Sharon Marine

Sharon Marine is a Senior Vice President in the Executive Practice area at GG+A, where she partners with client institutions to assess fundraising performance and develop detailed program studies, assessments, and reports to advance philanthropic priorities. She brings more than 25 years of experience to the firm, having served in development leadership roles at the University of Chicago, the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Cornell University. Sharon’s expertise includes advancement program leadership; principal gifts strategy; campaign design, planning, and management; board and volunteer development and management; strategic priority setting; fundraising training; and staff development.

Prior to joining GG+A, Sharon was the Vice President for Alumni Relations and Development at the University of Chicago, where she provided strategic leadership for all alumni relations and development programs across academic divisions, schools, and units. She successfully raised more than $2.7 billion during her tenure in collaboration with senior leadership, delivering sustainable annual fundraising results of more than $500 million, and supporting the University’s historic $5-billion campaign. Sharon also led the post-campaign strategic planning process for alumni relations and development.

Previously, Sharon served as Vice President for Development for Cornell Tech and Associate Vice President for the Northeast Corridor at Cornell University, developing and executing fundraising strategies to strengthen corporate partnerships and engage targeted principal gift prospects in key fundraising initiatives. At the Stanford Graduate School of Business, she served as the Director of Campaign Giving and Major Gifts, the Director of Development, and the Associate Dean for Development and External Relations, supporting multimillion-dollar campaign initiatives and managing her own portfolio of major and principal gift prospects. Earlier in her career, at the Wharton School, Sharon was the Director of Development for the Western Region, creating a comprehensive development plan and establishing greater regional visibility for Wharton. She also held director and associate director positions in annual and major giving at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, as well as an assistant director position in annual giving at the Newberry Library.

Sharon completed her B.A. in history at Brown University. She has served as a volunteer for the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), co-chaired and served as a member of the AMAtlas Advisory Committee, and served as a faculty member for the Institute for Chief Development Officers. She also volunteers on behalf of PAWS Chicago and Breakthrough Urban Ministries. She is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Cornell Club of New York.