Leadership Archives - Page 3 of 9

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.

Kurt is a Senior Vice President for CCS where he manages CCS’ South Florida strategic growth initiatives. He works with members of the region’s executive leadership team to identify and implement strategic priorities related to business development, communications, institutional partnerships, and client engagement.

Kurt serves on the National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers’ Benchmarking Committee. This cooperative venture of NCI-designated centers provides the only annual review of Cancer Center giving trends across the United States. He is a past Board member for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Maryland Chapter where he co-chaired the Membership Committee. Kurt also serves on the Association Foundation Group’s Research Committee.

Kurt graduated from Loyola University Maryland Sellinger School of Business with a Master’s in Business Administration and from Penn State University with a Bachelors in Business Management and Marketing.

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National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers
Association Foundation Group

Kevin Findlan is a strategic and entrepreneurial development leader and advisor. His portfolio of fundraising skills encompasses principal and major gifts, foundation and corporate philanthropy, government grants and contracts, and campaign design and direction. The initiatives he has led and advised during his career have together raised over a billion dollars for organizations across the nonprofit sector.

Since joining CCS in 2015, he has undertaken a range of projects on behalf of clients, including campaign planning and direction, development assessments, strategic planning, board engagement, systems analysis, and interim executive roles. His work has specialized in turnarounds and transformations as well as organizational capacity building. Prior to CCS, he spent a decade managing academic research centers in economics and urban planning at Columbia and NYU.

Within CCS, Kevin was a founding co-chair of CCS Elevate, the firm’s thought leadership initiative designed to apply CCS best practices to the next big questions in philanthropy, and is a member of the Higher Education Practice group. He also is an instructor and course author for CCS Learning and a highly sought mentor to his colleagues.

Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Dartmouth College, a Masters in Real Estate Development from Columbia University, and Masters in Music from the University of Edinburgh. He lives in the Hudson Valley and is an active hiker, musician, arts supporter, and traveler.

With more than a decade of experience working in international philanthropy, Jennifer has worked for organizations focused on community and economic development, poverty solutions, human rights, religion and faith, secondary and higher education, and global health and healthcare. She is continually inspired by the impact nonprofits can make when connected to the necessary resources and capacity.

Jennifer has extensive experience with a variety of development initiatives, including major gifts, capital campaign design and implementation, running a development office, staff training, planning and feasibility studies, and specialist prospect research and strategy. She brings a wide range of cross-sector experience to her work at CCS since joining the firm in 2012.

Jennifer earned an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a BA from the University of Notre Dame. After leading campaigns from the New York City and London offices for many years, she is now based in her hometown of Pittsburgh, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.

Speaking and Community Involvement:

Association for Healthcare Philanthropy International Conference
AFP Pittsburgh Emerging Philanthropy Conference
Yale School of Management Reunions, Planning and Gift Committees

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The Lab School of Washington
Chabad Belgravia
Allegheny Health Network
Villanova University

Since joining CCS in 2014, Griffin has partnered with organizations across various sectors, including religion, healthcare, and education to help clients raise over $500M in capital, research, and programmatic funding.

He has led the design and execution of large-scale fundraising initiatives and has counseled organizations with financial targets ranging from $100K to $250M, providing expertise in various development strategies including: campaign design and planning, principal and major gift strategies, board engagement and growth, development assessments, feasibility and planning studies, grateful patient fundraising, and developing fundraising metrics.

He is a graduate of Colgate University where he oversaw volunteer groups and service opportunities for students as the Associate Director of the Max A Shacknai Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education. Griffin serves on the Executive Committee of the Junior Board of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York and volunteers with the Parole Preparation Project, supporting incarcerated people as they prepare for interviews with the parole board.

Evelyn brings more than a decade of experience helping nonprofit organizations maximize their impact and achieve their philanthropic goals. Leveraging her skills in project management, data analysis, material development and design, and overall fundraising planning, she provides integral operational support to a wide variety of client engagements. She has worked with organizations spanning the healthcare, education, faith-based, advocacy and social service sectors.

In addition to her role working with clients, Evelyn is also a key member of the New York region’s operations staff helping to implement and manage strategic initiatives and systems related to business development, recruitment, talent development, and other corporate priorities to support the growth and vision of CCS.

Evelyn received a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BS in Psychology from New York University. She grew up in New Jersey and now resides in New York City with her husband and French bulldog.

Elizabeth joined the firm in 2017 after spending a decade working in fine arts and cultural institutions in New York, New York. Professionalism, diligence, curiosity, and dedication to hard work fuel her passion for working with non-profit organizations to help them achieve their goals.

A lifelong learner and dynamic professional, Elizabeth’s clients appreciate the trust, organizational fluency, sense for opportunity, clear direction, and candor she brings to each of her engagements. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, campaign planning and management, corporate philanthropy, principal gift programs, and capacity building. Her goal with every client engagement is to elevate the organization’s overall capacity and efficacy to fundraise in support of its mission.

Within CCS, Elizabeth serves as Chair of the Central U.S. Recruitment Committee and Co-Chair of CCS Elevate, the firm’s thought leadership initiative designed to apply CCS best practices to the next big questions in philanthropy.

Originally from San Diego, California, Elizabeth currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, where she was elected Captain of the Field Hockey team.

An ardent supporter of her alma mater, Elizabeth is active with Columbia University’s Odyssey Mentoring Program and Alumni Representative Committee. Outside of work, she enjoys frequenting galleries and museums, fitness, and spending time outdoors with her 110-lb Rhodesian Ridgeback, Judd.

Liz Carroll has always had a passion the philanthropic sector. She has worked for and with nonprofits for nearly a decade prior to joining the firm in 2018, including five years in development with Habitat for Humanity.

Liz currently provides leadership to the Central US team’s internal strategy and operations, with a focus on sales, executive support, and new hire onboarding. The ability to support a variety of organizations and missions across the nonprofit sector is what drives her enthusiasm and work at CCS. She is thoughtful in developing tailored scopes of work and is driven by the ability to think creatively about the services that will provide the most impact and benefit to each of our client partners.

Additionally, Liz develops custom onboarding plans and supports each new hire joining the Central US team through their first few weeks with the firm. She enjoys playing a role in building a welcoming and intentional onboarding experience. With a passion for coaching and mentoring, Liz also manages the Central US’s internships, practicum students, and fellowship program.

Liz is particularly passionate about advancing DEI in philanthropy. She works closely with the executive team to further the firm’s work in creating a more inclusive and equitable field of philanthropy.

Now in her tenth year with CCS, Eliza Huleatt has directed numerous development assessments and planning studies, conducted Board orientations and staff trainings, and led successful campaigns for a variety of client organizations. Eliza’s fundraising experience spans higher and secondary education, healthcare, medical research, and cultural institutions. She specializes in strategic development projects to expand philanthropic revenue, driving progress and client deliverables.

During her time at CCS, Eliza has worked with the CCS President on corporate initiatives to enhance the firm’s service offerings; developed content for CCS’s internal Learning program and taught firm-wide education courses on feasibility and planning studies, business writing, and donor engagement; led the Mentorship program for the Mid-Atlantic region; and served on the firm’s recruitment and onboarding teams. She is a past contributor to the Philanthropy Now blog. Eliza has an M.B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. from Colby College. She enjoys running, world travel, and spending time outdoors with her husband and two young sons.

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Baltimore Community Foundation
Howard University
Lieber Institute for Brain Development (Johns Hopkins University)
National Audubon Society
Peddie School
Rheumatology Research Foundation
Spelman College
United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
University of the South
Virginia Union University

Danielle brings over 16 years of executive level fundraising and non-profit leadership experience to the clients we serve. As an experienced fundraiser, strategist, and leading advancement professional, Danielle has engaged in and led many feasibility studies, managed transformative campaigns, and managed major gift fundraising initiatives for local as well as international organizations.

Danielle has experience supporting her clients beyond traditional philanthropic efforts. She has extended her expertise by supporting several start-up organizations; providing board development and training; offering advanced leadership coaching; performing fundraising assessments and prospect research; creating volunteer recruitment initiatives; and online fundraising platform development.

Before starting her career at CCS, Danielle worked with various non-for-profit organizations ranging from education, health, arts, animal welfare and human services.

Merging her professional and personal passion together, in 2021, Danielle and a long-time friend joined forces to establish an independent animal rescue and sanctuary in western Massachusetts – Second Chance Stables & Draft Rescue. Currently, Danielle is serving on the board of directors as Head of the fundraising committee and Board Chair. She also is an active fundraising volunteer in her community, including at her children’s school.

Danielle earned her B.S. in Education from Nova Southeastern University. Most recently, she had the privilege to participate in the Woman’s Leadership Program at Yale School of Management earning her a certificate in Executive Leadership. Danielle lives in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, with her husband, daughter, son and their Wheaten Terrier, Dutton.

Type: Leadership

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