Women and Philanthropy: Celebrating Women Who Make a Difference

Natalie M. Fletcher, PhD 19, is an interdisciplinary researcher, philosophical practitioner, and charity director based in Montreal, Canada. She is an affiliate philosophy professor at the University of Montreal, where she leads the Institute of Philosophy, Citizenship and Youth. She is the founding director of the educational charity Brila, which has sought—for over 15 years—to develop critical thinking, social responsibility, and self-efficacy in youth and communities through philosophical dialogues and creative projects, or its original Philocreation® approach. Her projects have attracted a wide range of media coverage, from newspapers like Le Devoir, La Presse, and The New York Times to Radio Canada and CBC Television. Having had the great privilege of working with thousands of youth and adults, she believes in the power of philosophy to connect us with the concepts that matter to us most.

Holly Wagg, MA 04, one of Concordia’s 50 Under 50, is Partner and CEO of Good Works. She has more than 25 years of experience in the charitable sector, with particular strategic and tactical expertise in direct mail, legacy, and digital giving. She’s also a co-author of You Can’t Take It With You: The Art and Science of Legacy Fundraising (the second edition of Iceberg Philanthropy), the go-to book on planned giving. In 2004, Holly co-founded the Ten Oaks Project, a leader in meeting the needs of children and youth from 2SLGBTQ+ identities, families, and communities, for which she was honored with a lifetime achievement award in the queer community before she turned 30.

Kim Anderson, BA 03, graduated from Concordia University with a bachelor’s degree in French/English Translation and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish. She began working at Hewitt Equipment Ltd in January 2011 in Marketing and held various positions. She was appointed Vice President of Hewitt Group in 2017 and CEO of the Hewitt Foundation in 2018. Kim is a member of the Board of the Montreal General Hospital Foundation and a member of the Royal Montreal Golf Club. She has also co-chaired the Cedars Golf Classic since 2019 to help raise funds and awareness for surgical priorities in oncology.