About Cathy Cowan ~ Nonprofit Communications Consultant
Focused on Communications & Citizenship, I am excited to help you transform your organization’s communications to amplify your social impact.
As an independent marketing communications consultant, I bring:
♦ extensive big brand expertise
♦ an entrepreneurial mindset and
♦ passion for making the world a better place
to my collaborations with nonprofits, agencies and mission-driven businesses.
Connect with me on LinkedIn
I began my career rising through the ranks at nonprofits and international PR agencies in Toronto, honing my strategy, management and gold standard communications skills with organizations including Big Brothers and Sisters of Canada, The Reuse Centre, Weber Shandwick, GCI Group and GPC/Fleishman Hillard.
For nearly 20 years I was President and Founder of Cowan & Company Communications, a full-service marketing communications agency for first class brands. I was especially passionate about social impact and corporate social responsibility programs we developed with clients including L’Oreal Paris, Kraft, Jamieson Vitamins, Philips Lifeline, Recipes Unlimited/Prime Restaurants and Food Banks Canada.
Award winning work for iconic brands
Cowan & Company’s innovation and results were recognized with many awards including:
♦ Our client collaborations were honoured with more than 15 awards for innovations in marketing communications, media relations, social media, special events, publications and social responsibility.
♦ Cowan & Company was recognized as International Association of Business Communicators (IABC Toronto) “Boutique PR Agency of the Year” four times (!) from 2007 – 2017 in recognition of continual innovation and unparalleled communications results.
♦ I was deeply honoured to be named PR Professional of the Year by the Canadian Public Relations Society’s Toronto chapter in recognition of my leadership of Cowan & Company’s incredible team, clients and programs.
Focus on Social Impact Communications
C&C Consulting evolved from the successes of Cowan & Company once I decided to align my personal expertise, services and passion for social impact communications as an independent consultant.
In my journey to help make the world a better place, I joined the Canadian Mental Health Association York Region from 2021 – 2024 as the fractional and then full-time head of communications, creating and implementing integrated marketing strategies that successfully elevated the organization’s voice, engagement and reach.
I believe in the importance of giving back and I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Center for Women’s Empowerment, the Board of Advisors for the Women’s Nonprofit Network and volunteer as an Ovation Awards judge and mentor for IABC Toronto.
I now combine all my skills, experiences and passion to "do good" at C&C Consulting
As an independent marketing communications consultant, I work with nonprofits and socially minded businesses to transform their communications to amplify social impact. My full suite of project-based and fractional marketing communications services includes:
♦ strategic planning
♦ integrated marketing communications
♦ issues management
♦ internal communications
♦ content creation
♦ corporate social responsibility
♦ special events
♦ project management and
♦ team mentorship