Sharilyn Hale, ED.D, CFRE
President of Watermark Philanthropic Counsel, Dr. Sharilyn Hale helps those who give, give well. She enables philanthropists and their families to unearth and achieve their philanthropic goals, and supports social purpose organizations to deepen their performance. With a 20+ year career spanning the philanthropic sector, she draws on expertise in philanthropic strategy, family engagement, organizational development, and board governance.
Sharilyn is an advisor with the NYC-based 21/64 to support multi-generational family philanthropy. She is also Chartered Director, a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer and member of the Institute of Corporate Directors. With a deep history and track record in the local and international philanthropic communities, she is Vice Chair of the Toronto Public Library Foundation, a leadership volunteer for the Imagine Canada accreditation program for charities in Canada, and having started her career as a fundraiser, is Past Chair of CFRE International.
She is an author and educator to professional communities around the world, known for her ability to combine on-the-ground practical experience with the best of philanthropic theory and research. Sharilyn was among a group of leaders to initiate Canada’s first graduate degree program in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Carleton University, where she now serves on the Advisory Council. Sharilyn is also a Research Associate with the Centre for Global Generosity, and recently completed her doctoral dissertation on governance and family philanthropy.
Watermark Philanthropic Counsel