Christine O'Neill Singer

Christine O’Neill Singer, Vice President, brings to the firm more than 40 years of experience in institutional advancement. She has held a wide array of leadership roles in the nonprofit sector, serving cultural organizations, higher education and global conservation. Her expertise in integrated resource development strategy and management includes all areas of fundraising with an emphasis on individual philanthropy, volunteer leadership development, campaign planning and execution, team capacity building, and advancement support services.

Prior to joining GG+A, Chris served as Vice President for Individual Giving at World Wildlife Fund, the world’s largest conservation and environmental organization. Chris envisioned, built and provided strategic and operational leadership for a comprehensive program to develop relationships leading to significant philanthropic support for the six pillars of WWF: climate, food, fresh water, wildlife, forests and oceans. Working with senior Board leadership and all staff across the U.S. organization, Chris built a culture of philanthropy to re-imagine and develop a ten-year strategy toward the framework for a multi-billion dollar campaign.

Over the years, Chris served in several roles at the University of Chicago. As Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations and Development, Chris led the 160,000 member Alumni Association of the University where she rebuilt senior volunteer leadership structures, expanded and reinvigorated a global volunteer network, strengthened internship and alumni mentoring programs and raised the effective profile of University alumni within the highest levels of University leadership. Chris then continued as Senior Advisor and Executive Director, Harper Society, where she worked to ensure the meaningful involvement of donors of extraordinary gifts multi-million dollar gifts and of emeriti trustees. Earlier in her career at Chicago, Chris headed the Alumni Fund of the University.

Additionally, Chris has served as the Vice President for Development and Marketing at the Lincoln Park Zoological Society, and Vice President for Development at the Art Institute of Chicago, providing strategic direction for advancement, staff development and mentoring, and budget planning, and responsibility for fundraising, gift planning, and advancement services for each institution.

Chris has worked with the University of Toronto major gifts staff, teaching and coaching both in a seminar setting and individually in person and virtually. Chris also specializes in Strategic Planning Study interviews, most recently at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Temple University. Chris offers the full range of her long and successful experience meeting challenges of all kinds, at all levels, in all areas of Advancement in partnership with top institutional officers and Board members as well as key staff and volunteer leaders, particularly in the cultural, conservation and higher education sectors.

Chris holds a B.A. from Michigan State University and did graduate work at the University of Chicago.

Clients:

• Lyric Opera of Chicago
• Mount Allison University
• Smithsonian Institution
• Temple University
• University of Toronto