Celeste Ali-Akow

Celeste Ali-Akow is an Operations Lead and Fundraising Consultant at Brazen Fundraising, where she supports nonprofit organizations in strengthening their fundraising capacity, securing funding, and executing strategic initiatives. Her work spans grant writing, capital campaign support, and the development of systems and processes that enable organizations and consulting teams to operate more effectively.

She has over 15 years of experience delivering data-driven insights and evidence-based solutions to governments, non-profit organizations, and international NGOs. Celeste holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration from Toronto Metropolitan University and an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Studies and Modern Languages from the University of Ottawa.

At Brazen Fundraising, Celeste contributes to fundraising strategy and grant development for organizations across sectors including arts, culture, heritage, social services, and sport and recreation. She also supports internal operations, managing project workflows, supporting business development, and building systems that improve efficiency, accountability, and client experience.

Celeste began her career in the Ontario Public Service as a Junior Policy Analyst in the Voluntary Sector Relations Unit, where she contributed to the development of the Ontario Volunteer Action Plan—an initiative aimed at strengthening volunteerism across the province. Celeste has consulted on several policy areas that impact marginalized communities including the passing of Bill 28, All Families Are Equal Act, 2016 as well as the United Nations Universal Periodic Review of Canada’s human rights performance, and various government programs supporting vulnerable populations.

As a Research Consultant with Health Canada, Celeste applied a Sex and Gender-Based Plus (SGBA+) framework to reduce stigma and identify knowledge gaps affecting marginalized groups.