Ellen Schappert
Senior Specialist, Government Grants @Ocean Wise
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WORK HISTORY
Senior Specialist, Government Grants @Ocean Wise
Vancouver, BC, CA
Provide strategic leadership for Ocean Wise’s government grants program, setting annual fundraising targets and partnering with senior program leaders to secure $2M+ annually in federal and provincial funding. Consistently deliver strong fundraising results, securing $2.65M in future commitments in 2025 despite the lowest number of calls for proposals in seven years. Trusted to deliver under pressure, submitting three complex multi-year proposals and an expression of interest in a two-week period—without compromising quality or funder alignment. Project manage collaborative submissions, including a successful Ocean Supercluster proposal supporting small-scale fisheries in Nunavut and a cross-border application with a US nonprofit to the California Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail Grants program. Strengthen grant-raising performance and oversight through disciplined processes and strategic use of technology, integrating AI tools into proposal development and co-creating Salesforce dashboard that supports real-time tracking, informed decision-making, and timely reporting to senior leadership.
EDUCATION
University of Waterloo
Master of Arts (MA), French Language and Literature
University of Waterloo
Bachelor of Arts (BA), French Language and Literature
SKILLS
ABOUT ELLEN SCHAPPERT
As a development officer with experience working for hospital foundations and environmental non-profits, I craft successful funding proposals, streamline processes and procedures, and build mutually beneficial relationships with funding organizations, individual donors, volunteers, and colleagues. At Ocean Wise, I collaborate with program staff to identify and secure marine conservation grants from numerous Canadian government agencies. My responsibilities include diversifying Ocean Wise’s funding portfolio to raise revenue from other government sources in Canada and beyond and creating systems to increase fundraising effectiveness. Previously, as the Manager of Proposals & Projects at VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, I met with major-gift fundraisers and key hospital stakeholders to understand two hospitals’ priority needs and translate these into compelling cases for support and tailored proposals that helped to close 5- to 7-figure gifts. At BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, I strengthened legacy donors’ connection to the hospital while attracting new legacy donors. This is also where, as an assistant in a multimillion-dollar direct-response marketing program, I discovered fundraising. Attention to detail, timely communication, team work, and an ability to connect personally with grassroots donors were keys to success in this first role, sparking an interest in collaboration, project management, and donor connection that influence my work to this day. Career milestones include: Building back from Covid-19, in conjunction with colleagues, to raise millions in government grants for research, education, and direct-action initiatives aimed at protecting and restoring the world’s oceans. Producing a wide range of marketing collateral and programs, including informational packages, one-pagers, ads, evites, surveys, fundraising events, videos, brochures, books, proposals, and donor and volunteer appreciation events. Developing and executing on outreach strategies - alongside an experienced volunteer committee - targeted to Cantonese-speaking potential supporters and financial advisors. Outside work, I’m passionate about functional health and nutrition. I enjoy all kinds of movement – yoga, Pilates, hiking, biking – and can often be found in a local grocery store perusing the produce section as I prepare to cook for family and friends. Enfin, je parle couramment le français und ich kann auch ziemlich gut Deutsch.
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