Steve Thomas (Canada)
Chairman, Stephen Thomas LtdA fundraiser for over 40 years, Steve founded Stephen Thomas Associates (now Stephen Thomas Ltd or ST) in 1980. It was Canada’s first direct response fundraising agency working exclusively in the non-profit sector.
Often described as the “Guru” of Canadian direct response fundraising, Steve’s contributions to the sector have been recognized through many awards including Directors’ Choice Lifetime Achievement Award (Canadian Direct Marketing Association), Outstanding Fundraising Executive Award (AFP Greater Toronto Chapter), and an award from Amnesty International for 25 years of service.
Steve was a Board member of The Resource Alliance for several years, including serving as Co-Chair. He is a past Chair of the IFC, and was also the inaugural Canadian country ambassador for the conference.
Steve has been a volunteer boys’ basketball coach at local high schools for 28 years. He has taken Malvern Collegiate and Greenwood College School teams to the finals. It’s a very different world from fundraising and why it’s his perfect hobby.