Elizabeth is a thought leader in philanthropy and expert in fundraising. She has led capital campaigns and development initiatives that have collectively raised nearly one billion dollars for education, healthcare, arts and culture, and advocacy organizations.
Since joining CCS in 2013, Elizabeth has partnered with institutions to plan and implement multi-million-to-billion-dollar campaigns. In this role, she provides counsel on strategic planning, major gifts fundraising, and board engagement. She has directed campaign feasibility studies, served in interim development roles, and managed annual campaigns and special fundraising events.
For the past six years, Elizabeth has taught a philanthropy course at the University of Pennsylvania to graduate students in the Nonprofit Leadership Program. She serves on the School of Social Policy and Practice (SP2) Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board, and in 2020, she was inducted into the SP2 Alumni Hall of Fame for her work with mission-driven organizations.
Elizabeth has received industry recognition for her commitment to the nonprofit sector: in 2024, she was recognized by the New York Jewish Week in their annual “36 to Watch” as a “thought leader in Jewish philanthropy;” and in 2022, BELLA Magazine recognized Elizabeth as a “Woman of Influence in Philanthropy.”
Elizabeth is a board member at the Association of Fundraising Professionals NYC Chapter, where she has served on the Mentorship Committee, and is a member of Women in Development New York. You can find Elizabeth offering her fundraising expertise at industry conferences, on nonprofit podcasts, and on social media platforms including LinkedIn and Instagram.
Elizabeth’s belief in social impact influenced her fundraising career: In rural Rwanda, she volunteered at a youth village for vulnerable Rwandan youth that was founded in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. In Jaipur, India, she lived and studied the generational empowerment of Indian women, working with mothers seeking to build lives of dignity and prosperity for themselves and their families. These global experiences—grounded in the values of inclusion, diversity, and access—motivated Elizabeth to improve the world through philanthropy.
Elizabeth holds a Masters in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University. She lives in New York with her husband and their two daughters and is an avid hiker and tea drinker.
Select client Partners
- ADL (Anti-Defamation League)
- Baptist Health South Florida
- Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
- The Chapin School
- The Children’s Health Alliance for Israel
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- Columbia University School of Nursing
- E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation
- Friends Academy
- The Hewitt School
- Larchmont Temple
- The Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
- Museum of West African Art
- New York Youth Symphony
- The Newark Public Library
- NYU Stern School of Business
- The Parkinson’s Foundation
- The Police Athletic League
- Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools
- The Ramaz School
- The School of American Ballet
- The Spence School
- The Speyer Legacy School
- Sutton Place Synagogue
- Two Ten Footwear Foundation
- Versiti Blood Research Institute
- The YIVO Institute of Jewish Research
recent resources
- Professional Instagram: ElizabethBerniAbel
- Giving USA 2023 Report: Breaking Down the Philanthropy Trends, We Are For Good (Podcast)
- Amplifying Philanthropy for 2023: Five Strategies to Inspire Giving in a New Year, NonProfitPRO (Article)
- Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign? 5 Questions to Consider as You Plan for the Future, NonProfitPRO (Article)
- You Made “The Ask” – Now What? Nonprofit Nation (Podcast)
- An Interview with Elizabeth Abel Senior VP of CCS Fundraising Positive Impact Philanthropy (Podcast)
- Building a Career in Nonprofit Leadership Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership (Podcast)
- Fundraising Fundamentals in A New Fiscal Year The Development Debrief (Podcast)
- What’s Your People’s Strategic Plan? Why Nonprofit Leaders Should Invest in Talent and Culture, NonProfitPRO (Article)
