Our Team
Nicole McDonald, Co-Founder
Born and raised in Northern Saskatchewan on Treaty 6 Territory and Homeland of the Métis Nation, Nicole is Métis with ancestral roots in the Red River Valley. Nicole’s life work has been dedicated to supporting well-being in Indigenous communities.
Nicole’s journey into the philanthropic sector began at the McConnell Foundation (a private family foundation) in 2015, where she served as the Director of Indigenous Initiatives. In 2020 she joined MakeWay (a public foundation) as the Director of National Programming.
Prior to this, she spent nearly a decade in the federal civil service where she had the opportunity to engage in public policy development, intergovernmental initiatives, and the design, delivery and renewal of various federal programs, including the Indian Residential School Resolution, the Urban Aboriginal Strategy and the Government of Canada’s Initiative on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
In addition to her work in the philanthropic and government sectors, Nicole has deep governance experience in the philanthropic and not-for-profit sectors and is currently serving on several Boards of Directors including the Definity Insurance Foundation, the SecondMuse Foundation, and SeedChange. She is also one of the former founding Board Members of the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund.
Once she finished raising her five children, Nicole relocated from Ontario to Quebec, where she now lives and works with gratitude, on the ancestral unceded territory of the Algonquin, Huron-Wendat, and Anishinabewaki Nations.
Wanda Brascoupe, Co-Founder
Wanda’s path has culminated in living her purpose personally and professionally by leading with inclusion. As a consummate believer in human relationships, she co-founded a high-tech firm that sustained business relationships for 20+ years with public and private sector clients. Over the firms’ years, she applied her learnings of western business practice to her Indigenous philanthropic path from a volunteer board member to national leadership in Canada. Within this sector, she has reshaped relationships as a specialist in cross-sector philanthropic partnerships through actionable pathways as a senior advisor for private and public foundations. Wanda is a sought-after speaker on trust-based philanthropy and has chaired successful national events and galas.
Her career took a turn with the global pandemic; during this time, she and her co-lead put into action an idea. This spark birthed the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund (IPRF), the first-ever all-Indigenous-led granting organization supporting Indigenous-led charities and non-profits. IPRF responds to critical community needs while taking a long-term view on supporting community resilience. IPRF fundraising is implementing trust-based philanthropy, and in doing so, early research shows that resource utilization, relationships, and outcomes are improved and achieved faster. Over the three years as co-lead, they stewarded $50 million in unencumbered funds with 30+ partners including corporations, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals.
Wanda is Bear Clan, Skarù rę’ and Anishinabe and member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg. Her successful path to walking in two worlds stems from being the beneficiary of parents and grandparents who held uncommon common sense and belief in the brilliance and ingenuity of all humanity. Haudenosaunee laws shape her traditional education. Wanda’s western education includes Harvard Business School Executive Education and the Masters of Philanthropy and Non-profit Leadership Carleton University. She is most proud of her three daughters, Sarah, Lauren, and Bella, and their personal, professional, and educational accomplishments, including all three attending Cornell University.