investments The Moez & Marissa Kassam Equity Fund invests in organizations that are generating outsized gains for society: breaking barriers, building bridges, and unlocking human potential.
impact areas We strategically invest in the issues most crucial to Canadians: equitable access to food, healthcare, education, and sport.
nutrition
healthcare
education
sportinvestors
Driven by a shared passion for social change, the co-founders of the Moez & Marissa Kassam Equity Fund bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their philanthropic endeavors.
moez kassam co-founder and director
Founder and CIO of Anson Funds, a leading alternative asset management firm with an exceptional track record. Driven by a commitment to social change, Moez co-founded the Moez & Marissa Kassam Equity Fund to leverage his investment expertise for social good and create a world where everyone has a fair shot at success, regardless of their circumstances. Moez actively serves on the advisory boards of several organizations, including the Toronto Library Foundation, the Canadian Olympic Foundation, and the Immigrant Access Fund.
marissa kassam co-founder and director
Dedicated philanthropist and advocate for social change. Co-founder and Director of the Moez & Marissa Kassam Equity Fund. Marissa brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles, including Vice President of Philanthropy for RBC Capital Markets and various positions at JPMorgan. A proud mother of four, Marissa is passionate about ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential, and she believes that investing in a more equitable society is the key to achieving that goal.
hassan valji executive director
Hassan is a former clean-tech founder with Plan B Energy and former humanitarian with Medecins Sans Frontieres. He now consults on matters of organization transformation, operations improvement, and customer service strategy, primarily in the Utilities and Humanitarian sectors. Hassan has worked with numerous organizations driving change on impactful projects from Fortune 500 companies to governmental and non-governmental organizations.
andrew blott director
Andrew founded Quantum Capital in 2004 and has led key investments for the firm, including those in Apache Industrial Services and Skyway Canada. Prior to Quantum, he spent ten years on Wall Street at institutions including Credit Suisse Boston and CIBC World Markets, facilitating almost $20B in financings and M&A transactions for a variety of companies, including Nabisco, KKR, and Oaktree Capital. Andrew is a continuing member and past board member of the Young Presidents Organization. He is also Chairman of the Audit Committees of several companies.
sarah fulford director
Sarah is the editor-in-chief of Maclean’s, Canada’s premier national current affairs magazine. She was appointed to the role in 2022 after 14 years as the editor-in-chief of Toronto Life, an influential city magazine that publishes award-winning feature writing and expert service journalism. She has won two National Magazine Awards for her writing and has contributed articles to various publications, including The Globe and Mail, the National Post, and The Walrus. Sarah is a former volunteer chair of the Toronto Public Library Foundation.
brendon pooran advisor
Brendon Pooran is one of Canada’s foremost experts in advancing the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities. He brings this deep, lifelong commitment to his advisory role at the Equity Fund, providing essential guidance on accessibility and social equity. As the Founder of PooranLaw, Brendon helps ensure the fund’s philanthropic strategy is both inclusive and impactful. He teaches Critical Disability Law at York University, serves on the CRA’s Disability Advisory Committee, and is a founding director of Partners for Planning.
ebrahim el kalza advisor
Ebrahim believes the most impactful initiatives are born from visionary Founders who lead with purpose, heart, and Soul. He is dedicated to translating proven brand-building strategies into compelling narratives for causes that matter. As the Founder of Alchemy Brand Lab, Ebrahim uses his 25 years of experience to help the Equity Fund sharpen its strategic focus, connect with its communities, and create lasting, meaningful change. He holds an M.S. in Strategic Design from Parsons School of Design at The New School and an HBA from Ivey Business School at Western University.
mac killoran advisor
Mac Killoran provides expert financial and tax stewardship to the Equity Fund. As a Partner and head of the Tax Group at Fruitman Kates, his deep expertise in corporate and partnership tax ensures the fund’s structure is optimized for integrity, compliance, and impact. Mac’s guidance is essential in maximizing the resources available to support the fund’s philanthropic mission. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (Ontario) and a former entrepreneur, having worked in his family business, Weber’s.
partners We ally with organizations that share our values:
community We believe in the power of welcoming the stranger, because we are all better together.
opportunity We commit to seeing and removing barriers to create pathways to possibility.
courage We embrace doing what is right, and get behind visionary leaders, with bold ideas to solve intractable problems.
invest
Join us in building a more equitable future.
Contact us to learn more about partnership and investment opportunities.