About

The Saskatoon Society of Fund Raising Executives is a professional organization dedicated to providing a supportive network for Fund Raising executives.

 

Goals:

  • To foster opportunities for resource sharing, networking and education.
  • To promote professionalism in fund raising and to interpret the profession to our own agencies and the general public.

Executive April 2026 – March 2027

Joan Wolf

Joan Wolf

President

Fundraising Consultant
Accalia Consulting Services Inc.
306 850-9548

Proudly from Saskatoon, Joan is an expert in Fundraising, with over 25 years of experience.

Joan launched her company for small and mid-sized charities who want to grow their organizational capacity, increase resources and build fund development plans that yield their sustainability.

She believes that charities are the fabric of society in making our world a better place and wants to see charities flourish.

Richard Kies

Richard Kies

Past President

Founder/Owner Kies Communications & Fundraising and a Senior Consultant with Global Philanthropic Canada

Richard is a mission-driven, non-profit communicator, fundraiser, and leader with close to 30 years in the sector. He has fundraising and executive leadership experience with the Canadian Red Cross, the Kinsmen Foundation, and the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan. His communications experience includes 15 years with the Red Cross, where he was deployed to wildfire disasters in Kelowna and Fort McMurray.

His unique specialty is the integration of fundraising and communications plans, strategies, and teams to achieve organizational goals and objectives. Richard holds the Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) designation from the International Association of Business Communicators, the Strategic Communications Management Professional (SCMP) designation from the Global Communications Certification Council, and 2025 Dr. Robert & Norma Ferguson Outstanding Service Award from the University of Regina. He has been an active member of SSFRE since 2014.

Carman Praski

Carman Praski

Treasurer

Fundraising Consultant, QSP Canada Fundraising

Carman is a trusted and experienced fundraising professional with a passion for making a positive difference for individuals and organizations across our province. With over 25 years of fundraising experience, he believes in building life-long relationships through integrity, trust, outstanding service and a shared passion for success. He is currently a Fundraising Consultant with QSP Fundraising where he builds strong and mutually beneficial partnerships with schools, teams, non-profit organizations and church groups. Throughout his fundraising and sales career Carman has worked with organizations such as the Kinsmen Foundation, TrustedSaskatoon, Farm Business Consultants, QSP Canada, SaskAbilities, Canon and Federated Co-operatives.

He holds a BA and a BComm in Finance and Marketing from the University of Saskatchewan and is an entrepreneur at heart, having co-owned businesses over the years. Carman is a proud husband to Deanne, and they have three wonderful children, now young adults. He loves spending time with family, enjoys reading, likes sports of any kind and living a healthy life. He is happy to be living a blessed life in service to others.

Kayla Schneider

Kayla Schneider

Programming Co-chair

Foundations Learning

Kayla is a passionate advocate for community-driven change and lifelong learning. With a strong background in social services and child & youth care, she has spent years supporting families in crisis and recognizing the power of education as a preventative tool. Before stepping into her role as Donor Relations & Development Officer, Kayla played a key part in growing Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan’s profile, working closely with program participants, volunteers, and community partners to expand its reach and impact.

Now, as a leader in donor engagement, Kayla channels her deep understanding of the agency’s mission into building meaningful relationships with supporters. Her firsthand experience with the transformative power of literacy and skills development allows her to connect donors with initiatives that create lasting change.

As a proud mother of two daughters, Kayla is a steadfast advocate for equitable access to education. She is eager to continue learning from Saskatoon’s nonprofit community and strengthening partnerships that empower children, families, and communities across the province.

Nicole Bangs

Nicole Bangs

Programming Co-chair

Inclusion Saskatchewan

Nicole is the Director of Community Engagement at Inclusion Saskatchewan, where she leads fundraising, donor relations, sponsorships, grants, strategic partnerships, and community engagement initiatives across the province. With a passion for relationship-building and community impact, Nicole believes fundraising is rooted in authentic connection, trust, and creating opportunities for people to invest in meaningful change.

As an exective of SSFRE she helps create engaging learning opportunities that connect and strengthen Saskatchewan’s fundraising community. She is passionate about lifelong learning, collaborative leadership, and building a stronger nonprofit sector through shared knowledge and meaningful relationships.

Danielle Bradnam

Danielle Bradnam

Website & Secretary

Canadian Light Source

Danielle is a marketing and communications professional with experience leading strategic initiatives across nonprofit, health, and community-focused organizations. She specializes in brand development, stakeholder engagement, and mission-driven storytelling that strengthens organizational visibility and impact. Danielle has built her career around collaborative leadership, clear communication, and creating systems that support effective, values‑aligned work. She is honoured to serve on the SSFRE Board and contribute her expertise to advancing the organization’s strategic goals and long-term vision.

Elaine Kosma

Elaine Kosma

Board Member

PearTree Canada
Elaine brings over 15 years of experience in private wealth management, commercial banking, and philanthropic engagement to her role at PearTree Canada. With a career spanning leading institutions such as BMO Private Wealth and Scotiabank, Elaine has built a strong reputation for integrity, financial insight, and a deep commitment to community leadership.
Elaine is passionate about helping high-net-worth individuals, families, and foundations maximize their charitable impact through innovative and tax-efficient giving strategies. Based in Saskatoon, she leads PearTree’s expansion across Saskatchewan, focusing on relationship development with major donors and philanthropic organizations.
In addition to her professional work, Elaine is an active volunteer and community leader, currently serving as Treasurer of the Silver Spoon Dinner and President of the Saskatoon Philoptochos Women’s Society. She holds a Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation, a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan, and a Master’s degree from the prestigious FIFA Master program in Europe.

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Get in Touch

 

Contact us at website@ssfre.ca