Funding the future of sustainability reporting
Published date: 19 April 2022
GRI appoints Chief Donor Engagement Officer to grow fundraising capacity
A new senior role has been established within GRI, the provider of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting standards, to drive forward fundraising and donor engagement.
Jérôme St-Denis has been appointed as Chief Donor Engagement Officer (CDEO), with responsibility for implementing the strategy to strengthen GRI’s grant financing through a diversified development strategy. His role is inclusive of outreach to corporate donors, private foundations and bilateral funders.
The CDEO is a member of the GRI Leadership Team. At the heart of the position is a remit to support the funding that underpins the continued development and delivery of the independent, multi-stakeholder GRI Standards as a free public good.
Joining GRI from his previous role as Head of Global Resource Mobilization, City Cancer Challenge Foundation, Jérôme brings over 20 years of experience in fundraising and advocacy, working with non-profits, aid agencies, foundations and trusts.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to join GRI and very much look forward to contributing to its mission of delivering the highest level of transparency for organizational impacts on the economy, the environment, and people. I’m excited to work with the whole GRI team to generate the resources needed to enable this purpose. I strongly believe this is a major part of creating a sustainable future for us all.”
Jérôme St-DenisFree access for all is a crucial aspect of the GRI Standards’ position as the foundation for effective and comparable reporting on impacts, by organizations around the world. Yet the reality is that maintaining sustainability standards is resource intensive and requires more support. The new role of Chief Donor Engagement Officer has an important part to play in our continued success, which is why I am delighted to welcome Jérôme to my leadership team. The talent and expertise he brings to GRI will help us fulfil our ambitions in the years to come to be the global catalyst for transparency and accountability.”
Eelco van der Eenden, GRI CEOA Canadian national, Jérôme’s career has spanned roles with WWF International, the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, and Good Works. In 2017, he completed an Executive MBA in Sustainable Business, from Business School Lausanne and University of St. Galle (Switzerland).
The CDEO responsibilities also include overseeing the development of the GRI Global Standards Fund, a fundraising initiative aimed at foundations, governments, companies and individuals who share the perspective that businesses need to integrate transparency and sustainability at the core of their operations.