Jim McKey

Jim McKey, Senior Vice President, brings more than 30 years of experience in fundraising and administration for independent schools and higher education institutions. Jim has extensive experience planning and managing fundraising campaigns, evaluating current programs, defining successful donor strategies, working with governing boards, and identifying opportunities and solutions for growth.

Jim joined GG+A in 2015 and began serving a diverse set of clients, mostly in independent schools and higher education. His work is primarily focused on helping organizations at all stages of campaigns—from early planning through execution and on to celebration and stewardship. His clients benefit from his expertise and insights into strategies for top donors and key volunteers.

Before joining GG+A full time, Jim served for 12 years as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Earlham College, where he managed a staff of 25 people and oversaw development, alumni relations, foundation relations, and communications. Under his leadership, Earlham completed a comprehensive campaign that raised $68 million, surpassing its $60-million goal. Jim also served as Director of Advancement for George School, where he managed a staff of 13 people and a campaign that exceeded its $28-million goal.

Under Jim’s leadership, George School received the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Circle of Excellence Award for overall fundraising performance. His cultivation and stewardship of the school’s lead donor paved the way for a $128-million gift, the largest gift ever to an independent school, and a subsequent bequest of $30 million. Earlier, Jim was Director of Development at Friends’ Central School and served as President of the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools.

Jim began his career as an educator in independent schools, teaching history and counseling college-bound students. A career transition led him to the banking industry, where he served the credit and public finance needs of schools, colleges, museums, and hospitals at First National Bank of Chicago. Jim’s previous consulting engagements include providing campaign counsel to numerous Friends schools and Quaker organizations.

He has served on the boards of the Friends Council on Education and the Richmond Art Museum. Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Earlham College and a master’s degree in teaching from Brown University.

Clients:

• The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American College of Financial Services
• Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust
• Bakersfield Christian High School
• Collegiate School (VA)
• Dana Hall School
• Dartmouth College
• DePauw University
• Durham Academy
• Episcopal Academy
• Eton College
• Friends’ Central School
• Friends School of Baltimore
• Greenhill School
• International School of Indiana
• Kenyon College
• Latin School of Chicago
• London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
• Loomis Chaffee School
• Macalester College
• Miami University
• Middlebury College
• Montclair Kimberley Academy
• National Cathedral School
• North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
• Polytechnic School
• Prince’s Trust International
• San Francisco Friends School
• Sidwell Friends School
• Solar Impulse
• The St. Paul’s Schools
• Tower Hill School
• University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
• University of Dayton
• University of Minnesota
• The University of Toledo
• The University of Vermont
• Upper Canada College
• Vanderbilt University
• The Webb Schools
• Westtown School
• William Penn Charter School