Category: Our Associates

Junior Associate

With more than 5 years of experience in marketing and communications within the nonprofit sector, Helen Grafton specializes in social media management, project/event management and content creation.

Helen’s expertise includes marketing and development of healthcare and higher education institutions. Some of her previous experience includes multiple roles at Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, Maryland. She began her nonprofit fundraising career in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

Helen graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication.

Area of Expertise: Helen’s predominant expertise is in Donor and Constituent Engagement. She also excels in Project Management. Direct Marketing, and Alumni Relations and Giving.

Experience: Education, Healthcare

Fundraising Must Have: A compelling and clear mission and story to share

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helengrafton/

Associate

With more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Sterling Garcia has served as Director of Development for Florida State University and the University of Florida, and as Major Gifts Officer for UnidosUS, the largest nonprofit Hispanic/Latino civil rights organization in the United States.  Sterling graduated from the University of Hartford with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and from Florida State University with a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration with a minor in Institutional Advancement.  Sterling also holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management, Board Governance & Community Leadership from Alvernia University.  Sterling is also a decorated veteran, having served as a United Stated Marine, receiving several awards including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal and two Humanitarian Service medals.

Area of Expertise: Sterling’s core expertise is in Major and Principal Gifts, supported by experience in Donor and Constituent Engagement, Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning, Board Training, Management and Governance, Alumni Relations and Giving, Direct Marketing and Annual Giving. 

Experience: Education, Community Based Membership and Advocacy

Fundraising Must Have: A community with a strong culture of philanthropy both inside and outside the organization.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterlinggarcia/

Executive Associate

Jeff has 38 years of gift planning experience. He currently is vice president of principal gifts and gift planning at the Oregon State University Foundation (OSUF), where he provides strategic leadership to the gift planning program that assists donors in making deferred, assets-based or complex gifts to the university. Year in and year out, gift planning provides over 25% of total fundraising at OSUF.  

He spent 18 years at Georgetown University, where he oversaw university-wide gift planning efforts resulting in approximately $500 million of gift commitments and receipts in his tenure. Before arriving at Georgetown in 1995, he spent 11 years in Denver directing the gift planning program for the National Jewish Medical and Research Center. 

As a volunteer leader of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (formerly the National Committee on Planned Giving), Jeff served as president, chaired the 10th National Conference on Planned Giving and was a member of the NCPG board of directors for five years. Additionally, he was a member of the ethics committee and chaired the task force on gift valuation. Jeff chaired the CASE National Conference on Planned Giving for 10 years from 2008 to 2018.

Area of Expertise:
Jeffrey’s core expertise is in Planned and Legacy Gifts. Principal and Major Gifts

Experience:
Education, Healthcare

Fundraising Must Have:
Prospects

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffcomfort/

Executive Associate

With more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Julia Beatrice “JB” Reed, Esq., MBA specializes in Interim Program Management. Throughout a career characterized by executive management and entrepreneurial experience she has translated the visions of community, business, faith-based, and government leaders into fully functioning non-profit agencies designed to meet the needs of underserved populations. Central to her success is a highly effective combination of skills, abilities, and knowledge in the areas of strategic planning, business development, partnership development, revenue generation/management, financial management, legal and contract compliance/interpretation, and written and oral presentations.

Special strengths include mentorship that empowers leaders of start-up organizations in such diverse arenas as social services, health profession education, community development, and religious organizations. In addition to her work with start-ups, she has extensive experience transforming programs and services within firmly established non-profit and government agencies. JB most recently participated in the restructuring and implementation of the grant making process for the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. Additional experience includes Chief of National Programs and Chief Operating Officer, The Center for Leadership Innovation; Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director, the Greater Richmond Area Higher Education Consortium, Inc; and Staff Attorney with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.

JB Reed graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Government from Ohio Wesleyan University; a Jurist Doctorate from the George Washington University Law School; and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. She is a member of the Florida Bar Association.

Area of Expertise: JB’s core expertise is in Interim Program Management.

Sector Experience: Education, Healthcare, Community Based Membership and Advocacy. JB has considerable expertise in the areas of primary and secondary education, healthcare education, community-based advocacy, and faith-based organizations.

Fundraising Must Have: Collaboration, creativity, mission- focused, and sustainability.