Our People

With boundless creativity, strong business acumen, and strategic thinking, Nicole pilots creative efforts to achieve organizational goals and develops innovative concepts that further corporate identity. Distilling large amounts of information into salient communications, Nicole translates abstract corporate visions into tangible, recognizable brand messages and actionable strategies that support business goals.

An expert and noted speaker in major gifts, planned giving, and metrics management, Meg leads high-capacity prospect strategy, grateful patient programming, clinician engagement, and alumni and parent fundraising.

Noted for her proven track record in major gift development, annual giving, alumni and donor relations, capital campaigns, and development operations, Amy was the driving force behind several strategic initiatives for Jefferson Health, including the creation of an Advisory Council for valued business leaders, major gift development for the Asplundh Cancer Pavilion capital campaign, and the assumption of all development operations for a major healthcare system acquisition.

A team builder, problem solver, and change agent who has served at the University of Chicago, Brown University, New Canaan Country School, St. Andrew’s School, and more, Anne has developed strategic plans, built advancement programs, and strengthened fundraising pipelines.

Thomas Chaves brings over 30 years of higher education information and technology leadership experience to his role at Graham-Pelton, where he excels in driving effective Advancement and Business Intelligence solutions for nonprofits. In addition to serving as Associate Vice President of Advancement Operations at Saint Joseph's University, Thomas holds a B.S. in Computer Science/Mathematics from Albright College and a graduate degree in Management/Business Administration from Penn State.

Profoundly influential, appreciated for his strategic mind, and a tireless advocate for a comprehensive development operation, Brian imbues the mission of advancement in all dimensions of his leadership, most recently as the Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Military Institute Foundation.

Creative and considerate, Aaron plans and executes Graham-Pelton’s presence across all digital mediums, ensuring that those who invest their time engaging with the firm experience the timely thought leadership and bold approach audiences have come to appreciate.

Strategic vision creator, trusted talent developer, and philanthropic industry builder, Walt Edwards is recognized as one of the nation’s leaders in fundraising coaching and training. Having served many of the top academic medical centers, colleges, and universities across the country, Walt is also the chief architect of Beyond Gratitude™, our signature grateful patient fundraising service.

With her ability to collaborate across teams, forge partnerships, build trust, and match donors with philanthropic opportunities, Kristin manages client engagements with an eye toward elevated thinking and program innovation.

With extensive experience in education and foundation sectors, David excels in strategy, prospect development, and stewardship. With an insightful approach, David creates and implements annual plans, manages major gifts portfolios, leads database optimization, and trains and empowers boards to achieve fundraising leadership.

A higher education scholar-practitioner, Dr. Anthony Heaven specializes in advancement and diversity/inclusion work. Recognized by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education as a District III Faculty Star, his dissertation focused on the experiences of African American frontline gift officers at predominately White institutions received the Dissertation of the Year Award from the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education. As a development strategist, Dr. Heaven has served a number of flagship state universities and has built a unit development operation.

Throughout her fundraising service to a number of preeminent institutions, Jen ignites “the spark that comes from mission-driven work” to strategize, ask for, and steward significant gifts. With a track record of eight-figure solicitations, Jen has held a variety of frontline positions with managerial focus on program administration, process improvement, and analytics.

Tamra Johnson is an ardent and strategic philanthropic leader with more than a decade of professional experience working across public higher education institutions. Adept at utilizing research tools to promote and implement strategies to increase donor contributions, retention, and satisfaction, Tamra has demonstrated competency in donor relations, executive support, and administrative management.

Elizabeth has vast experience in fundraising and development operations. In her previous role, she served as the Assistant Director of Planned Giving at The Rockefeller University. There, she was part of the $1.17 billion Campaign for Transforming Biomedicine and was the chief content creator of the Living Legacies biannual planned giving publication. In addition, she managed longstanding relationships with various foundations and trusts through annual reports, briefing memos, program remarks, prospect plans and communications, and events.

Throughout his tenure as a fundraising leader, Craig became keenly aware of the evolving demands of the fundraising industry – demands that required an evolved approach to fundraising counsel. He questioned his thinking:¬ “Does the world need another fundraising consulting firm?”

Hundreds of nonprofits across the globe would come to benefit from his well-considered answer to that question. Craig led Graham-Pelton to emerge as one of the nation’s premiere fundraising consulting firms serving the full spectrum of sector clients. Under his direction, Graham-Pelton has earned a reputation for offering clients maximum value by providing them with hands-on, accomplished professionals; diverse and innovative service models; and an extraordinary commitment to customer service.

With a sharp eye, flexible mindset, and fast pace, Courtney works with the entire spectrum of Graham-Pelton experts to deliver reports, presentations, and other materials to the clients they serve.

Jim provides senior executive-level leadership to healthcare and higher education institutions and has served as a trusted advisor to nonprofits across the entire philanthropic spectrum. Considered to have an unparalleled knowledge of philanthropy and network, Jim served as Department of Development Chair with Mayo Clinic and led the institution’s $1.25 billion five-year campaign.

Process-minded and forward-looking with an eye for continuous improvement and opportunity, Kevin leads the financial activities of Graham-Pelton.

With a unique ability to observe an organization holistically, Yasi is able to offer innovative solutions and ask tough questions that otherwise wouldn't be considered internally. Throughout her fundraising career in education, social change, and healthcare sectors, Yasi has developed and implemented creative engagement solutions with an emphasis on measuring performance outcomes. She enhances nonprofits' systems to achieve their goals, whether she is building board capacity, creating prospect strategies, or improving staffing structures.

With a background in independent schools, higher education, and social change, Rachael’s experience spans from restructuring development offices, creating and implementing development strategies, and crafting policies and procedures, to soliciting major and principal gifts and providing solicitation training and Board development.

Excited and driven by surprises, challenges, and the opportunity to approach each client engagement with a new perspective, Laura brings expertise in relationship building, communication, fundraising, and program management. Known for her collaborative approach to increasing engagement and giving among all constituencies, Laura is passionate about harnessing philanthropy to increase access and opportunity.

A strategist and closer, Cassie has raised millions of dollars of new gifts and commitments by virtue of her work in major gift solicitations, prospect management, volunteer capacity building, and comprehensive campaign management for both higher education and social change organizations.

A UK-based expert in education and community fundraising, Patrick leads capital campaigns, bursary funding, major gift solicitation and stewardship, corporate fundraising and sponsorship, trust and grant applications, events management, and international funding in China, Hong Kong, Russia, and North America.

A nonprofit veteran of three decades, Bridget brings extensive experience in strategic planning, fundraising management, and staff development to her role at Graham-Pelton. She has led fundraising operations and campaigns at multiple healthcare organizations and has consulted for nonprofits across sectors, including education, social impact, and the cultural arts.

Katie Nehila brings to Graham-Pelton robust experience in administrative logistics and the education sector, having held roles that utilized her skills in marketing, database management, customer service, event planning, and statistical analysis.

An analytical problem solver, Chelsey uses a data-driven approach fostered by her engineering background to conduct multipronged annual giving campaigns, manage leadership-level prospects and volunteers, and enhance cross-departmental relationships.

An architect of mega-giving strategy and a reviver of stagnant annual giving programs, Brian is a leader in development and messaging within higher education and social impact sectors. Brian leads highly effective fundraising strategy and campaign communications teams while managing limited budgets and tight deadlines.

A numbers aficionado with a lifelong commitment to accuracy and precision, Mukesh is enlivened through his role ensuring behind-the-scenes financial excellence.

Noted for her authentic and comprehensive partnership with independent schools, Erica strategizes board and donor relationship management and all aspects of the solicitation cycle. A leader in campaign planning and management, Erica has coached clients to ask for and receive the largest gifts in their histories.

With an exceptional ability to build relationships, exceed goals, and manage campaign-related projects for 9- and 10-figure efforts, Jamie Pugh is noted for expertly designing and implementing major gift strategies, shepherding priority projects and initiatives, collaborating with organizational partners, and developing clear and compelling fundraising communications.

With a passion for civic engagement and a solutions-oriented mindset, Eloise supports Graham-Pelton’s strategic operations, including program design and implementation. She enhances organizational processes and supports cross-functional teams, drawing upon her background in community empowerment and nonprofit strategy.

An editorial expert and quality assurance leader, Pamela assists with document development for the entire spectrum of Graham-Pelton’s marketing, business development, sales, and operational needs.

A keeper of the Graham-Pelton brand, Katie’s commitment to industry and association partnerships, publications, and events articulates the firm’s values and places its thought leadership on a global stage. She works with firm leaders to hone presentations, webinars, and written pieces to develop the most meaningful and relevant content for our audiences.

With pragmatic and measured logic, coupled with emotional intelligence, Jim brings a rare and sophisticated approach to data analytics and prospect management as complex organizations plan for record-breaking campaigns. The leader of Graham-Pelton’s Data Analytics Practice, Jim is a pioneer of our unique approach to vetting and tiering prospects to generate the greatest value for clients.

An expert in data management and analytics, Sean Ryefield serves as a member of Graham-Pelton’s data analytics team, focused on making data actionable for the full range of Graham-Pelton’s clientele.

Prior to joining Graham-Pelton, Sean served as Assistant Director of Development at The University of Texas at Austin where he built a database and complex automations from the ground up to manage and deliver workforce data to several critical business units.

A capital campaign leader noted for her donor relationship management and persuasive communications, Meredith Schneider is devoted to helping organizations find creative solutions to address their unique challenges and ultimately advance their missions. Noted for her ability to engage a variety of both internal and external stakeholders, Meredith is also a program-builder, having launched an entrepreneurship philanthropy program while at The George Washington University.

With an aptitude for analyzing return on investment and productivity, Alex has helped organizations of all sizes plan for the future and launch campaigns while maximizing resources. Working within the arts, academia, and human services, Alex leads major gift fundraising plans and campaigns, early-stage development plan creation, and board and executive engagement and training.

The builder of strong and lasting relationships, Alice’s influence moves people to action. Working with a broad range of clients, she delivers assessments, campaign planning studies, and strategic counsel to leading independent schools, NHS trusts, universities, and museums. Based in the UK, Alice is passionate about professionalizing legacy fundraising and is a frequent speaker on the topic.

Providing counsel to nonprofits across the entire philanthropic spectrum, Katy is an expert in donor cultivation, major and principal gift pipeline creation, corporate and foundation relations, special events, board giving and giving societies, planned giving, and more. In addition to advising nonprofits,, Katy has served the White House Historical Association, Gettysburg Foundation, the Madeira School, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Aspen Institute.

A sincere relationship manager and consummate bridge builder, Jackie serves a variety of independent school, higher education, and social change clients. She also leads Graham-Pelton’s talent recruitment initiatives, strategically identifying and assessing those candidates most aligned with the firm’s mission and goals. An external relations expert, Jackie counsels development teams in optimizing their roles and departments, as well as provides counsel on campaign planning, campaign management, and board and leadership engagement.

Having successfully developed and implemented programs that diversify philanthropic support throughout his nearly two decades working in and with nonprofits, Todd is a passionate fundraiser, manager, and communicator adept at building relationships and gaining buy-in from diverse stakeholders. Prior to joining Graham-Pelton, he demonstrated this expertise while working closely with senior physicians, medical staff, and fundraising teams as Director, Principal and Major Gifts at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.