Category: America 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/

Associate

With over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, Jennifer Lynch-McKinney, MNA has served the Arts & Culture, Animal Welfare, Education, Housing and Community Based Membership and Advocacy nonprofit sectors, serving as Manager of Annual Fund and Advancement for the Cleveland Zoological Society, Annual Fund Manager for ASM Materials Education Foundation and Institutional Advancement Manager for University Circle, Inc.  

Today, Jennifer applies her skill and talent as Manager of Fundraising at CHN Housing Partners, a highly seasoned, nonprofit affordable housing developer and housing service provider that works with its partners to solve major housing challenges for low-income people and underserved communities. CHN partners with cities and organizations to deliver housing solutions for their constituents, with utility companies, financial institutions, and public agencies to manage and deliver large-scale housing resources to the community, and with people—low-income individuals, families, seniors, the disabled and the homeless—to improve their housing stability. 

Through partnerships CHN has developed over 7,000 affordable homes, and each year serves over 60,000 families through a wide array of housing services. 

Working in Ohio and neighboring states, CHN preserves and expands affordable housing, building equitable communities. By investing in affordable housing, CHN invests in families, communities, and the economy – CHN invests in the power of a permanent address. 

Jennifer is passionate about the work she does with various organizational partners and works hard as an advocate for the voices that need to be heard and the work that needs to be done to improve individuals and our communities. 

A graduate from Otterbein University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Equine Administration, Jennifer is also a graduate from John Carroll University with a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration.  

Jennifer completed the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Civic Leadership Institute, is a board member of One Health Organization, past chair of The Gathering Place’s Race for the Place fundraiser, a member of the Advisory Board for Ashland University Women in Leadership Certificate Program and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Cleveland chapter. 

  
Area of Expertise: 
Jennifer’s core expertise is in Donor and Constituent Engagement. She has excelled in Annual Giving and Direct Marketing; Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning; and Major and Principal Gifts 
 
Experience: 
Education, Arts & Culture, Community Based Membership and Advocacy 
 
Fundraising Must Have: 
Passion and strong advocacy to improve individual lives and the communities we serve. 

Associate

Marcha Isabelle Chaudry, Esq., is the founder of the Equity Wellness Collaborative a public policy consultancy providing strategic solutions to health and consumer policy issues at the intersection of beauty justice, women’s health/wellness, and consumer policy. Marcha complements this work with the Center for Progressive Reform where she serves as a Senior Policy Analyst.

With over a decade in the nonprofit advocacy sector Marcha has served as Senior Policy Manager at the National Women’s Health Network, Counsel, Law Clerk, General Counsel, and Law Fellow for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, U.S, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the AFL-CIO, and National Employment Lawyers Association, respectively.

Marcha interned for National Education Association Center for Social Justice-Human and Civil Rights Division, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, the office of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, and the Embassy of Haiti.

As a nonprofit leader and board member, Marcha has testified before Congress and the Food and Drug Administration on women’s health and consumer advocacy issues, and her efforts have been recognized by numerous media outlets and publications.

These endeavors result in a broad range of expertise, including Board Training, Management and Governance; Corporate Social Responsibility; Development Program Review and Expansion Strategies; Donor and Constituent Engagement; and Project Management.

Marcha graduated with honors from Howard University with a Bachelor of Science, and Howard University School of Law, with a distinction in alternative dispute resolution. She is fluent in French and Haitian-Creole in addition to English, and resides in Miami Florida.

Area of Expertise: Marcha’s predominant area of expertise is in Corporate Social Responsibility. She also has experience in Board Training, Management and Governance; Development Program Review and Expansion Strategies; Donor and Constituent Engagement; and Project Management.

Experience: Education, Healthcare, Community Based Membership and Advocacy

Fundraising Must Have: A story and reason that truly connects with the core values and mission of the work.

Executive Associate

Jeff Comfort is a seasoned professional with 38 years of gift planning experience. Currently serving as vice president of principal gifts and gift planning at the Oregon State University Foundation (OSUF), Jeff 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.

 Jeff 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 Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medical (now National Jewish Health).

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:
Planned and Legacy Gifts.

Experience:
Education, Healthcare

Fundraising Must Have:
Prospects

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

Associate

With more than 18 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Bill Melamed has a varied background in fundraising, marketing, and executive leadership. Mr. Melamed specializes in: Interim Program Management, Donor and Constituent Engagement, Major and Principal Gifts.

Some of his previous experience has included positions at: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Chicago Humanities Festival, Feeding America, Northwestern University/Kellogg School of Management, and amfAR, The Foundation for Aids Research. Bill has also provided interim leadership at Auditorium Theatre Chicago and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.

His ability to lead teams and organizations has broadly contributed to earned revenue growth, engaging patrons, and strengthening operations.

Bill is a graduate of Northwestern University with a Bachelors Degree in Communication.

Area of Expertise: Bill’s predominant expertise is in Interim Program Management. He also has significant experience with Principal and Major Gifts and Donor and Constituent Engagement.

Sector Experience: Arts & Culture, Community Based Membership and Advocacy

Fundraising Must Have: A spirit of collaboration with a relentless focus on outcomes and success.