A passionate, value-driven non-profit leader, Dianne Fehr has worked in the social profit sector for over two decades. She led Windmill Microlending (formerly Immigrant Access Fund Canada), a microloan program that helps internationally-trained immigrants pay for licensing and training they need to work in their field in Canada to become Canada’s largest and most successful loan program for immigrants.
Before joining Windmill, Dianne enjoyed roles in fund development, marketing and communications with The Calgary Foundation and Leave A Legacy™ Calgary. Her corporate sector roles were in marketing, public affairs and communications. In addition to her current role as an EIR with Capacity Canada, Dianne acts as Executive Director for the Institute for Rural Education And Development.
Dianne was excited to join Capacity Canada after learning about their mission. She has been representing Capacity Canada in Alberta since 2017! “I love the idea of helping other social good organizations build their capacity,” says Dianne. “I know firsthand how difficult that is for executive directors and boards.”
From occasional contracts supporting Alberta non-profits on governance matters and grant applications, Dianne delivers Capacity Canada’s MatchBoard program in the province. “I deliver board governance training to MatchBoard participants and help them uncover ways in which they could benefit the community,” she says. “The other side of my work involves working with Alberta-based organizations to understand their boards’ needs and skills and identify MatchBoard participants that can fill them.”
Dianne says that connecting a MatchBoard participant to an organization with a mission that matches their passion is exciting to her! “The process involves many conversations with the participant, the prospective organization, and the board. Having been both an ED and a board director, I appreciate how critical the match is,” shares Dianne.
Dianne says she loves working with Capacity Canada. “I’m pleased to represent the organization in Alberta. Our services are as needed out here as they are needed anywhere else in Canada. Although, I admit that in the early years, as our profile expanded nationally, I’ve had to remind the office that 8:00 am Eastern is 6:00 am Mountain,” she adds.
“Even the most engaging speaker in the world isn’t going to drag me out of bed that early!”
