2024 40 Under 40 Winners

Becky is a seasoned fundraising leader with a decade of experience who joined the BC Cancer Foundation in 2016. Starting as a development officer with the Leadership Giving team, she quickly secured her first major gift within three months and was promoted to Senior Development Officer in 2018 and then to Associate Director, Development in 2021. Becky's innovative strategies and leadership have led to the Discovery Circle portfolio growing from a $1.6M goal in FY16 to over $5.45M for FY25, while consistently raising over $2.5M annually since FY20. Under her direction, her team has raised approximately $16M since she joined BCCF. Notably, she cultivated the second-largest cumulative donor on Vancouver Island, securing donations totaling $2.9M since 2019. Becky also oversaw a $1.6M campaign for a new Supportive Care Clinic for BC Cancer–Vancouver and spearheaded a cross-departmental project to streamline prospecting for future grants.

Like most people, I think it found me, but I’ve stayed because each day brings new challenges. Although biology was a favourite subject, I knew nursing wasn’t going to be for me, so I pursued social sciences in university. After graduation, I entered fundraising, but it wasn’t until I discovered healthcare philanthropy that I uncovered a perfect career I never knew existed. Managing a diverse portfolio, I engage with donors ranging from $100 to $1 million, presenting unique opportunities and rewards with each relationship, keeping my work consistently exciting.

I believe it is a privilege to engage in the work we do. A cancer diagnosis is one of the most challenging hurdles a person will face during their lifetime, and we support patients and their families during some of the saddest and happiest of times. The trust we establish and relationships we build with patients, families, healthcare providers, and researchers isn’t something I take lightly. Plus, not everyone can say they work with some of the world’s most influential scientific minds! It's a role where every day brings a chance to make a meaningful impact on lives and advance critical medical breakthroughs.

The perfect storm of a comprehensive campaign, organizational change, and a pandemic provided me with a few cracks in the door to step into responsibilities that typically I may not have had the opportunity to do early in my career. I used those openings as a way to demonstrate my capabilities and cement myself as an emerging leader within my organization. Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by strong women who recognized my potential and encouraged me to grow. I hope to use that experience to have the same impact on others coming up in the field.

In the office: Discovery meetings with our mid-level donors. For many, this will be the first-time meeting someone within our organization and philanthropy is often quite new, so they can be apprehensive. I love seeing the walls quickly come down as they learn more about the breadth of our organization’s scope and deepen their connection to the cause. While not everyone may have the capacity to be a major gift donor, building trust and uncovering hidden opportunities to facilitate transformative partnerships is incredibly rewarding, and you just never know what may come out of it. 

Outside of work: I've been fortunate to explore over 50 countries worldwide and have no plans to stop anytime soon!

Be tenacious! In my decade-plus as a fundraiser, I’ve worn many hats from interior designer to professional jump roper to landscape architect. While I’m not an expert in these fields, I’ve never shied away from a challenge. If I encounter a question I can’t answer, I am driven to seek it out until I do. This determination has proven invaluable throughout my career.