Elizabeth Abel

At the heart of Elizabeth Abel’s work is a commitment to the communities she serves—guiding organizations with vision and strategy, empathy, and a focus on enduring change. As a Senior Vice President at CCS Fundraising, where she has worked since 2013, Elizabeth brings an intentional approach to philanthropy that combines data-driven insights with authentic relationship-building.

Elizabeth’s work spans all sectors of the philanthropic landscape and reflects her expertise in feasibility & planning studies, campaign management, development assessments, board trainings, and leadership development. She is a national leader in the Jewish community and has partnered with more than twenty synagogues, Jewish day schools, and advocacy organizations including ADL, AJC, Jewish Women International, and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, among others.

“I’m energized by the opportunity to lead fundraising initiatives that prepare organizations to build, scale, and grow. Philanthropy, for me, is about listening deeply, building trust, and advancing change together.”

In addition to her client work, Elizabeth is a respected educator and thought leader. Since 2019, she has taught graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania’s Nonprofit Leadership Program and speaks regularly at national conferences including AFP, CASE-NAIS Independent Schools, and Prizmah.

Elizabeth has been recognized by Crain’s New York Business as a “Notable Leader in Philanthropy” (2025) and a “Notable Leader in Accounting, Consulting & Law” (2024), the New York Jewish Week in their annual “36 to Watch” as a “thought leader in Jewish philanthropy” (2024), and BELLA Magazine as a “Woman of Influence in Philanthropy” (2022).

She holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University. She serves on several boards and advisory committees, including AFP NYC, Tufts University, and The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice.

Elizabeth lives in New York with her husband and their two daughters. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking America’s National Parks and sipping Earl Grey tea.