Impactful Philanthropy: The Story Behind Mr. Pierre Lassonde’s $50M Gift to Polytechnique Montréal

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Presentation in French only (Q&A in both languages)

Join us for an engaging conversation about Mr. Pierre Lassonde’s transformational $50 million donation to Polytechnique Montréal.

Maud Cohen, President, and Valérie Bélisle, Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations at Polytechnique Montréal, will take you behind the scenes of this visionary initiative—sharing the challenges they faced, the strategic levers they used, and the key success factors that brought this transformative gift to life.

Dive into the backstage of this exceptional gift and discover how a lasting relationship with a donor—combined with a meaningful and bold vision—can lead to a transformative donation.

This conference aims to inspire and inform participants by highlighting:

• Best practices for cultivating donor engagement
• Effective strategies for securing major gifts
• The long-term impact of transformational philanthropy

No matter the size of your organization, this experience-sharing session will spark new ideas and elevate your ambitions. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the behind the scenes of this landmark gift.

SPEAKERS :

Maud Cohen, ING., FIC, MBA, ASC, FACG
President
Polytechnique Montréal

The first woman to lead Polytechnique Montréal since its founding in 1873, Maud Cohen stands out for her strategic leadership focused on innovation and talent development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering (Polytechnique Montréal), an MBA (HEC Montréal), and a certified director designation (Université Laval). Her career includes key management roles in major organizations such as CGI and Walsh Automation, along with a strong commitment to societal causes—most notably serving as President and CEO of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation from 2014 to 2022.

A seasoned executive and active board member, Ms. Cohen also made her mark at the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, becoming its third female president since its inception, serving from 2009 to 2012. Widely recognized for her dedication, she has been named one of the “100 Women Leaders of the Future” and was awarded the title of Fellow by Engineers Canada in 2012 and by the Canadian Academy of Engineering in 2024.

Her career reflects a deep commitment to ethics, continuous improvement, and responsible governance..

Valérie Bélisle, ING
Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations
Polytechnique Montréal

Valérie Bélisle holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Polytechnique Montréal (Class of 2004) and has continued her professional development in leadership, management, and philanthropic advancement through various specialized programs.

From 2016 to 2024, Ms. Bélisle served as Associate Dean of Development at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta. In this role, she led philanthropic development and spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at student communities, partners, and engineering alumni.

Previously, she spent five years as Director of Corporate Giving at the Polytechnique Montréal Foundation, where her efforts helped increase donations and strengthen existing relationships through a variety of fundraising activities and campaigns.

From 2005 to 2011, she held the position of Director of Business Development at Sanexen Environmental Services / Logistec.

Throughout her career, Valérie Bélisle has consistently demonstrated her ability to rethink, optimize, and implement change for the benefit of forward-thinking institutions committed to societal progress. Her strong talent for building long-term, trust-based relationships has been a key driver in mobilizing both internal and external communities.

Her past experiences, combined with her deep connection as an engaged alumna and former Foundation employee, give her a profound understanding of the Polytechnique Montréal community.

MODERATOR :

Amanda Fritz, CFRE, MPNL
Director, Major Gifts and Campaign Tracking
CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation

Amanda Fritz is a fundraising matchmaker! Her passion is to connect philanthropically-minded people with the high-impact projects and ideas that will truly make a difference in the world. Amanda was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec and completed degrees in Psychology and Public Relations at McGill University. In 2013 she earned her Certified Fund Raising Executive accreditation (CFRE), becoming one of the youngest CFRE professionals in Quebec. In 2020, Amanda obtained her Masters in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from Carleton University.

Amanda’s 17-year career in the non-profit sector spans education, health, and community. She is passionate about leveraging data and modernizing the way our field’s professionals approach major giving, capital campaigns, and volunteer management. In her current role as Director of Major Giving and Campaign Tracking for CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation, Amanda works with organizational leadership and top volunteers to put in place the strategies and tools needed to secure $500M in new philanthropic investments for the institution – the most ambitious campaign ever undertaken by a healthcare institution in Quebec.

In addition to her role as Co-Chair Elect of the AFP Canada Foundation, Amanda proudly serves on the Board of Directors of the Montreal Children’s Library and Champions for Life. In 2018, the Governor General awarded Amanda the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers for her service to youth education.

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