Transforming sport in Canada, so all girls and women can reach their full potential.
Meet Alison Spitzer, Director of Finance and Operations at Canadian Women and Sport.
When your mandate is as vital as this, it’s comforting to know your finances are in order, allowing you to focus on making a BIG IMPACT.
About CWS: Their Mission
Established 42 years ago, CWS is a not for profit organization dedicated to creating an equitable and inclusive Canadian sport and physical activity system that empowers girls and women – as active participants and leaders – within and through sport. With a focus on systemic change, they partner with governments, organizations and leaders to challenge the status quo and to advance solutions that result in measurable change.
Alison’s Journey
Alison Spitzer is a CPA, CA, with over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector. At Canadian Women & Sport (CWS), Alison oversees day-to-day operations, technology, HR and finances, passionately driving their mission forward.
Her journey began in a traditional big accounting firm phase before transitioning into the non-profit space, driven by a desire to use her accounting skills for good. She aligns herself with projects within non-profit organizations that resonate with her values, seeking opportunities for change, growth, and transformation.
In 2017, Alison was contacted by former colleague Canadian Women & Sport CEO Allison Sandmeyer-Graves who was managing all aspects of CWS on her own and feeling overwhelmed by finances. Alison agreed to step in and provide fractional assistance, initially as a consultant.
Under Alison's guidance, the organization transitioned its accounting processes from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online, streamlining operations, modernizing processes and systems, and improving financial decision making.
Over the next five years, Canadian Women & Sport experienced significant growth, prompting Alison to join full-time in 2021. Amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, both Alison and the organization transitioned to remote work, with Alison embracing a new lifestyle in eastern British Columbia alongside her faithful canine companion, Indi.
Life was good, and both her personal and business needs were met. However, with Alison’s expanded responsibilities came the need for outsourced financial support, leading Alison to enlist the services of The Profit Line (TPL). Familiar with TPL and its CEO Fern Gordon, Alison found the decision to collaborate swift and straightforward. With aligned systems and processes already in place, the transition to TPL's financial management was seamless, providing Alison with the relief and confidence needed to focus on driving growth and impact.
The TPL team, comprised of Rudina and Lumi, manage the day-to-day bookkeeping and monthly reporting. Alison says:
"Not having to worry about monthly finances allows me to go above and beyond in other areas. When we are ready for our monthly and quarterly reporting, I have great confidence from the processes we have in place and the diligence of the TPL team. This confidence translates through to our leadership team, audit and finance committee, and board. The goal is that we are able to focus on strategic projects and impact and not worried about the day-to-day accounting.”
What Impact Projects is Alison working on while TPL takes care of the finances?
New Strategic Plan for 2025 and beyond
Website Redesign
Hiring and onboarding new team members (42% growth in team size)
Supporting our research and development into the professional women’s sport space in Canada
The landscape of women’s sports has witnessed remarkable change over recent years, with increased focus on women and gender equity. This positive shift has propelled Canadian Women & Sport forward, garnering increased influence, federal funding, corporate sponsorship, and high-quality engagement from board members and stakeholders.
Today, Canadian Women and Sport has grown to employ a team of 20 people, a significant leap from its humble beginnings with just one full-time staff member in 2016. Learn more about their impactful work here.