Further Together is a fundraising firm that is dedicated to driving real, systemic change.
At the heart of our work is a commitment to dignity, authenticity, joy, and centering the lived experiences of those most impacted.
We partner with radical leaders and bold, justice-driven nonprofits who want to increase and diversify their fundraising revenue while prioritizing the needs and voices of their communities.
Further Together was founded in 2023 in Toronto, Ontario. We serve clients across Canada and the United States.
About
Further Together
Our Methodology
We use our proven 5 Pillars of Great Fundraising:
Prospecting and one-to-one solicitation
Effective digital funnels and acquisition
Metrics-based one-to-many campaigns
Your organization’s unique value proposition
Modern and consistent branding
Community, equity, dignity, autonomy, and power to the disenfranchised matter deeply to us on a personal and professional level; you will always see our values baked into our fundraising strategies, coaching, training, and in our work culture.
Our approach (and why our clients love it)
We practice Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF). If you haven't heard of it, don't worry—most of our clients hadn't either when they started working with us.
Here's what it means in practice:
We don't use poverty porn or savior narratives
We tell stories of resilience and systemic change. We position donors as partners in justice work, not heroes rescuing helpless people.
We don't believe in shame-based fundraising
No guilt trips or emotional manipulation. We believe people give because they want to be part of something meaningful.
We build relationships, not transactional asks
Our strategies prioritize meaningful engagement throughout the year, not just when you're asking for money.
We design systems that respect your capacity
Everything we build matches your actual capacity and grows as you grow.
We center equity in fundraising and communications
We help you tell dignified stories, examine how power dynamics play out in donor relationships, and use fundraising for advocacy work.
You don't need to be practicing Community-Centric Fundraising before we work together. But you do need to be open to it. If you've been feeling like traditional fundraising doesn't align with your values but didn't know there was another way, you're exactly who we want to work with.
Our Values
We believe in community-centric principles, rooted in social and economic justice.
We believe education and advocacy are integral to systems change.
Integrity, accountability, and a sense of shared purpose guide everything we do.
We also believe in always being creative, thinking bigger, and aiming higher.
Excellence
Justice
Innovation
Boldness
Community
Advocacy
Excellence Justice Innovation Boldness Community Advocacy
Who you’ll work with
Most clients work directly with Nevine Sedki or Caitlin McBride, CFRE—experienced senior fundraisers who embed themselves in your organization.
Maria Rio, our founder, provides strategic oversight for all client partnerships and is available for select advisory and interim leadership engagements. Esther Saehyun Lee serves as a partner consultant for specialized projects and capacity support.
Each team member brings over a decade of experience and a deep commitment to Community-Centric Fundraising principles.
Our Team
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Maria Rio
CEO & FOUNDER
Maria Rio is the founder of Further Together, a fundraising consulting firm she launched in January 2023. A refugee who arrived in Canada at an early age, Maria’s personal experience with charitable services fueled her passion for nonprofit work. She began fundraising in 2011 as a face-to-face fundraiser and later transitioned to in-house roles, serving as Director of Development and Communications at small and mid-sized nonprofits. Maria has spoken at numerous conferences, including AFP ICON, AFP Congress, APRA, Xlerate, and for Imagine Canada. She has been published nationally and she was a finalist for the 2022 Charity Village Best Individual Fundraiser Award. An advocate for Community-Centric Fundraising, Maria uses her lived experience to push for innovative, equity-driven approaches in the nonprofit sector. In addition to her consulting work, Maria hosts The Small Nonprofit Podcast and serves on the Board of Living Wage Canada. She is passionate about helping nonprofits break away from outdated practices and embrace new, impactful models of fundraising.
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Caitlin McBride, CFRE
SENIOR CONSULTANT
Caitlin is a Certified Fund Raising Executive with over a decade of experience across large nonprofits in the UK and grassroots charities in Canada. She is known for building authentic, values-driven donor relationships and developing sustainable systems that deepen the donor experience. A published writer with a post-graduate diploma in Professional Communications, Caitlin also serves as vice-chair of the board at New Westminster Family Place in British Columbia.
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Nevine Sedki
SENIOR CONSULTANT
Nevine brings over 25 years of experience in community-centric fundraising, organizational development, and engagement across the nonprofit and impact sectors. Her work supports equity-centered organizations through resource mobilization, capacity building, and storytelling that uplifts community values.
She has held leadership roles in arts, youth, and community development organizations: raising millions in revenue, strengthening infrastructure, and building sustainable funding models.
Outside her professional work, Nevine is a long-time DJ and radio host who shares cultures and stories through music, connecting people across geographies and generations.
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Esther Saehyun Lee
PARTNER CONSULTANT
Esther is a a fundraiser, storyteller, and advocate. She works to mobilize resources to communities and challenge and dismantle systems of power in the nonprofit sector to ground its practices towards equity and justice. She is dedicated to advancing the mission of equity in the nonprofit sector. She was a Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) Global Council member and Interim Board Member of Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Toronto Chapter.
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Ysabel Gayahan
ADMIN ASSISTANT
Ysabel is a marketing professional with over 10+ years of experience in graphic design, video editing, website design, and marketing. She also has a background in project management, training development and facilitation, data analysis, operations management, and process improvement. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of the Philippines where she also made her very first publication. She earned several certificates from training such as leadership and SQL. Outside work, Ysabel also enjoys traveling, exploring the pristine islands of the Philippines, and freediving. She also loves learning and experiencing the cultures of other places and tasting local delicacies.