A generous life is worth sharing.
Giving that brings you closer to the people and causes you love.
Bespoke Philanthropy is an independent advisory and consulting practice that helps individuals, couples, families, and foundations give with intention, confidence, and joy.
Custom Giving Plans
There will always be more good causes than you can support.
Your Giving Plan gives you the clarity and confidence to direct your generosity where it will matter most. After years on the inside of the charitable sector, Erika knows what separates an effective organization from a well-marketed one, and she brings that insight to your side of the table.
Through a series of facilitated workshops, your direction and Erika's expertise build a plan around your values. Alongside your favourite causes, Erika vets and introduces local, grassroots charities where your giving can go even further.
You'll keep the plan. You'll love the process.
Every Giving Plan is quoted to scope. The fee covers the workshop sessions along with the research, vetting, refining, and writing in-between.
Choose your Giving Plan:
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Giving that's as strategic as the rest of your finances.
Your custom Giving Plan directs your donations toward a focused set of organizations, each chosen because it puts your values into practice.
Four sessions recommended, starting at $2,750 CAD.
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Changing the world will be your new favourite date night.
Your Giving Plan brings both your interests and priorities into one shared vision for the generous life you're building together.
Four sessions recommended, starting at $3,350 CAD.
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Children don't inherit generosity, it's a skill they practice.
Give children and grandchildren a seat at the table and build a Giving Plan that reflects your entire family's passions, interests, and values.
Six sessions recommended, starting from $5,250 CAD.
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The asks are endless, a Giving Plan makes them easy to answer.
Your tailored Giving Plan sharpens what the foundation supports, so decisions are aligned each cycle. Requests that fall within your criteria are easier to determine, and ones outside can be declined quickly and kindly.
Structure and pricing vary with foundation size and readiness. Please inquire.
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Shared money moves faster with a shared direction.
Workshops bring a group's interests into alignment, establishing overlap, and turning individual preferences into clear criteria everyone can grant towards.
Structure and pricing vary. Please inquire.
Erika Gott, CFRE
Founder & PrincipalMeet your philanthropic advisor
Over the span of her career, Erika has worked with nonprofits, families, philanthropists, and foundations across Toronto and beyond. She has raised funds for conservation and environmental organizations, built an advancement program from scratch, and secured an independent school its first million-dollar endowment fund. She currently serves as Director of Development at Toronto Botanical Garden and operates Bespoke Philanthropy as an independent advisory and consulting practice.
Across hundreds of conversations about giving, she noticed:
Giving tends to happen randomly, request by request.
Donors are concerned about whether their dollars are well-spent.
Donors don't want to be a drop in the bucket, yet default to the largest charities.
Giving happens in private and rarely involves children.
Erika founded Bespoke Philanthropy in answer. A Giving Plan replaces reaction with intention: every recommendation independently vetted, your budget allocated where each gift goes furthest, and everyone at the table able to participate, at any age.
Erika is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), the only globally recognized and accredited professional credential for philanthropic fundraising professionals to validates an individual's knowledge, ethical standards, and competence in fundraising.
Erika holds an H.BSc. in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology from the University of Toronto, and an Executive Certificate in Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies from Cambridge University. She serves on the board of a lake association, is guiding a private foundation through incorporation as its founding Executive Director, leads therapy dog visits with her Golden Retriever, Hippo, and runs Dungeons & Dragons campaigns for adults and children.
Above all, Erika believes giving should be joyful, meaningful, and strategic. Done well, the experience brings you closer to the people you love and the causes you care about most. After all, a generous life is worth sharing.
Hippo
Therapy DogReady to boost joy and comfort in any workshop session, upon request.
No two donors, nonprofits, or boards are the same. Alongside Giving Plans, Erika takes on select custom engagements built around your unique needs.
Other Bespoke Services
Giving Essentials: two starter workshops to introduce the fundamentals of building your giving strategy
Portfolios by Interest: a ready-made collection of vetted organizations in one area of interest
Second Opinion: an independent review of your existing giving allocations, with recommendations that deepen your impact
For Donors
Next-Generation Engagement: a facilitated process for bringing children and grandchildren into the foundation's work, with your original vision intact
Application Design: build a process that gives you what you need to make informed decisions without burdening the charities you fund
Impact Reports: one consolidated report on your year of grantmaking, compiled without chasing individual charities
For Private Foundations
Board Presentations: get your board excited about their role in building a culture of philanthropy
Stewardship Strategy: a meaningful donor experience your team can sustain
Event Design: creative concept, guest strategy, and run of show for a special event tailored to your goals
For Nonprofits
Something else? Get in touch to explore a custom service:
FAQs
Are you a financial advisor?
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No. Bespoke Philanthropy is a philanthropic advisory and consulting practice. Whereas your financial advisor directs your money toward your financial goals, Erika helps direct your giving toward your values.
Erika does not manage assets, sell products, or provide tax, legal, or investment advice. Instead, she works alongside your existing advisors as needed.
Bespoke Philanthropy holds no funds and receives no commission or referral fee from any organization it recommends. Fees are based on the scope of work and not on the value of assets.
Do I need to donate a minimum amount annually?
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No, there is no minimum commitment. Wherever you’re starting from, you’ll be met with excitement.
Erika does not need to know your income, assets, or net worth. She does need an honest picture of what you can give in a year, since that shapes what projects the plan can realistically fund. Fees are scoped to remain a small fraction of your annual giving.
Do you handle the money?
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No. Bespoke Philanthropy never accepts, holds, or transfers clients’ charitable funds. Gifts are made directly, through a donor advised fund or foundation, or with your financial advisor handling the transfer.
How many clients do you work with at a time?
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Depending on scope, typically no more than three. Every Bespoke Philanthropy client receives Erika's personal attention, and every engagement is researched and delivered by her.
The free discovery call is a chance to explore fit, in both directions. Inquire early as bookings are limited.
Will my gifts still be tax-receiptable?
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Yes. Every organization recommended is a CRA-registered charity or qualified donee, so your gifts are receipted normally by those organizations. Bespoke Philanthropy's fee is a professional service and is not itself a charitable donation.
Are your recommendations independent?
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Yes. Erika does not include any organization she works for, serves on the board of, or has a financial relationship with in recommendations. She receives no fee, commission, or benefit from, any organization recommended. Any potential conflicts are disclosed in writing. Clients may include those organizations at their own discretion.
