The CRRF welcomes Shannon Thomas Ryan!

We’re pleased to announce the arrival of new colleague Shannon Thomas Ryan, as Director of Community Investment.

Shannon Thomas Ryan (he, him) has over two decades of experience as a senior leader in Canada’s non-profit sector. His notable roles include serving as the executive director of two prominent HIV-focused non-profits in Ontario: the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) and the Ontario AIDS Network (OAN). Prior to these roles, he held positions at United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT), the City of Toronto, and Toronto Metropolitan University.

Shannon is an experienced leader in the community investment and funding space, having served as Allocations Manager at UWGT, a board member at Federated Health Charities, and as a highly successful grant writer. He has leveraged his lived experience as a Black Queer person living in Canada by serving on the boards/advisories of numerous organizations dedicated to addressing HIV/AIDS, 2SLGBTQIA+ health, the health of Black Canadians, and the needs of communities affected by cancer. He has garnered recognition as a funded investigator, focusing on program science and implementation, community-based research, and the adaptation of health-related interventions within Canada’s African, Caribbean, and Black communities. In terms of education, Shannon holds a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from Toronto Metropolitan, specializing in Public Administration, a Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership from the University of Toronto, and a Certificate in Public Policy Analysis from the London School of Economics and Political Science.