It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Keith Thomson, CFP, MFA-P, on July 12, 2026. We remember Keith with profound gratitude for his many contributions to our CAGP community and for the lasting impact he had on colleagues, friends and on philanthropy in Canada.
Keith joined CAGP in 2004 and became a member of the CAGP Board in 2015. He was the kind of leader who joined for the mission and stayed for the relationships, and in doing so, he changed the trajectory of our organization.
When the CAGP Foundation was first envisioned, Keith was our very first donor, making a significant pledge before the Foundation even had charitable status. He later made a transformational donation that ignited our Gratitude Campaign, doubling the impact of his gift in just a few months. Keith was also an early and significant supporter of the CAGP Foundation’s Will Power campaign, a demonstration of his deep belief that everyone can leave a legacy through philanthropic giving.
Following his service to the CAGP Board, Keith then served on Board of the CAGP Foundation, chaired its Major Gift Committee, and remained a committed champion of our work in so many other ways.
For more than a decade, the Donor Motivation Program CanadaTM (DMP), founded by Keith, has been the dedicated Education Sponsor of the CAGP National Conference. During the pandemic, when our conference was cancelled, DMP was the first sponsor to step forward and say yes to helping us navigate through these troubled times. Out of that grew the DMP’s Campfire Chats, a lifeline of connection for both our communities during an incredibly isolating time.
In 2025, the CAGP Board chose to honour Keith with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of all he has done for CAGP, and for the wider philanthropic community. This was an incredibly special evening, and will now become a cherished memory.
Keith was a mentor, an educator, and a generous spirit. He made philanthropy a cornerstone of his life, and he made CAGP a cornerstone of his philanthropy.
Read more about Keith’s incredible contributions here.
Honouring Keith's Legacy
Those wishing to honour Keith's memory are encouraged to donate to a cause you care deeply about. If it's the CAGP Foundation you'd like to support, we've set up a special tribute page, which can be found at this link.
Keith's life was a testament to generosity, collaboration, and service. He was a dedicated ally, a committed Board member, a trusted mentor, a passionate philanthropist, a knowledgeable educator, and a proud father and devoted husband. Our boardrooms, our conferences, and our sector are quieter without him.
We are grateful that our paths crossed with Keith’s. The CAGP staff team, the CAGP Board of Directors, and the Board of the CAGP Foundation will miss him dearly.