Rebecca Darwent

TED SPEAKER | PHILANTHROPIC ADVISOR

Rebecca Darwent is an internationally recognized expert and captivating speaker in the field of philanthropy and community-led initiatives.

With her upcoming TED talk on the transformative power of community-led philanthropy, Rebecca is set to inspire individuals and organizations to embrace collaborative approaches in driving positive social change.

With a diverse background spanning philanthropic advising, consulting, and global partnerships, Rebecca brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to all endeavours. She has led multimillion-dollar investments in equity, health, and education. She is currently a Senior Advisor to Philanthropy Together focussing on raising awareness of and funding for collaboratives, specifically those that are community-led. 

As a co-founder of the Foundation for Black Communities, she led fundraising, community engagement, and advocacy that resulted in a historic $200 million commitment to Black philanthropy by the Canadian government, ensuring sustainable resources are available for Black communities to thrive, engage in solution-making, and create lasting impact.

Prior to this, she was Director of Global Partnerships at Singularity University, leading tech and education programming across five continents. Rebecca also worked in the Ontario provincial government as a Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Children and Youth Services, responsible for the Anti-Racism Directorate.

Rebecca is a dedicated volunteer currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Black Communities, The Philanthropy Workshop Canada, and Laidlaw Foundation. She has been recognized as a Women Leaders for the World Fellow and honoured as a Canadian Millennium Laureate. 

Sector Roles

  • Co-founded first-ever grantmaking foundation dedicated to Black communities in Canada that exists to ensure every Black person in Canada can thrive and all Black communities have agency in defining their own future.

    Lead on fundraising, strategy, communications, and operations to capitalize $300M endowment.

  • Democratizing and diversifying philanthropy through the power of collective giving, specifically raising awareness of and funding to community-led collaboratives through sector trainings, convenings, thought leadership and advocacy.

  • Providing strategic advice, leadership, and governance to foundation staff. Oversees the operational and financial performance of the private family foundation’s $75 million dollar endowment and grantmaking.

  • Part of the inaugural board, providing strategic advice, leadership, and governance to organization staff. Oversees the operational and financial performance of the philanthropic membership organization’s expansion into Canada.

  • Intensive global fellowship for women leaders who are industry disruptors and social innovators at the top of their game.

    Fellowship focused on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in Canadian philanthropy to change the status-quo of the philanthropic sector which chronically underrepresents and under invests in the communities it aims to assist.

Career Highlights

✓ Secured $200 million federal government capital transfer to the Foundation for Black Communities’ endowment

✓ $25 million and counting fundraised for Black communities 

✓ Internationally recognized TED speaker 

✓ Black Philanthropy Month Canada Chair

✓ Future of Good’s 10 Black Social Impact Leaders to Know 2020

✓ Globally nominated Women Leaders of the World Fellow

✓ Certified 21/64 Philanthropic Advisor

Partners

  • Destination Canada Logo

  • “I’ve witnessed what Rebecca accomplished in just two years such as co-founding and growing the Foundation for Black Communities, while also fundraising over $16 million dollars, engaging multiple stakeholders on Black Philanthropy, and advising HNWI to mobilize resources in new ways. Clearly Rebecca is a driven strategic leader, but she does this while being authentic and thoughtful in every interaction as well.”

    Jaimi Cortes
    Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Marin Community Foundation

  • “Rebecca is a standout for what she’s been able to accomplish. She is just oozing with inspiration in every way.”

    Julie Abrams
    CEO, How Women Lead

  • “What shines through in the various spaces I have been privileged to work with Rebecca Darwent or watch her work, is what underpins and undergirds her Intelligence, Resourcefulness, and Dynamism: Empathy. Rebecca is a consummate professional who knows not only how to get the job done, but, also, how to do it in a way that affirms, supports, and encourages the humanity of others.”

    Dr. Joseph Smith
    Executive Director, Generation Chosen

  • “Rebecca is an accomplished leader in the philanthropic sector who excels at governance and supporting family foundations. She is a strategic thinking with a critical lens in complex situations. Furthermore, she sees opportunity in challenge. It is an absolute pleasure to work with her!”

    Janine Manning
    President, Laidlaw Foundation