Category: America Associates

Senior Associate

With over 25 years of experience as a senior private sector executive, Phil Owen transitioned into the nonprofit sector and has excelled at working with social entrepreneurs and enterprises on strategy creation and execution, business plan development, and securing major donor and corporate partnerships.
Throughout his career, Phil has been a strong advocate of diversity and equality in the workplace, advising Fortune 2000 companies and their foundations on corporate social responsibility awareness and solutions. More recently he has been advising start-up social enterprises on program management, governance structuring, expansion opportunities with private sector companies, and creating earned revenue strategies. Phil earned a master’s degree in Finance and Marketing from Adelphi University.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Phil’s core expertise is in Board Training and Governance. His multi-faceted career and senior level leadership experience includes: Venture Philanthropy Advisory, Earned Revenue Expansion Strategy, Constituent and Corporate Relations, Fundraising and Strategic Planning and Program Management.

Sector Experience: While Phil has advised multiple sectors, he continues to share his knowledge and experiences in the areas of Education and Community Based Membership and Advocacy

Philip’s fundraising must have: Passion for the mission and clear strategy with short and long term measurable goals.

Contact Philip at: powen@ssutton-and-associates.com

Senior Associate

Amanda Nicol has more than 20 years of experience as a result-driven professional specializing in Business Development, Partnership Management, and Digital Marketing. Amanda’s nonprofit experience has included work in the visual arts, sports, and education sectors. Over the course of her career, she has worked with leading organizations including The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Independent Curators International (ICI), The Peddie School, Princeton Arts Council, the eLab at Princeton University’s Keller Center, USRowing, and Girls on the Run-NJ-East.  

Amanda earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tufts University, a Business Retail Management Certificate from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and a Mini MBA certificate from Rutgers University Business School. 

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Direct Marketing, Donor and Constituent Engagement  

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

Amanda’s fundraising must have: Long-term goals aligned with daily strategy implementation. Transparency, communication, a team, and executive board willing to take suggestions. 

Contact Amanda at: anicol@ssutton-and-associates.com

Junior Associate

Genna Mvalo is an accomplished development leader who has managed complex projects and worked with diverse local, national, and international organizations. Genna’s professional qualifications include multiple roles with the National Brain Tumor Society including Associate Director of Development, Foundation Partnerships, and Advancement Project Management and Board Liaison. She likewise served as Community Health Advisor with the United States Peace Corps in Malawi where she was deeply involved in health, well-being, and anti-discrimination services for marginalized community members, particularly women and persons afflicted with HIV. She graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health and Biology and has previously volunteered with Partners in Health and VNA Hospice & Boston Children’s Hospital. Genna is an enthusiastic leader who has experience advocating for social justice causes and facilitating strategic development projects that focus on empowering individuals, groups, and communities.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Genna’s core expertise is in Project Management. She also has extensive experience in Donor and Constituent Engagement.

Sector Experience: Healthcare, International Development, Community Based Membership & Advocacy.

Genna’s fundraising must have: Passion for the mission and a true desire to make a positive, lasting impact.

Contact Genna at: gmvalo@ssutton-and-associates.com

Senior Associate

John Mullaney is a nonprofit executive with over 20 years of experience helping diverse organizations craft, articulate, and implement their missions. John has guided a variety of foundations, nonprofits, and government agencies to address larger and often more complex policy issues, as well as their sustainable impact on communities. Over the course of his storied career, John has worked in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Africa where he held a variety of roles at the Institute for International Development and the Latin American Scholarship Program of American Universities at Harvard University, and the Forjar Foundation. He also led SatelLife and the Nord Family Foundation as the Executive Director, and has served on numerous boards working for local and state-wide constituents. John holds a Master of Arts degree from Georgetown University and completed his undergraduate education at Boston College. He is fluent in Spanish.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Counsel and Support for Philanthropists. He also possesses expertise in Board Training, Management and Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, Counsel and Support for Philanthropists, Donor and Constituent Engagement, Interim Program Management, International Fundraising, Project Management, Risk Management and Fundraising Governance.

Sector Experience: Education; Healthcare; Arts & Culture; International Development

John’s fundraising must have: Fundraising must have a genuinely developed mission that impassions people’s most basic instinct to give for the benefit of others.

Contact John at: jmullaney@ssutton-and-associates.com

Executive Associate

Tom McCarty brings over 35 years of experience in serving nonprofit organizations as a staff member, consultant, and independent contractor. His long and successful career encompasses 17 capital campaigns, solicitation of 6- and 7-figure major gifts (outright and deferred), grants ranging as high as $3.5 million, and a total of over $60 million raised personally.

Holding bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees from Oberlin College, Yale University, and The University of Michigan respectively, Tom began his career as a college professor of Classics for institutions of higher education in Vermont, Ohio, and North Carolina. He also holds the current credential of Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Tom’s core expertise is in Major and Principal Gifts. He likewise has extensive experience in Annual Giving and Direct Marketing; Board Training, Management and Governance; Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning; Planned and Legacy Gifts; and Grants Management

Sector Experience: Education, Healthcare, and Arts & Culture

Tom’s fundraising must have: Fundraising is a simple business. There are but two steps: raise awareness and raise support.

Contact Tom at: tmccarty@ssutton-and-associates.com

Senior Associate

Chris Locke has more than 20 years of experience as a creative leader with expertise in integrated marketing strategies, and leading education and membership teams. She consistently delivers positive outcomes with strong and sustainable gains by inspiring quality team performance and collaboration. She motivates teams and individuals to exceed organizational objectives, targets and goals. Her greatest pride is elevating group and personal performance levels through skillful leadership and fearless, yet graceful, decision-making outcomes. One of Chris’ biggest achievements was breaking down long-established siloes between departments to create a new level of cooperation between development and marketing teams. As a result, one organization was able to raise over $15MM in an 18-month period, a record for this particular non-profit.
Chris earned her degree in Communications and Public Relations at California State University.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Chris is a well-rounded fundraising generalist and brings expert-level experience in Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning. She also has extensive experience in annual giving campaigns and programs, direct marketing, and gift planning. She is particularly adept at developing unique marketing campaigns that breath fresh life into routine fundraising efforts.

Sector Experience: Membership-based educational institutes and think tanks, trade societies, animal protection non-profits, and community-based preparedness programs.

Chris’s fundraising must have: Goals. Both team and personal goals, with timeline breakdowns. Also, strong belief that change can be good, and without strategic change, stagnation is eminent.

Contact Chris at: clocke@ssutton-and-associates.com