Claude Lestage has a background in communications and over 20 years of experience in philanthropy. His career has allowed him to become a speaker for organizations, businesses and professionals (lawyers, financial planners, life insurers) on the integration of philanthropy in their practice and to become an invited expert as a panelist at philanthropic conferences and events.
In 2006, Claude Lestage founded Lestage Service Conseil, a philanthropic development and management firm that stands out from the competition because of its personalized approach, adapted to the reality of each organization or business. The services offered are varied and extensive, ranging from organizational diagnosis to the implementation of a planned giving program or the development of a major fundraising campaign.
Claude helps organizations in the fields of education, health, religion and community to successfully achieve their various objectives. His expertise extends to the Canadian level as he is, among other things, a philanthropic development consultant for Francophone community foundations in Canada and a senior advisor on Francophone network engagement for the Community Foundation of Canada. His accomplishments earned him an honorary degree from Collège des Hauts Sommets in 2014.
In addition to his services to organizations, Claude has developed a services component for businesses, which includes socio-community/philanthropic studies and analyses and the implementation and restructuring of the philanthropic component of businesses.
Claude is involved as a volunteer in his community, among others, as vice-president of the round table of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) from 2006 to 2011, as a member of the board of directors of Jeunes Entreprises Capitale Nationale and Alpha Entraide from 2013 to 2016 and of the Fondation du Collège des Hauts Sommets from 2017 to the present.