Fred W. Martin and the Power of Generosity
For 24 years, Fred W. Martin served Grebel in fundraising and advancement. As the Director of Advancement, Fred has been a tireless advocate for Grebel, building strong relationships with donors, alumni, students, churches, and community partners. Described as a thoughtful, provocative, and creative leader with a dedicated and energetic spirit, Fred played a key role in multiple capital campaigns and raised money to expand both the College and its programs.
When he arrived at Grebel in 2001, the College was embarking on an ambitious capital project to build an apartment building, extend the residence short end, and connect the College’s buildings with a glass atrium. As Grebel’s first full-time employee in development, Fred worked with President John E. Toews, and then President Henry Paetkau to raise the funds for this project.
Further into his career, working with President Susan Schultz Huxman, Fred spearheaded The Next Chapter Campaign for new music spaces, classrooms, library spaces, an archival room, and a peace centre. A few years later, he moved his attention to the Fill the Table Campaign, along with President Marcus Shantz, to fund a brand-new kitchen and enlarge the dining room to accommodate a growing student body. Now, as his career at Grebel concludes, Fred has surpassed his goal of $4 million for the Windows to the Future Campaign, raising funds to renew the residence building with improvements to the air handling systems, the washrooms, and plumbing infrastructure.
Fred helped inspire more than $40 million in gifts from Grebel’s generous donors. This remarkable achievement has created a strong foundation for Grebel that will fund scholarships and programs for generations to come. In addition to capital funding, Fred helped to grow the fair market value of Grebel’s endowments from around $2 million in 2001 to more than $12 million in 2025. In Fred’s last year at Grebel, the College was able to provide $576,310 in student awards and bursaries, compared to $42,195, twenty years earlier. Fred has demonstrated thoughtful vision in his work, connecting with donors who shared his hopes for what Grebel could become, and then together, they brought those ideas to life in support of Grebel’s mission.
“Fred is one of the most successful fundraisers in any Mennonite organization in Canada,” said President Marcus Shantz. “At the heart of his success is his belief in what this college does, and what we all can do together when we are at our best. And it's that earnest, completely sincere commitment that made him great at this job and why he was so successful in inviting all kinds of supporters to be part of this work. Fred offered an invitation to find common cause, and to join a very special community.”
Fred Martin holds a novelty cheque with the approximate total amount raised for the College during his career at Grebel.
In all his work, Fred has kept Grebel’s priorities at the forefront. His vision and perseverance helped create the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement, sustain Mennonite memory and culture through archival preservation, and give students beautiful places to learn, live, make music, and thrive. He contributed to the life of the church by advocating for leadership formation among young adults and built infrastructure that will support future generations of Grebelites.
Not only did Fred strengthen Grebel’s financial foundation, but he led the alumni community with energy and enthusiasm. With about ten alumni events each year, from decade reunions to local gatherings, Fred has ensured that Grebel’s alumni base remained strong and active. Fred was ready to celebrate every anniversary, from Grebel’s 40th, 50th and 60th, to PACS, Music, and the Center for Peace Advancement. Most recently, Fred fulfilled his dream of taking group of alumni to Europe to trace key sites in Anabaptist history, marking the 500th anniversary of the first baptism.
Alumni and donors described Fred as a kind, warm, and easy-going presence whose deep integrity and genuine love for the church have shaped his work. Tireless in his advocacy for Grebel, he has been both fundraiser and connector, putting human relationships and community building at the centre of everything he does. He was constantly curious about how students first discovered Grebel and worked to keep alumni engaged while encouraging support for current students. With a thoughtful, rooted vision for schools like Grebel, Fred combined leadership and dedication to philanthropy with a commitment to advancing Grebel’s mission in both spirit and action.
Fred retired at the end of September, leaving a legacy of generosity, community, and vision. The Grebel community thanks him for more than two decades of tireless service and wishes him many new adventures.
