1. Engaging your board
Robert W. Kuhn
President
Kuhn Associates LLC
Robert is a New York-based consultant to and lawyer for nonprofit organizations nationwide. His consulting practice advises nonprofit boards on issues relating to governance, strategy and planning, management and fundraising. His legal practice provides assistance in forming nonprofits, obtaining tax exemptions for these organizations and helping them comply with tax and regulatory standards. Prior to going into private practice, Robert was President and CEO of Assembly Technologies International, Inc., a manufacturing firm in the electrical and electronics industries, for over ten years. During this time, Mr. Kuhn focused on improving the company’s profitability and positioning it for eventual sale. He streamlined the company’s product offerings, improved relations with customers and vendors and increased the company’s gross profit margins significantly. The company was sold in April 2002. Robert earned his BA, cum laude, from Wesleyan University, and his JD from Georgetown University.
Addie Nelson Backlund, M.B.A.
Principal
Addie Nelson Backlund Consulting
As a consultant to nonprofit organizations, Addie works with board members to enhance their performance related to governance and oversight, as well as in maximizing the potential of each board member in the area of development/fundraising. Previously, Addie served for nearly 20 years in various leadership, management, and development/fundraising roles beginning at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she worked on the institution’s first capital and endowment campaign in the early 1980’s. She was Associate Director of Individual Giving and Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, Associate Dean for Development and External Relations at the Columbia University School of Nursing, Associate Vice President for Development at The New York Botanical Garden, and Vice President for Development at the EastWest Institute. She earned her MBA from Columbia University and is a contributing writer for BoardSource in Washington, D.C.
Inya Chehadé, MSW
Senior Director of Development
Foundation of UMDNJ (University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey)
Inya Chehadé has worked in the development field for over 12 years with a focus on healthcare and higher education. She spent the early part of her career serving as the first In-Country Director for the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund, securing funding for a variety of programs including a National Women’s and Children’s Health Initiative in Ukraine. She has worked with hundreds of physicians throughout her career and is experienced in identifying, soliciting, and stewarding major and institutional donors. In her current role as Senior Director of Development for the Foundation of UMDNJ, Inya spearheaded an effort to develop an actively engaged Board of Advisors for UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. She has worked extensively with members of the board who have helped to raise dollars and resources for the medical school’s mission. Inya also serves on the board of the Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals of New Jersey. She enjoys speaking to a variety of audiences on topics related to philanthropy and development.
2. Proposal writing
Joanne Oppelt, MHA
Development Director
Community Access Unlimited
With over 14 years experience in the field of resource and program development, Joanne has garnered over $7.7 million in foundation, government and corporate funding. Joanne is known for the passion she exudes for her causes, and has worked in the health care, education and social services sectors. Joanne is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, American Marketing Association and American Association of Grant Professionals. She holds a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in health administration. In addition to facilitating the grants allocation process at the March of Dimes, she has served as a grants reviewer for the US Department of Education and Union County Department of Human Services.
Catherine Abrams
Development Coordinator
Project Reach Youth
Catherine has more than 15 years experience in fundraising and development. In her current position, she writes 90-120 proposals a year, and last year she raised $4,364,192 (about 98% of the total organizational budget), of which $3,059,379 were grants from foundations. Previously, she was the curator and grant writer for the Queens Historical Society and was in charge of the fundraising and strategic planning for the Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary and Victorian Garden in Queens, New York. Catherine has a BA in Business Administration, and an MA in Education from NYU. Her grant writing experience covers the arts, education and health and social services.
Susan C. Davies
Senior Director of Capital Requests
American Cancer Society (ACS)
Sue Davies has 14 years of experience in Institutional Fundraising, working with foundations, government and corporate givers. At the American Cancer Society, Sue is responsible for developing a comprehensive Institutional Fundraising program for New York and New Jersey. In that capacity, she has raised $4 million over the first two years, bringing in money from foundations new to the ACS and increasing the size of grant sizes from existing partners. Prior to ACS, Sue worked in institutional fundraising at Barnard College, where as part of three-person team, she helped to raise more than $20 million from institutional funders, and at the New York Academy of Sciences, where she was able to increase government support by more than 30%. Currently, Sue is a member of the Board of Directors of the All Stars Project, serving as an advisor on foundation relations and information technology. In addition, she is a member of the New Programs Committee of Women in Development. She earned an undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and a MS in Information Science from Pace University. She also has a Certificate in Database Design and Development from Columbia University.
Michele Hickey, CFRE
Development Writing & Research Consultant
Michele has nearly twenty years of development and fund raising experience in a variety of disciplines including higher education, historic preservation, visual and performing arts, and human and social services. In addition to her work in corporate and foundation grants, Michele has experience planning and implementing capital campaigns, annual fund campaigns, planned giving programs, special events, prospect research programs, and major gift initiatives. She provides small group training for boards and development teams, and is currently teaching Advanced Fundraising Practices at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies. Michele has an MA in Nonprofit Management from the New School University, a BA in Business from Rutgers University, and has been an AFP Certified Fund Raising Executive since 1998.
3. Capital Campaigns
Michael J. David-Wilson, CFRE
Executive Director
Middlesex County College Foundation
In his current capacity, Michael is responsible for management and growth of the Middlesex County College Foundation's multi-million dollar financial aid and scholarship endowment. The Foundation recently concluded its first capital campaign and exceeded the initial goal of $3 million by more than half a million dollars. Prior to joining the College Foundation, Michael managed a $6 million capital campaign for the North Jersey Community Research Initiative. He has served in many board and committee leadership capacities over the past 19 years. He is currently a board member of the AFP, NJ chapter, and is Chair of AFP New Jersey’s annual state-wide Conference on Philanthropy. Michael has a BA in Theology from Saint Alphonsus College, a Master’s in Theological Studies from Washington Theological Union, and and a graduate certificate in not-for-profit organization management from Seton Hall University.
Vera T. Bullock
Director of Development and Executive Campaign Director
The Chapin School
Vera Bullock has 11 years of experience raising money from individual donors, foundations and corporate givers. She received her initial training as a major gifts officer for Columbia University and then moved on to establish and lead a Major Gifts Office at The Brearley School. During her time at Brearley, Vera led the effort to raise over $3 million in cash for a summer renovation project. Vera now heads the Development Office at the Chapin School and is responsible for all fundraising, alumnae relations, publications and communications and marketing. Vera is engaged in heading the staff effort for Chapin's current $75 million endowment campaign.
Steve Wilkerson
Principal
Quality Fundraising Solutions (QFRS)
Steve Wilkerson has been a development officer or consultant on development issues for 44 years. He began in annual fund work, did prospect research and prepared personal solicitations for volunteers and board members before he began doing them himself. He has been the development vice-president at three large institutions while they were preparing for and conducting capital campaigns and has been campaign counsel to many varied size organizations at all campaign stages. He has experience reporting directly to three volunteer boards. Where campaigns were not the best option, he has counseled the process of building a strong on-going development program and provided hands-on instruction.
Mary F. Vining, M.A.
Major Gifts Officer
Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey
Mary Vining has worked in the non-profit sector as a fundraiser for the past twenty years in a variety of venues, ranging from theatre, higher education, to healthcare. Mary began her career in development at the Paper Mill Playhouse in 1986. During the next ten-years, Mary learned all facets of development, including grant writing, annual appeals, donor solicitation and stewardship and special events. In 1995, Mary was appointed as Director of Donor Relations for Seton Hall University following their $115 million capital campaign. She managed a comprehensive donor recognition program and also developed the University’s first scholarship recognition program. In 2002, Mary served as Director of Annual Giving and Major Gifts for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation. At Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, she helped launch their $3.5 million capital campaign. The agency surpassed its goal and successfully secured a $250,000 grant from the nationally renowned Kresge Foundation.
4. Major Gifts
Gregory L. Boroff, CAE, CFRE
Senior Vice President, External Relations
Food Bank For New York City
In his current capacity, Gregory Boroff oversees institutional and major gifts fundraising, direct mail, special events, corporate partnerships, food procurement, volunteers, communications and marketing for the Food Bank. Gregory has spearheaded the creation of a number of the Food Bank’s nationally recognized campaigns. He was responsible for organizing all ten New York State America's Second Harvest affiliates for National Hunger Awareness Day 2004. He has been working in the nonprofit arena for ten years, including positions at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, City Harvest and Gay Men's Health Crisis. Gregory serves as Assistant Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Greater New York Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and previously served as Vice President for Professional Advancement, Co-Chair of the National Philanthropy Day Celebration and Co-Chair of the Fundraising Day in New York Program Committee for AFP. Mr. Boroff also serves as Second Vice President on the Board of Directors of the Council of Protocol Executives and is Program Dean of the CAE Career Enrichment Committee for the New York Society of Association Executives (NYSAE). In addition, he has been featured as a speaker on nonprofit fundraising and communications at numerous conferences and has been published in nonprofit trade magazines. He is certified as an association executive (CAE) and as a fundraising executive (CFRE).
Susan Kotcher
Director of Major Gifts
International Rescue Committee
Susan has 10 years experience in raising money from individuals and, most recently, has built a team and major gifts strategy for the International Rescue Committee, whose mission is to restore self-reliance to refugees who fled violence and oppression, and whose major gifts revenue has increased 80% over several years. She began her career as a political advocate for a national voting rights organization. Susan discovered a love of fundraising and its role in leveraging great missions and partnerships at Barnard College, where she served as Associate Director of Special Gifts. She raised both planned and major gifts for Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Susan is a major gifts trainer and coach for staff and boards and now serves on the board of Women in Development. She has a BA from Barnard College and MA from Columbia University.
Carol Ausubel Blumenfeld, CFRE
Major Gifts Officer
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
For more than twenty-five years, Carol has worked in the nonprofit sector. Her diverse background includes fund-raising, communications, marketing, nursing, and philanthropy. Carol has served in a wide range of development positions in various organizations throughout New York City, with a particular focus on healthcare. Prior to joining Memorial Sloan-Kettering, the world’s oldest and largest private cancer center, where she has been part of a team of seven Major Gift Officers for more than three years, she worked at the National Executive Service Corps. Carol received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and holds an MPA from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
5. Grantmaking as Partnership
Marc Hurlbert, PhD
Scientific Director and Senior Consultant
Avon Foundation
Marc Hurlbert directs the grant-making research and access to care programs of the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade. In his role, Marc oversees the Avon Foundation’s $40 million annual grant-making budget to support breast cancer programs. He develops and implements program strategy for the foundation, sets funding guidelines, manages the peer-review process and monitors the progress of grantees and grant programs. The Avon Foundation and Avon Products has raised and awarded more than $450 million to the breast cancer cause since 1992. The Foundation’s programs aim to reach those most in need, the uninsured, underserved and minority populations; and also to support innovative breast cancer research. Marc serves as the Executive Secretary of the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board and he assists the Foundation in convening an annual national conference on topics in breast cancer.
Kathryn Gates-Ferris, MS, MPA
Vice President
Cicatelli Associates Inc. (CAI)
Kathryn Gates-Ferris, MS, MPA is a Vice President at CAI, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide capacity-building support to health and human service agencies, primarily those serving the poor and disenfranchised populations. Kathryn has over thirty years experience working in the non-profit sector with a major focus on managing public health programs in small non-profits to state health departments to federally funded national projects. She also does extensive grant writing at CAI for both private and public grants and contracts. For the past eight years she has been the Project Director for the Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund which distributes over $5 million annually to over 120 community-based organizations across the U.S. She has developed a compassionate grants management style that incorporates meeting fiduciary responsibilities while providing capacity building support. Ms. Gates-Ferris is also an ordained interfaith minister and recently established the Center for Integrative Wellness at Cicatelli Associates Inc. which provides training on complementary and alternative medicine.
Suzanne Hilser-Wiles
Cancer Care
suzannehw@cancercare.org
Suzanne Hilser-Wiles joined the staff of CancerCare, a national non profit dedicated to providing free, professional support services to anyone affected by cancer, as its Director of Development in 2003. In her current role as Director of External Affairs, she oversees all fundraising, marketing and communications for the $20 million per year organization, including its web site and client publications. Suzanne came to CancerCare from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she served as the Senior Development Officer for Corporate Programs. Before that, she worked in the individual giving and membership programs of The Museum of Modern Art. Suzanne has a BA in Art History from the University of North Carolina and an MA in Arts Administration.
6. Direct Mail
Joseph A. Ferraro, CFRE
Vice President, Marketing
Carl Bloom Associates
In his current position, Joseph works with many mailers from PBS to Health and Children's nonprofits on strategic implementation of comprehensive fund raising solutions that include using mail, phone, internet, email, space among others to improve clients' fundraising outreach programs. Throughout his career, Joseph has raised over $250 million and built new fundraising entities. He got his start in fundraising on the consulting side with Walter Karl Fund Raising in the 1980s, providing comprehensive fundraising services to over a hundred nonprofit organizations including many of the nation’s largest charities. After leaving consulting he served as the Director of Annual Programs at the American Bible Society where he was responsible for all direct mail fundraising programs including donor acquisition, donor renewal, sustainer programs, and high dollar giving clubs, planned giving and others generating well over 30 million pieces of mail annually. Most recently he served as Director of Development for Manhattan College where he headed all direct mail fund raising outreach as well as personal donor cultivation activities. Joe, a current board member of the Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association, earned his CFRE credential in 1994 and his Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the New School in 1995. He has been a frequent speaker at industry events and has had articles published in periodicals such as the Non Profit Times and DM News.
Polly Adams Papsadore
Director of Marketing
LW Robbins Associates
Polly has over 17 years of experience in all media direct marketing for business-to-consumer and business-to-business companies. In her various agency and client-side roles, she has managed direct mail campaigns end-to-end, from strategic planning, through creative, production, mailing and results analysis. At Robbins Associates, Polly serves as a key strategist for new business initiatives, developing strategic plans, creative recommendations, and direct marketing program budgets for prospective and new nonprofit clients. Her previous direct marketing experience includes senior account director positions at Direct Results Group, an all-media direct marketing agency in Boston and Papsadore Direct, Inc., an agency she co-owned, which merged with Direct Results Group. Polly earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College.
John S. Lacorazza
Development Director
CNEWA (Catholic Near East Welfare Association)
John has been with CNEWA for six years. He was brought in to revitalize fundraising via the application of commercial marketing practices. Over a 3 year period he tripled active donors in the United States through an innovative and cost effective direct mail acquisition campaign. He also built from scratch a Canadian base of 10,000
supporters that turned a profit from day one. Prior to his current position, John was the Managing Director of a marketing agency in NYC. He has also held senior marketing positions with Citibank, Shearson American Express and Dime Savings.
7. Special events
Steven Benini
Vice President of Financial Development
The Community YMCA
In his current position, Steven raises funds to support programs and outreach to over 20,000 Monmouth County residents. He works closely with key volunteers and staff to develop and execute a strategy to direct The Community YMCA's philanthropic, public image, and media relations programs. Prior to his work at the YMCA, Steven Benini worked for 11 years with the Greater New York Councils, Boy Scouts of America. His last assignment with the Scouts was serving as the Director of Special Events, providing staff leadership to four development officers and four support staff successfully recruiting for and orchestrating 32 annual special events raising over $6.5 million in annual support. Steven is a graduate of the New York University, Stern School of Business with a double major in Management and Marketing.
Karen M. Curley, MPA
Regional Director - Heart Walk
American Heart Association
At the American Heart Association, Karen is responsible for an annual fundraising event - the Start! Long Island Heart Walk - which has a goal of $450,000 and traditionally yields more than 3,000 participants. Earlier this year she was recognized by Long Island Business News as an outstanding member of Long Island's business community. Karen is a member of the Association for Fundraising Professionals, the Hauppauge Industrial Association and the Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women. She has Masters in Public Administration from Long Island University.
Kate F. Debold
Director
The Miracle Foundation
In her current position with The Miracle Foundation, Kate is responsible for the administration, fundraising and outreach efforts of the organization. Her fundraising responsibilities include hosting annual and seasonal events, and cultivation activities, as well as developing relationships with current and potential corporate sponsors. Kate holds a BA from Villanova University and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Long Island Chapter), Women’s Executive Network of Nassau County Art Museum, Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York and the Garden City Chamber of Commerce. She was also recently invited to join the Long Island Women's Agenda.
Sharon McCullough
President
Expert Events
Prior to forming Expert Events, Sharon spent 12 years at the University of Pennsylvania, where she worked in the special events offices for development (Penn’s 250th Anniversary and a Capital Campaign) and Alumni Relations (Alumni Weekend, Reunions and Homecoming). Sharon’s primary focus with Expert Events is working with academic institutions and non-profits for their milestone events such as anniversaries, inaugurations, groundbreakings, building openings and campaign launches. Her recent clients include Columbia University (inauguration of president, 250th anniversary), Pace University (Centennial, assessment of internal special events), the American Ireland Fund (golf tournament, documentary and international conference), Project HOPE (strategic plan for 50th Anniversary), and Dickinson College (campaign launch and regional campaign events).
8. Annual giving
Kwi Brennan
Associate Vice President
Rutgers University Foundation
Kwi began his fundraising career in 1996 as Rutgers' first Telefund program manager. Over the years, he grew the program from a $2.5M annual operation to nearly $7M. Recognized as one of the top telephone fundraising programs in the nation, it was awarded the Silver medal for "Leadership in Educational Fundraising" by CASE District II. Kwi has extensive annual giving experience in the areas of planning, budgeting, reporting, telephone and direct mail fundraising, class campaigns, corporate agent programs and marketing. He has a B.S. in Health Policy and Administration from Penn State and an M.B.A. in Finance from Rutgers. He also has has his CFRE and is a board member of the AFP New Jersey Chapter.
René Bouchard
Greenpoint YMCA
Director of Fund Development & Communication
René began her non profit career nearly 10 years ago serving New York City's LGBT community on the front lines as an Information & Referral Specialist for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Community Center in Manhattan. She subsequently joined a breast cancer organization affiliated with Columbia University Medical Center at NewYork Presbyterian Hospital. While serving in this capacity, she helped to re-design the organization's annual appeal and oversaw an increase of over 150% in annual fundraising in just 2 years. Currently, René serves as Director of Fund Development and Communication for the Greenpoint YMCA, one of 19 branches of the YMCA of Greater New York. René manages the annual campaign for her branch which brought in a record amount in her first year. René earned her B.A. in Creative Writing from Knox College, in Galesburg Illinois.
Michael Barret Jones
Director of Development
Staten Island Academy
Michael has recently joined the team at Staten Island Academy, and brings nearly fifteen years of experience in non-profit development and marketing to the table. As recent Director of Development at a K-8 school in New York City, he doubled Annual Giving in 2.5 years, including participation rates exceeding 95% of current families. A former board member of several community organizations, he balances staff and board perspectives in his search for more exciting ways to engage suporters. Michael is a team leader and presenter at the WOW! Institute and serves on the planning committee for the NY State Association of Independent School's annual development and alumni conference.
Carl Bloom
President
Carl Bloom Associates
Carl Bloom's experience with annual giving covers the time he was Director of Membership for WNET/Thirteen, and for the last 31 years, as head of his agency. He has held positions as Director of Membership at Public TV Station WNET/Channel 13 in New York, Circulation Manager of Redbook and McCall's Magazines, Direct Marketing Manager of Crowell, Collier & Macmillan's Home Study Schools and Vice President of Marketing at National Journal in Washington, D.C. Carl held the position of Adjacent Professor of Direct Marketing at Baruch College in New York City. He has written many articles for publications in the direct marketing field, and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and events.
9. Planned giving
Margaret M. Holman
President
Holman Consulting, Inc.
Margaret has held senior fundraising management positions at a variety of arts, health and educational institutions throughout the country. From 1991 to 1998, she was the Senior Consultant in the Northeastern Region for The Sharpe Group (Memphis, TN), a planned giving consulting firm. She is on the boards of the Planned Giving Group of Greater New York and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Foundation and is an advisory board member of the European Association for Planned Giving. Her client base is diverse, ranging from the American Friends of Hebrew University to the National Women’s Law Center. She has published numerous articles on planned giving and non-profit management, lectures widely and has served as faculty for institutes, conferences and seminars both nationally and internationally, and is the co-author of The Complete Guide to Careers in Fund Raising (U.S.) and Major Donor Fundraising
(U.K.).
Laura Fredricks, JD
Vice President for Philanthropy
Pace University
In her current capacity, Laura oversees all aspects of fundraising and alumni relations for a staff of 40 on five campuses and is leading the University into a
$100 +million capital campaign. She is author of the best-seller books, “The Ask: How to Ask Anyone for Any Amount for Any Purpose “(Jossey-Bass 2006) and “Developing Major Gifts: Turning Small Donors into Big Contributors” (Jones and Bartlett 2001). For the past 13 years, Laura has taught various courses on planned giving and capital campaigns at a certification and master’s degree level for University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, New York University, Duke University, and the Smithsonian Institution. Previously, Laura was Associate Vice President for Development at Temple University, Philadelphia, where she managed and coordinated the major and planned giving programs, corporate and foundation funding, and alumni relations for 15 schools and colleges, two hospitals, and the athletic program. Additionally she has served as Major Gifts Manager for Deborah Hospital Foundation, Assistant Director of Development for Temple University’s School of Medicine, and Director of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation. She is a journalism graduate of Rutgers College, New Brunswick, NJ, and holds a law degree from Western New England College School of Law. She currently serves as a board member for several nonprofit boards.
J. Douglas McDaniel JD, CFRE
Director of Special Gifts
The Salvation Army Eastern Territory
In addition to being Director of Special Gifts, Doug is a training specialist in the area of planned giving. In this capacity, he provides oversight to major and planned giving operations for a major part of the United States. His prior experience includes director level positions in major gifts, planned giving and development for The Salvation Army, Saint Louis University, the YMCA, the American Bible Society, and Guideposts. Doug has taught business and real estate law at local schools and colleges and has been active in adult education for over thirty years. He is past chair of the Legal Education Committee of the Missouri Bar Association and has served on the Board of the American Council on Gift Annuities and the Communications Committee of the Journal of Gift Planning. He lectures around the country on development topics and serves on the program committee of the R&R Newkirk Company. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Northwestern University and his law degree from Saint Louis University. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Missouri.
Michael J. Baker, CFRE
Partner
m3 Development Corporation (Philanthropy Consulting)
Michael has been a development executive for his entire 14-year career. He has successfully devised planned giving programs for the Boy Scouts of America and other consulting clients. He is frequently requested to present to Boards and staff on planned giving, and has taught a course on planned giving at Columbia University.
Most recently, he worked with the American Cancer Society helping the National organization roll out its Major Gift and Campaign Fundraising Program resulting in over $85,000,000 in the last 2 years. He was formerly the Senior Director for Major Gifts for the American Cancer Society’s Eastern Division where he was responsible for leading and overseeing the Major Gift, Foundation Relations, Capital Campaign and Prospect Research Departments. He serves on the board of directors for the Marlboro Education Foundation, is on the Editorial Board of Triumph Magazine and has served on the AFP-NJ Conference on Philanthropy planning committee. He is also a member of AFP-NJ and the National Committee on Planned Giving. Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York-Albany.
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