Conference with my team and I look forward to meeting more fundraising professionals in various sectors. The experience so far has been great. The team is extremely helpful and is great is guiding me into the right direction to find the answers to all of my questions. I look forward to attending more webinars and accessing the tools and resources online.

Tell us about your current role. What is your favourite part of the job?

I am the Director of Philanthropy at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. I love advocating for so many different arts disciplines. The centre is home to an art gallery, a theatre and a dance and heritage programming department. I believe there is something for everyone. It is exciting to connect donors to a variety of options that meets their interests and to reflect on the impact of their donations.

What inspired you to pursue a career in fundraising?

I’m sure I’m not the first one to say this, but fundraising pursued me. I got my first exposure to the fundraising world when I interned in the development department at the National Ballet of Canada. I really wanted to work there, and they had a job opening. Since then, I have been inspired to continue working in the field. I am passionate about the arts sector, and I love advocating for the arts through my work as a fundraiser when communicating to donors and prospects. I’ve always been one to have interests in marketing, communications, event and relationship management and for me fundraising did all that and more. It is deeply gratifying to work in the arts sector as a fundraiser, especially now more than ever, this pandemic has made it more evident that we need the arts to survive as a species. Life is simply not the same when we cannot gather together in a concert hall or theatre to witness art on the stage. I want the arts sector to be financially healthy and my job is to ensure that it continues to be a part of our lives today and for decades to come.

What's your favourite thing to do in Nova Scotia/PEI in the spring/summer/winter/fall?

My favorite thing to do in Prince Edward Island is visit the beaches in the summertime. I feel so lucky to have access to the beautiful beaches whenever I want!

Do you have a favorite book, blog or podcast that has been very helpful in your career that you'd like to recommend?

A book that has been very helpful in my career is The Cycle: A Practical Approach to Managing Arts Organizations. The book is written by Brett E. Egan and Michael Kaiser. This book was first introduced to me in school, and I come back to revisit it often. I think it sets up a good fulsome understanding of what it takes to run an arts organization and Mr. Kaiser makes the case that, to be successful, arts organizations must create a family atmosphere that invites staff, board, audience members, artists, and donors to feel ownership of the organization. I am supportive of this model of thinking and it has driven me to be more successful in my work.