Breaking Bread & Raising Dough (At Home)

Meighan became the Chief Development Officer at the True Patriot Love Foundation in November 2019, recognizing the need to stand up and support our country's veterans, military service members and their families year round, not just on Remembrance Day. As CDO she has been creating a strategy to diversify the funding of the organization, which is needed now more than ever.

Meighan started her career working as a student caller at the University of Waterloo, where she first gained an appreciation for the profession.  After spending almost 10 years in the UK, working in various fundraising roles from events, planned giving and major gifts, Meighan came home to Canada.

Passionate about travel, Meighan has been to over over 40 countries. She is a volunteer on the AFP Greater Toronto Chapter's Education Committee and was on the 2019 AFP Congress committee. Meighan was also part of the Aspire mentorship program in the UK, which helped her reach where she is today in her career and wants to share the value of mentorship with the rest of the AFP community.

Kate joined the team at Kids Help Phone in early May 2020, as the Director, Philanthropy (Major Gifts). Supporting the advancement team’s fundraising efforts and liaising with the organization’s community of generous supporters, Kate is inspired by the opportunity to work alongside passionate and caring philanthropists, with a shared objective of supporting Canadian youth and mental health.

Starting her career at Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation as part of the Major Gifts Team supporting a number of the Foundation’s largest campaigns, Kate more recently worked as the Senior Manager, Philanthropy at Plan International Canada, as a leader within a high-growth $100 million philanthropy campaign. Kate is a motivated professional with demonstrated success and experience in major gift fundraising.

Kate holds a post-graduate certificate in Fundraising and Volunteer Management, from Humber College, and a BA in Global Studies and Languages, from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University. She is accredited with the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation.

Kate plays competitive women’s soccer, and having grown up in cottage country, she spends as much time as possible outdoors – whether on the ski hill or on the lake. She volunteers on AFP Greater Toronto Area’s Education Committee, AFP Women’s Impact Initiative, as well as with Prostate Cancer Canada and Canadian Blood Services - two causes that Kate is intimately connected to.