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Kathleen A. Kavanagh, Senior Executive Vice President and Managing Director, joined Grenzebach Glier and Associates in 1995 and brings to clients more than 34 years as a fundraiser and consultant at a broad range of colleges, universities, independent schools, and cultural organizations.
Kathleen assists clients in preparing for major campaigns that will lead to long-term, sustainable growth in giving programs, with a special emphasis on managing major and annual giving programs and implementing best practices in comprehensive development programs.
Prior to joining GG+A, Kathleen was Vice President for Development at Vassar College, where she led the campaign that set a new record for liberal arts college campaigns in the United States. Kathleen has also led development programs at The Madeira School, The Walters Art Museum, and Dana Hall School.
Kathleen is nationally and internationally recognized for her work with volunteers and staff 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. She is the recipient of the CASE Crystal Apple Award for Exceptional Teaching.
As an active member of the development profession, Kathleen has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and recently served on the CASE Campaign Standards Working Group that revised campaign counting standards for educational institutions.
Kathleen is a graduate of Sweet Briar College, where she began her career in fundraising, communications, and alumnae relations.
Selected GG+A client work includes:
– The Bryn Mawr School, counsel since 2002, including guidance in the planning and successful completion of the school’s first major comprehensive campaign, which also doubled annual fund results
– The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, counsel since 2004 to the Carnegie Institute and the four Carnegie museums, including a program review and external planning study for Building The Future, a campaign that concluded in 2008 with more than $161 million against a $150 million goal
– Earlham College, counsel since 2004 for the college’s largest comprehensive campaign, including planning study, donor base analysis, guidance in developing a national major gifts committee, and initiatives in major gift strategies
– The University of Vermont, management of a campaign impact study to assist the University in post-campaign strategy and to analyze donor base and gift officer portfolios as UVM works to build on the successes of its $278 million campaign
– Vanderbilt University, ongoing counsel, direction of a comprehensive study of the University’s fundraising programs, including a national benchmarking study, and counsel on major and principal gifts programs as the University seeks to complete its $1.75 billion Shape The Future campaign and double its annual private support