NORTH AMERICAN TEAM & Board FOR CAF CANADA

Ted Hart, ACFRE, CDE ®, CAP®

President and CEO, CAF Canada

Ted Hart serve as President and CEO of CAF Canada and CAF America. As an internationally recognized speaker with over 35 years of experience advising philanthropy, Ted has expertise in regulatory frameworks governing both domestic and global grantmaking and risk management. A skilled spokesman and thought leader, Ted builds strong mission-oriented and financially sustainable entities, forms exceptional teams, and establishes successful partnerships with third-party for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

Ted is the co-editor of the book Cross-Border Giving: A Legal and Practical Guide, and he has co-authored eight published books on philanthropy. Additionally, he is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy (AiP), and a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE). As President & CEO, the CAF Canada team and Ted have significantly expanded CAF Canada’s suite of services and transformed its operations to serve as administrator and advisor for both domestic and international grantmaking that ensures regulatory compliance, manages risk, and protects client reputation.

In addition to his Master in Public Administration (MPA) degree, Ted is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®), a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE®), and an Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive (ACFRE). Ted is certified in Anti-Money Laundering (AML/CFT) and holds the information security management certification ISO 27001.

He is very proud of his two adult children Sarah Grace Hart and Alexander Michael Hart.

Rodger Jacobson

Chief Financial Officer

As Chief Financial Officer, Rodger brings over thirty years of experience in senior roles with for profit and non-profit organizations. As a hands-on leader, he has managed accounting, budgeting, and forecasting as well as managed bank relationships, oversaw tax and regulatory filings, and assessed cash flow and risk management. Rodger believes in collaborating with many leaders, especially HR and IT in support of their goals and those of the organization.

As VP Finance and then CFO for 15 years at On Campus Marketing, Rodger managed the accounting and finance teams, culminating in the sale of the company in 2016. He pivoted to a consulting CFO role for a global non-profit primary and secondary school group where he supported thirty-three private schools across in the United States and Canada. Rodger’s work focused on financial reporting, cash flow management, tax and donor reporting, internal controls, risk management and human resources. He advised the Board and Leadership team on strategic planning and implemented accounting policies to streamline processes and improve internal controls, leading to accounting best practices and consistent, timely reporting. Other consulting projects include a fractional CFO role for a cyber-technology start-up and an oversight role for a bankruptcy winddown.

In addition to his professional experience, Rodger has served or continue to do so on multiple not for profit Boards and Committees, focusing his efforts in the areas of Finance and Development. A graduate of Rider University, he resides in Bethesda, Maryland and is married with two adult children.

Deron Lehman

Chief Operating Officer, CAF Canada

Deron Lehman serves as Chief Operating Officer of CAF Canada. Deron has more than 20 years of experience in research institutions, non-profit, and government settings focused on business strategy, building the capacity of human resources teams, and streamlining operations to provide enhanced services. He began his career focusing on enhancing state government efficiency with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by applying business strategies and principles to streamline bureaucratic processes. Through work, he quickly realized that processes can be easily changed, but the people that support and use them were generally underserved. This changed his focus to a people-centric strategy for enhancing value creation and enhancing employee experience. Deron has led teams at American Enterprise Institute, Mercatus Center at George Mason University, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, DC Government, and National 4-H Council. Through his organizational roles and consulting services, he has helped improve employee experience, increased human resources’ contribution to business outcomes, and enhanced operational alignment with culture and mission. Deron contributes to the development of HR professionals and business leaders by facilitating learning sessions through local and national seminars and speaking engagements.

Deron is a member of the DC SHRM board of directors. He holds SHRM-SCP and SPHR certifications. Deron also received a Bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris University. He also thinks that as individuals, our best work and impact is yet to come.

Howard English

Senior Director (Toronto), CAF Canada

Howard English joins CAF Canada with 25 years of experience as a recognized expert in non-profit governance, communications, donor relations and volunteer development whose work has benefited countless families throughout North America, Israel and beyond. Before establishing his own company in the fall of 2014, Howard distinguished himself as the Senior Vice President of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs – the Canadian Jewish community’s largest non-profit advocacy organization. Previously, he played an integral role in the United Jewish Appeal’s fundraising efforts, first as Vice President of Marketing and Communications, and then as Vice President of Corporate Communications at UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. As UJA’s most senior marketing professional, Howard directed the marketing efforts of 10 successive annual campaigns featuring fundraising increases. UJA raises well over $50 million a year in donations for general charitable use and millions more in designated gifts. In part, his success as an executive can be attributed to his success in developing warm, lasting relationships with donors and volunteers. A powerful speaker at local, national and international forums, Howard excels at inspiring even the most unknowing of audiences in articulating the heart of a charity’s mission, vision and core values. Combined with his understanding of the Canada Revenue Agency’s requirements for charitable organizations and a commitment to strong governance structures, Howard provides volunteers with meaningful, fulfilling input into organizational decision making. A former broadcast journalist, consultant and Ontario community college teacher, he is recognized as one of Toronto’s most effective communicators, having received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for community service.

Jessie Krafft

Senior Vice President of External Affairs

Jessie Krafft is the Senior Vice President of External Affairs at Charities Aid Foundation of Canada (CAF Canada), where she has worked for 6+ years. In her current role, Jessie manages a grants team of 20 individuals who are responsible for charity vetting, grantmaking, oversight of CRA regulatory compliance and foreign nonprofit laws, as well as the day-to-day support of thousands of donor clients and international charities. Under her direction, the team works diligently to remain at the forefront on all IRS laws, local foreign country regulations as well as all compliance-related issues in relation to international grantmaking. Jessie holds an M.A. in International Development from American University, and graduated summa cum laude from the honors college at Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.A. in Spanish, B.S. in Anthropology, and a minor in Latin American Studies. She holds a certificate in Nonprofit Executive Management from Georgetown University and is certified in Anti-Money Laundering (AML/CFT) by the Society of Tax and Estate Professionals (STEP). Jessie is fluent in Spanish and holds a Spanish Certificate of Translation and Interpretation from her alma mater. Prior to joining the CAF Canada staff, she worked for 18 months as a volunteer visitor coordinator, tutor, and child caretaker at an orphanage in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Catherine Wylie

Director (Vancouver), CAF Canada

Catherine Wylie is Director at CAF Canada. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Prior to joining CAF Canada, Catherine was CEO of C.N. Wylie Group of Companies including Strategic Profits Inc.; PayPaq Solutions Inc.; SPIguard Security Solutions Inc.; GAINE Center for Spiritual Progress; and Global Animal Network.

Nicole Varner

Vice President, Technology and Cybersecurity

As the Vice President of Technology & Cybersecurity, Nicole administers CAF Canada’s information and cybersecurity policies and programs to ensure the security of CAF Canada’s systems and the important data we are charged with. This department works jointly with a team of vendor partners that provide the tools and resources we use to maintain the highest levels of cybersecurity and technological infrastructure.. Nicole holds a BA in Anthropology with minors in Spanish and Business Administration from The George Washington University, and her international experience was enhanced at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in Spain. She is certified in Anti-Money Laundering (AML/CFT) by the Society of Tax and Estate Professionals (STEP).

Brooks Reed CAP ®

Vice President, Business Development

Brooks joined CAF Canada in February 2018 as Director of Business Development. He comes from a background in international development, with research interest focusing on the private sector in development and multi-sector structures of global governance. His professional experience includes time with international NGOs and within the Executive Office of the Governor of Florida. Before coming to CAF Canada, Brooks worked closely with Charities Aid Foundation in the UK, as a co-author on the report titled Beyond Integrity: Exploring the role of business in preserving civil society space (Charities Aid Foundation, 2016).

Brooks holds a MSc in Development Management from London School of Economics (2016), as well as a BA in International Affairs and a BA in Political Science from Florida State University (2015).

Charles Plunket

Assistant Vice President of Finance

Born and raised in D.C., Chip earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Accountancy from the University of Denver. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. In his prior role as an auditor, Chip worked closely with many charitable organizations, both here and abroad, where he developed an interest in international giving and nonprofit accounting.

Robynn Benner

Senior Director, Program Services 

Robynn Benner is the Sr. Director of Program Services at CAF Canada. She joined the CAF family in 2013 as a Grants Officer with the CAF America team, and transitioned to CAF Canada operations in its infancy and has helped the organization grow through her leadership and interest in assisting charitable individuals support the causes important to them through project work. 

In her current role she manages the Project Team and focuses most of her time on providing guidance to Canadian philanthropists interested in funding projects around the globe; as well as drafting and approving Project Agreements with charitable project partners. She can also be found assisting with special projects or collaborating with her team members in one of the many working groups: Values, Principles and Practices Working Group,  Culture Deck Working Group and Benefits Working Group, to name a few.

Prior to joining the CAF family she spent 8 years with AYCO, a Goldman Sachs Company as the Account Manager for one of their three Donor Advised Funds. In this role she enhanced her knowledge of philanthropic giving and sparked her interest in becoming a liaison between donors and organizations working together to fund impactful projects all over the world.

She spends most of her non-working hours taking care of three very energetic children between the ages of 2-13. She likes to look for volunteer opportunities in her community and help out at the girls’ school when possible.

She received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from The State University of NY at Buffalo (UB) and is certified in Anti-Money Laundering (AML/CFT) by the Society of Tax and Estate Professionals (STEP).

Avery Brooks

Finance Officer

Born and raised in the Washington D.C. metro area, Avery graduated from Bowie State University with a Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance. Over the last several years, he has gained experience working with the U.S. State Department, a multinational investment bank, and a Capitol Hill law firm. Avery is passionate about using his love of numbers to effect change in his local community and is excited to have the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of others around the world

Rebekah Siddique

Program Services Officer

Rebekah Siddique, Program Services Officer at CAF Canada. Her responsibilities include communicating with charity organizations to facilitate the completion of eligibility applications and validation of grantee organizations. Prior to joining CAF Canada, she held a variety of internships including interning for the International Rescue Committee as an Asylee Caseworker.

In Rebekah’s spare time she enjoys watching the Great British Baking Show, doing puzzles, reading and curating international vacations.  Rebekah is currently wrapping up my Masters of Arts at American University in International Relations where she concentrates in National Security and Foreign Policy and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from Towson University.

“”Pa’lante”- A phrase that I hold dearly and keeps me going everyday is an old one that my mother always tells me. It means to keep moving forward. To keep pushing forward even when you feel defeated or to not stop moving forward when you’ve accomplished a major goal. When I hear it, it picks me up and encourages me to keep improving myself, to accept each challenge and never give up on my personal, academic or professional goals.”

Mo Lidsky

Board Chair

Mo is the Chief Executive Officer at Prime Quadrant. Prior to Prime Quadrant, Mo was the co-founder and owner of TMX Inc., a group of automobile restoration companies in Northeast Ohio, co-founder of CharityBids LLC, an online auction platform serving the non-profit sector, and founding partner of Apex Global Capital, a regional micro-finance company in the Caribbean. Mo also spent five years as the national director and chief executive officer of Yeshiva University (Canada) and Chairman of the THJ Foundation. He continues to sit on the boards of several non-profit organizations, including CJPAC, Haifa University, Jerusalem College for Technology, Hebrew University, and CAF Canada. He also serves as an Investment Policy Advisor for Canada Gives Foundation and the Chair of the Prime Quadrant Foundation. Mo is co-author of The Philanthropic Mind, profiling Canada’s most generous philanthropists, In Search of the Prime Quadrant: The Quest for Better Investment Decisions, and author of Partners in Preservation: How to Know Your Advisor Is Truly Protecting Your Wealth. Mo holds multiple degrees, Magna Cum Laude, in Economics and Psychology, from Yeshiva University, and has an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

Ted Hart, ACFRE, CAP®

Board President

Ted Hart brings extensive experience in the fields of internet and global philanthropy. As an internationally recognized speaker and consultant on topics related to nonprofit strategy, Ted is an expert in board and volunteer development practices both online and offline. Before coming to CAF America, Ted served as CEO of Hart Philanthropic Services, an international consultancy providing strategic solutions to major nonprofits and NGOs. He coauthored People to People Fundraising: Social Networking and Web 2.0 for Charities and was critical in the creation of the online fundraising movement People to People Fundraising designed to give donors the chance to participate in the success of a charity beyond the online gift. Ted was also a leader at the International ePhilanthropy Foundation. Most recently, Ted obtained his Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy certification, aimed at increasing expertise in the impacts of planning for family wealth, charitable giving, and gift planning for nonprofits and is one of only 101 individuals who hold the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive (ACFRE) designation globally.

Janet Boyd, Esq.

Treasurer

For more than 18 years, Janet has provided legal counsel to a number of tax-exempt organizations. She has served as a CAF America board member since 1999, and as president of CAF America from 2002-2014.

Janet currently works for the Dow Chemical Company in Washington, D.C., providing legal and policy advice on tax, corporate governance, and employee benefits issues. Before joining Dow, she was a partner in the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, L.L.P.

Janet received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas-Austin and a law degree from the George Washington University National Law Center. She is a member of the Bar in the District of Columbia and a member of the American Bar Association’s Tax Section. She also serves on the board of the Tax Council.

Neil Gallaiford

Secretary

Neil is a former national director, donor-based campaigns, at the MS Society of Canada and founder of Cornerstone Response Management, the leading fundraising database management and donation processing firm in Canada. He was also founding editor of The Fundraiser’s Handbook, published by the Canadian Marketing Association. In 2006, upon his appointment as president of Stephen Thomas, FRM Consulting, which Neil founded in 2000, merged with ST. FRM Consulting to provide strategic advice, program audits, and marketing consulting services to some of Canada’s leading not-for-profits, including the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario and British Columbia & Yukon Divisions, the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario, the March of Dimes, the Toronto Humane Society, and Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

David Latner

Board Member

David is the General Counsel of the Hyatt Family Office, including the Hyatt Family Foundation. The Hyatt brothers founded, grew and sold software companies Dyadem International and BlueCat Networks and are active investors in the technology arena. David was the General Counsel of BlueCat from Jan 1, 2007 until October 2015, when he joined the family office. Between 1997 and 2007 he was a partner in (and General Counsel of) XDL Capital, a Toronto based venture capital firm focused on information technology investments. Prior to joining XDL Capital, David served as General Counsel of Delrina Corporation, a software developer acquired by Symantec. David has been an adjunct lecturer, originally at the Law Society Bar Admissions Course, and then at the University of Waterloo and the Canadian Film Centre’s Digital Media program until 2006. David is a board member of Advocan Law P.C., and a co-founder of Advocan Law L.P. a boutique law firm focused on licensing, finance and litigation for technology companies.

Kostas Andrikopoulos

Board Member

Kostas N. Andrikopoulos holds an impressive track record of success in the field of wealth management. Throughout his career, Kostas has developed broad experience in strategic planning, general management, marketing and product development. Kostas has found great success leading T. E. Financial Consultants Ltd., one of Canada’s largest private wealth management firms, to sustained profitability. Today, he is president of KNA Strategic Wealth Consulting Corp. His company assists families with the development and structuring of their family office. He is a recognized expert on wealth management and has made numerous appearances on television including CBC evening news, ROB TV and BNN. He has also been a member of over 13 boards, and a lecturer for both McGill and Concordia University. Mr. Andrikopoulos has received a DEC from Vanier College, a B.A. from McGill University, and a Graduate Diploma in Public Accounting from Concordia University with CPA, CA, and TEP designations.  Kostas is fluent in English, French, and Greek.