Western’s new Vice-President (External) smiles as he
contemplates the notion that there is never a really
good time to fundraise.
“There’s always a reason to think we can’t do it now,”
says Kevin Goldthorp, who arrived April 1 to take
charge of Western’s $500-million campaign. “What
triumphs is vision.”
Articulating a compelling vision for Western’s
campaign is priority one for Goldthorp. A decade
ago, the University of Toronto MBA grad played a
leadership role in telling the university’s story
through its last major campaign, which raised more
than $327 million between 1998 and 2004.
Now, back on campus after six years as CEO of
Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Foundation,
he relishes the challenge of shaping a
new story—one that will excite donors
about benefiting society through their
support of Western’s global
aspirations.
“What this campaign offers is a
chance to focus on a few of the
big ideas in our academic
plan—things like
internationalization,
innovation, leadership—and
making them tangible for
our alumni and friends,”
says Goldthorp. “Our job is to expand upon and give articulation to Western’s vision in a more specific way.”
At 42, Goldthorp is a veteran fundraiser who understands the challenge of trying to
communicate the essence of complex institutions, particularly in a world increasingly
cluttered with charities clamoring for the public’s attention.
He began his career with the United Way of Toronto, but even as an undergraduate at Trinity
College the signs were evident that a career in university development might be in his
future. As treasurer of orientation in his second year, Goldthorp turned a profit for the first
time in the school’s history and allocated the funds to purchase accessibility ramps and a
new computer for his residence library.
At Sunnybrook, Goldthorp led a team of 55 staff, raising between $50 million and $60 million
annually for medical research, education and equipment during his time as CEO. But when
the opportunity came along to return to Western and work with its new president, Amit
Chakma, he couldn’t pass it up.
“I have a very deeply felt belief and passion for the importance of a university education and
what it does to change your life,” he says. “In a university, the span of ideas and the range of
where one can go are immense. The chance to shape the essence of what Western stands for
and build support for higher education is a profound career opportunity.”
