What’s Old is New Again

As Director, Digital Strategy, Taslim leads online initiatives for clients at Stephen Thomas Ltd. Taslim has over 20 years experience in Digital Marketing and Fundraising, including 7 years with ST working with a variety of nonprofit organizations including Médecins Sans Frontières, CUSO International, Kids Help Phone, St Johns Ambulance, Jane Goodall Foundation, Sick Kids Hospital Foundation, Food Banks Canada, Diabetes Canada and more. From online fundraising campaigns and digital advertising, to symbolic giving catalogues and multichannel campaigns that include email, outdoor, television, digital and direct mail channels, Taslim brings a rigorous strategic lens to digital marketing and fundraising initiatives, leading with business objectives to drive results for clients.

Taslim holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. She has written on fundraising and marketing for various publications, served on the CMA’s Digital Marketing Council, and is on the Board of Directors at Myseum of Toronto, Toronto's museum of history and culture.

Steve Thomas has been described as both the ‘Guru' and the 'Godfather' of Canadian direct response fundraising. Though he started off life as a historical geographer and a teacher, he has been a fundraiser for well over 40 years.  Steve's early career began with Oxfam Canada as Development Director, where he established their direct mail program as Canada's first modern and scientific use of the medium. In the 1970s Oxfam grew to become one of Canada's leading charities, mainly through the successful use of direct mail.

In 1980, Steve founded Stephen Thomas Associates (now Stephen Thomas Limited), Canada's first direct response fundraising agency working exclusively in the not-for-profit sector. Over the years, Steve has worked with thousands of charitable and not-for-profit organizations in Canada, the U.S. and internationally. His contribution to the industry was recognized by the Canadian Marketing Association in 1998 when Steve was awarded the Directors' Choice Lifetime Achievement Award and by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Toronto Chapter in 2002 where he received the Outstanding Fundraising Executive Award. In 2006, Steve was honoured by Amnesty International for 25 years of service.

A gifted speaker and presenter, Steve has lectured world-wide on the topics of marketing and fundraising, and is frequently called upon by groups throughout North America and abroad.  He has worked in Australia off and on since the mid eighties.

One of the original founders and past Chair of the Canadian Fundraising Congress, Steve is past president of the AFP Greater Toronto Chapter.  Steve is past Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Humber College Post Graduate Fundraising Program.

Steve was Canadian Ambassador of the International Fundraising Conference (IFC) from 1993-2008.  He was Chair of the IFC in 2004 and 2005.  He served on the Board of its parent, the Resource Alliance, for eight years and left as Co-Chair in October 2010.

In 2007/8 Steve was Fundraiser in Residence at York University. And in 2009-10 the chairman of the Amnesty International Human Rights House Campaign.

In 2012 Steve published 30 Letters that Changed the World and in 2013 joined the Board of Canada’s History Society.  He is also on the board of Strategic Communications, the fundraising and polling firm.

As a resident and former businessman in the Beaches of Toronto, Steve carries his belief of involvement and political activism to the community where he has coached high school basketball for twenty-seven years.