Photo of Kathleen A. Kavanagh

Kathleen A. Kavanagh

Senior Executive Vice President and Managing Director

Core Expertise

Kathleen joined GG+A in 1995 and brings to clients more than 37 years of experience as a fundraiser and consultant at a broad range of colleges, universities, independent schools, and cultural organizations. She serves as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.

Prior to joining GG+A, she was Vice President for Development at Vassar College. Kathleen has also led development programs at The Madeira School, The Walters Art Museum, and Dana Hall School.

Kathleen works with clients to improve development initiatives in and out of campaign cycles. She has extensive experience evaluating programs, conducting donor interviews, assessing and working with gift staff and leadership volunteers, designing innovative strategies, and guiding successful campaigns.

Recent Accomplishments

A published author and speaker, Kathleen's most recent work appears in the latest edition of Philanthropy at Independent Schools. Her chapter, "Soliciting the Major Gift," details preparing donors for major gifts, ingredients of a successful personal solicitation, and common barriers to personal solicitation.

Career Snapshot

Kathleen Kavanagh is nationally and internationally recognized for her work with development officers and volunteers on the topic “Talking About Giving," a workshop that guides participants through the process of asking for philanthropic support. She has presented this and other workshops throughout the United States and in Canada, England, and Australia, and is a recipient of the CASE Crystal Apple Award for Exceptional Teaching.

As an active member of the development profession and speaker at national conferences, Kathleen has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and on the CASE Campaign Standards Working Group that defined campaign counting standards for educational institutions.

She is a graduate of Sweet Briar College.

Clients

  • Beloit College
  • Blair Academy
  • Brewster Academy
  • Bridgewater College
  • The Bryn Mawr School
  • Bucknell University
  • The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
  • Charlotte Country Day School
  • Children's Memorial Foundation (Chicago)
  • Cincinnati Country Day School
  • Columbia University Graduate School of Business
  • Commonwealth School
  • Cornell University
  • Dominican University
  • Dwight-Englewood School
  • Earlham College
  • Far Brook School
  • The George Washington University
  • Grinnell College
  • Hampden-Sydney College
  • Harrow School
  • Havergal College
  • Indiana University Foundation
  • Indianapolis Museum of Art
  • Ithaca College
  • James Madison University
  • The Jewish Museum
  • The Johns Hopkins Institutions
  • London School of Economics and Political Science
  • Louisiana State University Foundation
  • Massachusetts Historical Society
  • Miss Porter’s School
  • The Montclair Kimberley Academy
  • New Hampton School
  • Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Opera Theatre of St. Louis
  • Oregon Episcopal School
  • Peabody Essex Museum
  • Peddie School
  • The Pingry School
  • Portsmouth Abbey School
  • Randolph-Macon College
  • Rhode Island School of Design
  • The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
  • Royal National Theatre
  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
  • Salem Academy and College
  • San Francisco Opera
  • Sewanee: The University of the South
  • Sidwell Friends School
  • St. George's School (RI)
  • St. John's School
  • St. Timothy’s School
  • The Summit Country Day School
  • Sweet Briar College
  • Temple University
  • Tower School
  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  • University Schools Nashville
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • University of Minnesota Foundation
  • University of Notre Dame
  • University of Southern California
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • University of Toronto
  • University of Vermont
  • Vanderbilt University
  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • The Virginia Center for Creative Arts
  • The Virginia Opera
  • Wellesley College Davis Museum of Art
  • Western Michigan University
  • The Winsor School

Contact

Phone: 312.372.4040
Cell Phone: 312.498.3561

Client Success Story

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