Tanya Hannah Rumble
Greetings from up north and congratulations to our June honoree, Tanya Hannah Rumble, CFRE (she/her.)
Tanya is a racialized settler of multi-ethnic origins living in Tkaronto. She is a fundraising leader who has raised millions for some of Canada’s largest charities including Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society and for the last few years she has been leading development teams in higher-education. As a racialized philanthropy professional Tanya is honoured to share her influence and insights with students, emerging professionals and peers in the sector. Tanya regularly writes articles on the topics of inclusion, equity, and access; and power, privilege and fundraising for industry publications and speaks to professional audiences at learning events regularly.
She graduated with an H.B.A., Political Science from McMaster University, earned a Masters Certificate at NYU in Marketing Communications and has completed numerous professional certificates including Not-For-Profit Governance Essentials (Rotman School of Management, Institute of Corporate Directors) and Truth and Reconciliation Through Right Relations (Banff Centre). Tanya has been a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) since 2017, completed her Master Financial Advisor - Philanthropy (MFA-P™) in April 2020, and most recently was approved to take the certification exam for the Communication Management Professional (CMP) designation through International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
Additionally, she is an active leadership volunteer in the philanthropy and non-profit sector: Board Director with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Canada, and Board Committee volunteer with AFP Canada-Foundation; executive volunteer with the Canadian Association of Gift Planners; Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair of the HR Committee with FindHelp Information Services - operators of 211 Toronto; and Board Director with Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. In addition to sharing her knowledge, she is committed to lifelong learning - she is a graduate of the 2017 Association of Fundraising Professionals Inclusion and Philanthropy Fellowship, and 2010 DiverseCity Fellowship. Tanya gratefully acknowledges the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations, whose traditional territory she lives and works with her husband and young son.
In Her Own Words
What is your favorite quote?
It is a bit longer than a quote, it is “An Invitation to Brave Space” by Micky ScottBey Jones.
Who is your favorite woman fundraiser or philanthropist of color?
I have written about a number of women and non-binary folks in the NFP and fundraising sectors who hold intersectional identities and inspire me - it would be too challenging to name just one!
What inspired you to pivot from a career in public health to fundraising?
I love the scale of impact that I was able to affect in public health, however the timelines were so long - I wanted to see the results of my efforts in the years not decades to come. Understanding chronic disease and the impact it has on individuals and communities, the transition to health fundraising felt like a natural transition. I have never looked back, the opportunity to match a donor’s philanthropic objectives with an organizational mission felt like an incredible opportunity, now my work feels more broad.
Yes I raise funds for the research, programs and students in the Faculty of Arts at the institution I work, but as a servant and positional leader I have a responsibility to share my power and create a more inclusive and equitable sector. So now in addition to my work as a professional fundraiser I spend a lot of time presenting and sharing my knowledge and resources on equity, diversity and inclusion with peers, and leaders in the philanthropy sector.
Yes I raise funds for the research, programs and students in the Faculty of Arts at the institution I work, but as a servant and positional leader I have a responsibility to share my power and create a more inclusive and equitable sector.
Where do you want to be in 3 years?
I am committed to creating unmitigated, sustainable transformation in the fundraising community. I am focused on shifting power and privilege so that our sector truly values, compensates and lifts up:
the lived experience of those communities that are least represented in dominant culture and with the least power i.e. BIPOC, queer, trans, differently-abled communities;
the beneficiaries of the funds raised in all aspects of fundraising (not just in photo ops and stewardship);
and addresses the large intractable social and global challenges with humanity, dignity, equity and inclusion.
Do you have any advice for other women of color fundraisers— whether they are in Canada, the United States, or the international WOC community at large?
For so long I have expended so much energy code-switching and existing in the in-betweens. I am biracial and a third culture kid, so navigating differences has informed so much of my lived and professional experiences. For the first time in my life, I am able to see my intersectional identities as an asset and a gift - something that can propel me forward and create a positive impact for others, and so I am learning to harness my own power and privilege. I encourage others to consider how they can be the leader they needed when they first joined the fundraising sector.
