Dane Bland ’10 Recognized with the 2021 Paul Delaney Award for Outstanding Young Philanthropist

January 27, 2022

The Trent University Alumni Association (TUAA) honoured alumnus Dane Bland ’11 with the 2021 Paul Delaney Award for Outstanding Young Philanthropist at recent gathering of students and alumni. The annual award recognizes a student or recent alum whose work sowing seeds of friendship and a spirit of philanthropy makes them an outstanding model for Trent students to emulate. The award is a legacy to alumnus Paul Delaney ’64, who dedicated his life to the values of social responsibility and global citizenship.

Mr. Bland is the director of development and communications at Rainbow Railroad, an LGBTQI+ charity focused on providing a safe haven for refugees seeking asylum from countries where it is unsafe or illegal to be themselves. In this role, Mr. Bland oversees the entire North American philanthropic portfolio for the organization – ensuring that over 2,000 LGBTQ persons per year receive lifesaving supports.

Before that, Mr. Bland worked at the Providence Healthcare Foundation, with external relations at Trent University, at the Toronto International Film Festival, and for numerous arts and culture organizations. In his time at these organizations, he has lead diversity and equity initiatives, raised over $8 Million in philanthropic support, has led teams comprised of diverse employees, led strategic planning, and supported capital campaign development.

Mr. Bland is a volunteer with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Canada and AFPGTA boards, a CFRE International Ambassador, a Board Member of Players Toronto – a non-profit theatre organization – and a political advocate. In 2021, he ran for the Provincial Liberal Nomination in Peterborough-Kawartha.

Mr. Bland received his award while taking part a recent TUAA/Life After Trent panel discussion about mentorship and fostering equity.