CCS Fundraising

Type: Executive

Charlie Michaud, Principal and Managing Director at CCS, brings more than 27 years of professional fundraising experience to the clients we serve. Based now in New York City after 15 years in the UK and Ireland, Charlie’s career spans working in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Charlie’s counsel has helped our clients raise more than $1 billion worldwide to advance important causes including: education, food security, global health, human rights, international relief and development, medical research, and poverty eradication. His areas of expertise includes campaign design and management, corporate partnerships, and mobilizing resources from governments.

Charlie has provided strategic counsel and high-level coaching to senior executives, board members, philanthropists and government officials. He has trained fundraising volunteers across diverse cultures and regularly presents on fundraising trends and best practices.

Edward Van Saders leads Financial Operations and Business Strategy for CCS. Edward has 30 years of experience in leadership roles across a broad range of start-ups, global media companies, and nonprofits. In this role, Edward oversees all financial functions.

Prior to joining CCS, Edward was the Chief Strategy Officer of a portfolio of privately owned media assets, leading finance, corporate development, and administration for 12 years. Previously, he served as Chief Financial Officer of AccuWeather, the digital brand Heavy.com, and the environmental media company EcoMedia (subsequently sold to CBS). Earlier in his career, he held financial leadership positions at NBC-Universal, News Corporation, and the Jim Henson Company.

Edward holds a BFA and a certificate in nonprofit management from Marymount Manhattan College where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees. Edward resides in Rockland County and Cape Cod with his family, including triplet daughters.

In her current role, Lauren Handwerker works closely with the executive team and firm leadership to advance firmwide initiatives with a focus on strategy development and growth planning efforts. Lauren previously managed talent acquisition and works closely with the HR team. She spent the first several years of her career at CCS in client services working as a Director with clients across all sectors.

Lauren received her MBA from NYU Stern and holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University. She serves on the Board of the New York chapter of Women in Development (WiD). Lauren resides in Westport, CT with her husband and daughter.

Sarah (Schmall) Sochacki has been with CCS for a decade. Having spent nearly her entire professional career in fundraising, Sarah continues to be drawn to philanthropy, believing that this field has the power to solve some of the most complex challenges in the world. She feels privileged that her profession enables her to help find these solutions and give back in a meaningful way.

Sarah is a lifelong learner and constantly reflects on her current and previous engagements to ensure the latest insights are carried from one partnership to the next. She begins any engagement by first immersing herself in the organization – its people, goals, past fundraising activities, and more – to become an expert and in turn, provide the most value to each of her client partners.

As Managing Director, Sarah leads a variety of partnerships across the Central U.S. In her time at CCS, she has executed campaign planning studies, facilitated multi-million-dollar campaigns, directed development assessments and trainings, and coached development staff and volunteers through securing transformational gifts. With an expertise in case development and transformational gifts, Sarah is committed to crafting stories that marry resource development with each organization’s mission, financial needs, near-term goals, and long-term strategic vision.

As part of her continued commitment to philanthropy, Sarah has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Mary. Sarah is also a frequent speaker at CCS’s firmwide, sector-, and region-specific webinars.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Science in Fundraising Management from Columbia University. A Chicago resident, Sarah enjoys spending her free time rooting for all things Fighting Irish, teaching her dog, Fred, new tricks, attempting to cook, and participating in the occasional 5k fun run.

select client partners

  • St. Paul Academy and Summit School
  • YMCA of the North
  • Aim Higher Foundation
  • Totino Grace High School
  • Erikson Institute
  • Diocese of Green Bay
  • Archdiocese of Milwaukee
  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
  • Ascension Wisconsin Foundations

Lindsey manages CCS’s Central United States operations team out of the Chicago office. She serves as a member of the region’s executive leadership and provides dedicated focus to propelling our firm’s growth mindset. In her daily work, she partners with leaders across the region and firm to identify and implement strategic initiatives related to business development, recruitment, talent management, communications, and other operational priorities. 

Lindsey also partners on select client engagements, leveraging her skills in communications, creative messaging, data analysis, staffing, and overall fundraising planning as well as a passion for service stemming from her training as a social worker. 

Lindsey has dedicated her career to supporting nonprofit causes. She strongly believes in the power of philanthropy in advancing missions and ultimately transforming communities. “The impact of nonprofit organizations on our society is undeniable,” says Lindsey. “It is a privilege to help drive the operations of a firm so committed to continuously elevating this important work.” 

Lindsey received her master’s degree from the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and a bachelor’s degree from University of Miami. She was raised in a small town outside of Kansas City, Missouri and now lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband, son, and a house full of pets. 

Select Client Partners

  • DuPage Foundation
  • Northwestern Memorial Foundation
  • Northern Illinois Food Bank
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana
  • University of Texas at Austin

Sarah Krasin is the Managing Director and executive in charge of CCS’s Boston office, where she oversees client partnerships and the firm’s operations across New England.

Since joining the firm in 2012, Sarah’s client engagements have spanned all major nonprofit sectors and included capital campaign management, campaign planning studies, major gift program development, strategic planning, interim development management, and other specialized development projects, audits, and assessments. Her knowledge of the national philanthropic landscape includes direct experience designing and managing fundraising initiatives for clients across the country, with goals ranging from $3 million to $1 billion.

Sarah is the co-founder of CCS Elevate, the firm’s thought leadership initiative designed to apply CCS best practices to the next big questions in philanthropy. She is also a member of the firm’s Healthcare Advisory Practice.

Prior to joining CCS, Sarah managed and consulted for more than 20 political fundraising programs in the Midwest and Southern California. During her time in politics, Sarah coached candidates for local, state, and federal offices on effective fundraising strategies that allowed them to out-raise incumbents and win highly contested seats.

Select client partners

  • Boston Children’s Hospital
  • The Boston Foundation
  • Bridge Over Troubled Waters
  • Celebrity Series of Boston
  • Crocker Art Museum
  • Crossroads Rhode Island
  • The Dimock Center
  • Handel + Haydn Society
  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
  • Maine Maritime Academy
  • National Coast Guard Museum
  • National Women’s Hall of Fame
  • New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund (NCF)
  • Northeastern University
  • Partners In Health
  • Salve Regina University
  • T1D Fund of JDRF International
  • Tufts Medical Center
  • University of Southern Maine
  • VentureWell
  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Doug London has been with CCS for nearly a decade and in fundraising for his entire professional career. Having grown up in a household where giving back was prioritized, Doug learned at a young age the power and value that philanthropy can have in communities around the world. Today, he brings forward this same philosophy to his children and continues to be driven by the ability to make a positive impact through his career.

As a lifelong learner and empathetic leader, Doug believes that every successful partnership starts and ends with mutual learning – providing to his clients strategic, action-oriented counsel and learning just as much in return. He begins every client engagement with the knowledge that the right answers are not immediately known but discovered, believing that the best solutions, recommendations, and path forward are established by building trusting, enduring relationships.

As a Managing Director, Doug leads a variety of partnerships and client engagements across the United States and beyond. His areas of expertise include fundraising planning, leadership and major gift strategy, donor stewardship, and development staff coaching and management.

Outside of his client-facing work, Doug is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive CCS. He spearheaded the creation of Pride at CCS, the firm’s first LGBTQI+ employee resource group, and continues to serve as the group’s leader and executive sponsor. He also lead’s the firm’s Working Parents and Caregivers Community, and serves as a member of the DEI Committee of the Board of Directors.

Likewise, Doug is committed to advancing equality in his community and currently serves as a Board Member and Development Committee Chair of Family Equality, a national organization working to advance legal and lived equality for LGBTQ families, and a member of the Jewish Federation of North America’s National Young Leadership Cabinet, serving as their LGBTQ+ affinity group Co-Chair.

Doug resides in Chicago with his husband, young twins, and sheepadoodle puppy.

select client partners

  • After School Matters, Chicago, IL
  • Be The Match, Minneapolis, MN
  • CaringBridge, Eagan, MN
  • College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
  • Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim, Deerfield, IL
  • Detroit Country Day School, Bloomfield Hills, MI
  • Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Center City, MN
  • Howard Brown Health, Chicago, IL
  • Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
  • Keshet, Boston, MA
  • Lake Forest Open Lands Association, Lake Forest, IL
  • Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
  • National Aids Memorial, San Francisco, CA
  • Obama Foundation, Chicago, IL
  • Out-of-Door Academy, Sarasota, FL
  • St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation, St. Louis, MO
  • States United Democracy Center, Washington, DC
  • University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
  • University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda
  • University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX
  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

recent resources

Moving the Needle from Alumni Engagement to Alumni Giving

Pronouns: she/her

For more than a decade, Suzanne has helped nonprofits raise the capital essential to their missions. She has advised organizations with campaign goals ranging from $2 million to $3 billion. Her areas of expertise include campaign planning, management, and counsel; development assessments; strategic planning; principal, leadership, and major gifts fundraising; foundation and corporate support; case visioning and development; staff and board coaching and training; and development systems and infrastructure optimization. Suzanne has assisted a wide variety of clients, from small startups to mature organizations, and across client sectors.

Prior to joining CCS, Suzanne spent four years as a grant maker with The Starr Foundation, one of New York City’s largest private foundations. As a member of the program staff, she assisted the Foundation in making over $130 million in strategic investments each year.

Suzanne received her BA from Trinity College of Arts & Sciences at Duke University. She received her MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Suzanne, her husband Jon, and their son and two daughters reside in Manhattan.

select client partners

  • Amnesty International
  • Business Council for International Understanding
  • Central Park Conservancy
  • City Harvest
  • Connecticut Historical Society
  • Duke Health
  • Duke School
  • Duke University
  • Friends of Hudson River Park
  • Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
  • International Center for Journalists
  • Lehman College
  • Manhattan Country School
  • National Committee on U.S.-China Relations
  • NYU Langone Health
  • Open Door Family Medical Center
  • PBS North Carolina
  • Regis High School
  • Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey & RWJ Barnabas Health
  • Salvation Army of Greater New York Division
  • Trust for the National Mall
  • University of North Carolina Health Foundation
  • V Foundation
  • Westchester Medical Center Health Network

recent resources

2107 AFP-NJ Annual Conference in Philanthropy Presentation: From Volunteer to Lead Donor: Creative Ways to Engage Prospects

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Barri joined CCS in 2010, bringing eight years of experience in the legal profession. Barri concentrated on family law and immigration issues, as well as corporate litigation and restructuring.

At CCS, Barri has counseled clients on planning studies and development department assessments, in addition to campaign activation and implementation. Barri practices as a generalist and has a breadth of sector experience in independent schools, higher education, hospitals and healthcare, advocacy, federated organizations, religious centers, and cultural institutions.

Fundraising goals under Barri’s purview range from $10 million to $1.2 billion. During Barri’s tenure with CCS, she has led organizations through nationwide planning studies, intensive campaign goal-setting, case development, and pipeline building. Barri advises on the resources needed to build, enhance, and sustain ambitious fundraising goals, such as volunteer leadership structures, staffing requirements, and incorporating critical fundraising tools into everyday practice. She presents complicated and nuanced information to leadership and has advised on donor engagement and solicitations for 6-9 figure gifts.

Barri received her BA from University of Michigan and her JD from Brooklyn Law School.

Select client Partners

  • American Ballet Theatre
  • American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
  • American Museum of Natural History
  • Baptist Health Foundation
  • The Chapin School
  • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Greenwich Country Day School
  • The Joyce Theater
  • Museum of Chinese in America
  • NYU Langone Medical Center
  • The Perez Art Museum Miami
  • The Spence School
  • Sundance Institute
  • Trinity University

In her current role, Janine is responsible for leading CCS’ overall people strategy, talent acquisition and management; employee professional development from onboarding to leadership development; and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. She also oversees organizational design and cultural development, compensation, and benefits. “Recruitment and retention are essential for CCS because our people are our business. We are only as good as our people, and we are fortunate to have amazing, smart people as our colleagues,” says Janine. She works with leaders across the firm and regional locations to maintain and build a dynamic organization that reflects and supports the firm’s values, mission, and purpose.

During her tenure with the firm, Janine has overseen efforts that have resulted in numerous accomplishments: a tripling the firm’s personnel, more effective and streamlined companywide talent acquisition practices in partnership with regional offices, a companywide diversity and inclusion strategy, a fair and equitable compensation structure and practice with salary bands, and the launch of several employee resource groups and social groups to foster connections and support across the firm. Janine is passionate about coaching and fosters an open-door policy for all colleagues, mentoring many leaders at CCS.

Janine’s passion for human resources and the nonprofit world extends beyond CCS, serving in leadership roles in numerous organizations including Women of Color, Women in Development, and Allies in Action. She played an integral role in the establishment of Women of Color’s Radiant Leadership group. In all her work in the human resources space, Janine fosters values of inclusion and respect. Her membership in Chief allows her to connect and learn with fellow women executive leaders and help peers work through leadership challenges.

Janine attended Rider University and majored in Public Relations with a minor in Journalism.