Regional Leadership Archives - Page 5 of 8

Since joining the firm in 2012, Meghan has led development assessments, managed key campaigns, and executed campaign planning studies for institutions in the healthcare, higher education, civic, social service, and faith-based sectors. She loves partnering with her clients to find new and innovative ways to meet their extraordinary goals. Meghan grounds each of her engagements with quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform the best path forward and is committed to thinking deeply about each client’s needs and developing tailored solutions.

Meghan holds a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William and Mary and a Master of Arts from Cornell University. She grew up in Kansas City and now lives in Chicago with her family.

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Archdiocese of Chicago
Feeding America
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
University of Texas at Austin

Melissa Rothberg is an Executive Vice President at CCS. Based out of the firm’s New York office, Melissa works with a broad range of clients across multiple sectors and functions on strategy, operations, and management.

Since joining CCS in 2013, Melissa has partnered with public and private institutions in the fields of education, national and international advocacy, global leadership development, arts and culture, environmental policy, human services, and healthcare. She frequently works with clients not only to develop the resources necessary for building and executing ambitious fundraising goals, but also on the infrastructure essential for sustaining them over the long term. Experienced at both high-level campaign strategy and day-to-day organizational operations, Melissa has supported clients with financial targets ranging from $25 million to more than $1 billion.

Melissa received her BA from Kenyon College and her MA from The University of Chicago. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Diabetes Link, the Development Committee of the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue, and the Steering Committee of Kenyon Women Giving Back.

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Human Rights Watch
Natural Resources Defense Council
City University of New York/City College
Signature Theatre
Committee to Protect Journalists
The New York Women’s Foundation
The Dodd Center for Human Rights, at the University of Connecticut
The New York Botanical Garden
Central Synagogue
Resolve to Save Lives/Vital Strategies

Kate Villa has been helping to design, plan, and implement successful fundraising campaigns since she worked for Columbia University’s development office while in college. She truly enjoys creating and executing fundraising initiatives that connect donors’ passions with projects that change the world. Kate’s 25 years of experience, first as a chief development officer and now with CCS, have included: comprehensive campaign design and management, planning studies, assessments, and leading teams of staff and volunteer leadership to develop unique strategies and solutions to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.

Kate graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and Columbia College. She is the Immediate Past President of AFP Massachusetts, a former Vice-Chair of the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, and the past President of AFP of Northern New England. When not working or volunteering for good causes, she can often be found trying new recipes or restaurants, skiing in her native state of Vermont, training for a long bike ride, or with friends and family.

Sarah Sochacki has been with CCS for more than a decade and in the fundraising space for 15 years. Sarah continues to be drawn to philanthropy, believing that this field has the power to address some of the most complex challenges and questions in the world today. She feels privileged that her profession enables her to help find these solutions and give back in such a meaningful way.

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. Her areas of focus include K-12 Education and faith-based efforts.

Sarah firmly believes that if development professionals only raise money, they are not successful. Successful advancement efforts foster meaningful relationships, strengthen an organization’s ability to drive positive impact, and create new visions for what is possible through partnership. Sarah leads with this mindset through all philanthropic efforts, ensuring a well-rounded approach is used to assist organizations.

As part of her continued commitment to philanthropy, Sarah regularly presents at various industry events, including with the International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC) and 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 lives in Chicago with her husband Ben, her daughter Olivia, and their rescue pup, Fred. They enjoy bickering about college sports and being outside as much as Chicago weather allows. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Science in Fundraising Management from Columbia University.

Since joining CCS in 2011, Carl has been privileged to have provided counsel to numerous clients in the faith-based, health, education, and social service sectors. His areas of expertise include project management, capital campaigns, feasibility and planning studies, organizational development, data analysis, volunteer management, major gifts, and annual fundraising.

Carl is a strong believer in the power of philanthropy and the opportunities it can provide. “I am blessed to have been the beneficiary of the generosity of others through scholarships. I have experienced firsthand the impact philanthropy can provide.”

Growing out of these experiences, Carl appreciates the importance of being socially just and giving back to those less fortunate. Therefore, he chose to pursue a career in helping nonprofits provide opportunities to those who need it most.

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Carl resides in Rockville Centre, on Long Island, with his wife, Caroline, and daughter, Mairéad. He is a proud graduate of Belvedere College S.J. in Dublin and The University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Chris Polito brings 16 years’ experience in designing, implementing, and managing key philanthropic initiatives for nonprofit organizations in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and Canada.

Since joining CCS in 2006, Chris has partnered on more than 50 strategic resource development initiatives and capital campaigns that have raised collectively over $500 million. Chris is an expert in feasibility and planning studies and development assessments and annual appeals. He has implemented leadership and major gifts fundraising for numerous clients in faith-based, healthcare, human and social services, and primary and secondary education sectors.

From July 2013 to January 2016, Chris, his wife and daughter, moved to Toronto where he served as Executive Director of the Archdiocese of Toronto’s $105 million Family of Faith Campaign, which ultimately raised more than $170 million CAD, becoming the most successful faith-based fundraising initiative in Canadian history.

Chris served as the President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Southern New Jersey Chapter from 2019-2021 and was recognized as a top 40 Under 40 Leader by the Philadelphia Business Journal in 2020. He has been invited to speak at national and international industry conferences hosted by Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS), AFP Eastern Pennsylvania, Greater Philadelphia, Greater Toronto and Southern New Jersey Chapters, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS), and the Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia.

Currently residing in Mount Laurel, NJ with his wife and daughter, Chris grew up in Colts Neck, New Jersey, went to Red Bank Catholic High School, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.

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Archdiocese of Toronto, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Archdiocese of Newark
Elwyn (Media, PA)
Kean University (Union, NJ)
Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley
Roman Catholic High School (Philadelphia, PA)
Saints Peter and Paul Parish and School (Easton, MD)
The Gunston School (Centreville, MD)
The Shipley School (Bryn Mawr, PA)
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (Philadelphia, PA)
West Catholic Preparatory High School (Philadelphia, PA)
World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)

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“Build Your Digital Presence for 2021 and Beyond”

With more than twenty years of experience in the U.S. and Europe, Lara has worked with a range of clients – from those raising billions to those building a culture of philanthropy – across every nonprofit sector. “I always wanted to work in the nonprofit sector but couldn’t find ‘my’ one cause. For me, finding CCS was the answer,” Lara says.

Shortly after joining CCS in 2008, Lara moved to the European team, where she spent several years serving clients in Paris, Dublin, and Geneva. Notably, Lara spearheaded the historic €10 million campaign to transform the American School of Paris’ campus. In 2015, Lara returned to the New York City area and serves clients with local, national, and international reach. From helping RIOULT Dance New York build a permanent home, to building endowments for day schools through UJA-Federation’s Jewish Day School Challenge Fund initiative, to providing campaign strategy to several RWJBarnabas Health hospitals in New Jersey, to planning a global campaign for National Geographic Society, Lara enjoys the process and partnership of our work.

“I love the opportunity to work with, and learn from, so many admirable leaders and volunteers who are dedicated to their cause and community,” she says.

Lara is a graduate of Northwestern University. She is a dual citizen of the USA and France and conversant in French, Spanish, and Arabic. As a volunteer, Lara serves on the Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) New Jersey Chapter and on the Alumni Giving Committee for the American School in Japan.

Natalie joined CCS in 2011 and has served clients spanning education, faith-based, human service, arts and culture, healthcare, international, environment, public media, and association sectors. She has conducted numerous capital campaigns, feasibility and planning studies, development assessments, annual fund enhancements, strategic plans, and special development projects. Natalie has served as Counsel on campaigns that have cumulatively raised more than $1 billion, including multiple $100 million gifts.

Natalie serves on the Client Services Committee of the CCS Board of Directors. She facilitates training courses for CCS Directors, presents fundraising sessions for AFP, TABS, SAIS, FCIS, VAIS, AISGW, AIMS, AMCSUS, and a variety of conferences, and has chaired CCS’s Recruitment Committee. She was recognized for her work in CCS’s Mid- and South-Atlantic Region with the Dennick M. W. Skeels Memorial Award in 2015. Natalie recently concluded a four-year term on the Board Executive Committee of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) DC Chapter. Natalie graduated cum laude from University of Delaware with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Natalie resides in Reston, VA with her husband and two sons.

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American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Bermuda High School for Girls
Georgetown Day School
Inova Health System
Jhpiego
KIPP Baltimore
Loyola University Maryland
National Black Caucus of State Legislators
National Museum of Bermuda
National Public Radio (NPR)
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Peddie School
Richmond Symphony
Royal Institute of Law of the Kingdom of Bhutan
Salem Academy and College
Sidwell Friends School
Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
UNCF (United Negro College Fund)
United Way of Central Maryland
Volunteers of America
West Virginia State University
YWCA USA

In over 12 years with CCS, Aashika has supported clients with financial targets totaling over $1 billion. Guided by measurable, actionable plans, Aashika leverages fundraising strategy, data analytics, staffing assessments, pipeline development, and leadership engagement to grow fundraising capacity for nonprofits across every philanthropic sector.

Aashika’s approach to client support is anchored in consensus building at all levels. Aiming to architect fundraising solutions that address both a short-term, urgent need for funding as well as a long-term goal of financial sustainability, Aashika builds and organizes dynamic teams of fundraising professionals. People are the greatest resource at both CCS and within the nonprofit sector, investing in people is investing in progress.

Aashika cultivates great interest and expertise in case visioning, pre-campaign and planning studies, post-campaign assessments, Advancement audits, landscape analysis, major gift pipeline qualification, major and planned gift campaigns, endowment fundraising, as well as leadership recruitment and training.

A graduate of Syracuse University in both Philosophy and South Asian Studies, Aashika also earned a MS in Fundraising and Grantmaking from New York University (NYU). She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jesal, and serves on the board of the Cayton Children’s Museum.

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California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, CA
University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), San Diego, CA
University of San Diego, (USD), San Diego, CA
Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, CA
Holocaust Museum Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Cayton Children’s Museum by ShareWell, Los Angeles, CA
Direct Relief, Santa Barbara, CA
TGR Foundation, Irvine, CA
San Diego Foundation, San Diego, CA
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beverly Hill, CA
Chandler School, Pasadena, CA
Flintridge Preparatory School, Pasadena, CA
Curtis School, Los Angeles, CA

Sarah is Principal and Managing Director at CCS Fundraising, where she leads the firm’s Boston office and serves as a member of the CCS Board of Directors. Since joining CCS in 2012, Sarah has advised institutions across the nonprofit sector—including healthcare, education, science, culture, and social justice—on ambitious fundraising efforts with goals ranging from $3 million to $8 billion. Her expertise includes campaign planning studies, major gift program development, interim development leadership, and comprehensive capital campaign management. She has specific experience helping organizations with emerging or startup fundraising programs scale for transformational growth.

Under Sarah’s leadership, the New England office has more than doubled in size and impact. She has also helped lead strategic direction for the firm as co-chair of the Board’s Innovation Committee and current chair of the Business Strategy Committee. Sarah is the co-founder of CCS Elevate, the firm’s platform for advancing thought leadership in philanthropy.

A frequent speaker and sought-after advisor, Sarah has presented at industry conferences including AFP, AHP, CASE, AAMC, and Women in Development. Her insights have been featured in the Chronicle of Philanthropy and in several nonprofit sector podcasts.

Sarah’s background in political fundraising and her experience living and working in diverse communities across the U.S. have shaped her people-centered approach to leadership. She is committed to community and creativity through her service on the board of Arts for Learning Massachusetts, the host committee for Boston Medical Center, and performing with a flute ensemble through the Boston Flute Academy. Sarah lives with her husband and young daughter in Dorchester.

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