Category: America Associates

Senior Associate

Peter Jones is a mission-committed life-long fundraising professional with a 30 plus year track record working with local, regional, national, and international organizations in the pursuit of best practices. Familiar with all aspects of the fundraising cycle and corresponding implementation, including annual, planned, and institutional fundraising, major and principal gifts are among his greatest strengths. Peter has extensive experience in the conservation community, having worked for national conservation organizations such as the National Audubon Society, The Trust for Public Land, The Wilderness Society, the Green Party of Canada, and the Alliance for Tompotika Conservation in Sulawesi Indonesia.  

Peter earned a degree in Economic and Political Science from the University of New Hampshire. 

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Major and Principal gifts. Peter also has extensive experience with Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning, Direct Marketing and Annual Giving, Donor and Constituent Engagement and Development Program Review and Expansion Strategies 

Sector Experience: Community Based Membership and Advocacy. 

Peter’s fundraising must have: Every organization should have a strategic plan and an engaged and committed board.

Contact Peter at: [email protected]

Senior Associate

Karen Jenkins has served in executive positions with NGO/nonprofit and higher education organizations in over 30 countries. Previous consulting assignments have included the US State Department, Roots of Development, Ford Foundation, SwissContact, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and Oxford Study Abroad Programme (OSAP) at Oxford University.

Her previous leadership positions include:

• Executive Director, African Studies Association, the premier organization in higher education in the US and abroad focused on the study and dissemination of research and information about the continent of Africa.

• President, BCA Study Abroad, a non-profit consortium of higher education institutions that operates international education programs with a peace and justice focus. During her tenure as president, new programs were opened in Cuba, Ireland, New Zealand and India.

• Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) where, as the first person to hold the new position, she oversaw the launch of successful fundraising strategies to foundations, corporations, and governments.

She has had extensive experience in international education (St. Olaf College, Dickinson College and The College of New Jersey) where she was recognized nationally for her leadership.

For nearly a decade, Karen worked in Zambia on programs and projects intended to build local institutional capacity and improve the quality of life for those who are poor, marginalized, persecuted, or force to flee as refugees. In Zambia, she served as the Resident Representative for Africare, a US NGO and then as Executive Director of New Development Applications (NDA), a consulting firm that served public and private clients throughout southern Africa. With NDA, she administered community development funds for Barclays Bank in Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

For the Government of Canada, she managed the High Commissioner’s Fund in Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, and South Africa. Other clients of NDA with projects on the continent of Africa included the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and Salesians Missions.

Before moving to Zambia, Karen was a program officer for Africa with Technoserve and traveled and worked in Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She taught at the University of Zambia and then at the School for International Training in Vermont.

Karen served as the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Studies in International Education and wrote regular columns on International Education for Diverse Issues in Higher Education. She has published on International Education, International Development and recently on issues related to biking and walking. Additionally, she has made numerous presentations before large and small audiences and has extensive experience in public relations and managing large complex events in the U.S. and abroad.

Ms. Jenkins is a partner with Social Venture Partners-CT (SVP). She is a founding board member of the New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation (NHCAT) and previously served as chair of the Mayor’s Taskforce on Bike Education in New Haven. She is an appointed member of the New Haven Historic District Commission. Board service includes chair of the Board of Directors of the League of American Bicyclists. On completion of her extended term, she was voted “Director Emerita” in recognition of her service. She is certified as a League Cycling Instructor. She served as chair of the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition (NJBWC). Board membership includes the New Brunswick (NJ) Ciclovia, International Education Research Foundation (IERF), Model UN/HBCU of the United Nations Association, and Minnesota International Health Volunteers.

Ms. Jenkins now serves as a Senior Consultant for S. Sutton & Associates Inc. and as an independent consultant specializing in fundraising and board development for non-profit organizations, usually with international missions. She currently receives clients assigned by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

Karen received her M.A. in International Relations from Yale University, a J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law and conducted her undergraduate work was at Fisk University.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Karen’s predominant expertise is in Board Training, Management and Governance. She also has a wealth of experience in Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning, Major and Principal Gifts, Planned and Legacy Gifts, Donor and Constituent Engagement, Project Management, and Data Analytics.

Sector Experience: Higher Education, Community Based Membership and Advocacy and International Development.

Karen’s fundraising must have: A commitment to our shared humanity and teamwork that effectively crosses domestic and international boundaries for solutions to our increasingly common problems.

Executive Associate

Johnathan Jacoby is an experienced and proven fundraiser, planner, and organization builder who has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 35 years. Over the course of his notable career, Jonathan has focused on innovation and change in American foreign policy, civil society, biomedical research, healthcare, and education, serving as co-founder or in executive level roles with nonprofit organizations working to preserve democracy and peace abroad and help those with rare diseases, including New Israel Fund, Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, Israel Policy Forum, and Americans for Peace.  

He has conducted fundraising campaigns, facilitated high-level relationship building, and implemented strategic plans for nonprofits with small budgets and operational capabilities as well as large organizations with close ties to leading political figures.   

Jonathan holds a Master of Education from Harvard University, a Bachelor of Arts, History of Religion from the University of California Los Angeles, a Bachelor of Literature, Judaic Studies form the University of Judaism and is a Genetic Alliance and Kaufman Foundation Fellow.  

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Jonathan’s predominant expertise is Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning. He also has experience and skill in Advancement Services; Board Training, Management and Governance; Development Program Review and Expansion Strategies; and Donor and Constituent Engagement.

Sector Experience: Healthcare, International Development, Community Based Membership and Advocacy

Jonathan’s fundraising must have: A solid in-house professional staff and a dedicated board

Contact Jonathan at: [email protected]

Senior Associate

Preston Hicks has over 25 years of leadership and management experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. His fundraising areas of expertise are Team Capacity Building, Management and Governance, Donor Advised Impact Investing, Corporate Social Responsibility, Diversity and Inclusion in Philanthropy and Fundraising, and Research Methods. His recent professional experiences include Research Consultant at the Department of Education for the State of Michigan, Director of Development and Professional Instructor at Western Michigan University, and Owner and Principal at PH&A Management Consultants. Preston has a PhD in Higher Education from the University of Michigan and a Master of Education and Bachelor of Psychology from the University of Virginia. He is a trained mediator and Licensed Professional Counselor.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Preston’s core expertise is in Board Training, Management and Governance. He helps clients achieve excellence through strategic planning, corporate social responsibility, diversity and inclusion in philanthropy and fundraising, constituent and community engagement, advocacy, resources development leader training/motivation, program management and conflict management.

Sector Experience: Preston’s expertise spans public, private and nonprofit sectors in the United States and abroad in human services, higher education, governments and philanthropy, corporate and community foundations.

Preston’s fundraising must have: An inspired and compelling cause, planning, determination and courage.

Contact Preston at: [email protected]

Associate

Beth is a seasoned development professional with over 12 years of experience in K-12, Higher Education, and Academic Medical and Hospital Foundations. Currently serving as Director of Development, Office of Medical Annual Giving at Johns Hopkins Medicine, Beth is responsible for building, managing, and growing annual giving programs for Johns Hopkins Medicine and seven Hopkins – affiliated hospitals.

Beth has held positions at Drake University, Augustana College, and the University of Northern Iowa. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Wartburg College, an Executive Management Certificate from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and is earning a Master of Liberal Arts and Science from Johns Hopkins University (December 2022). Beth is also a recipient of the Iowa Leadership Institute award.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Direct marketing and Annual Giving, including pipeline development, strategic segmentation, and strategic program development.

Sector Experience: Healthcare and Education

Beth’s fundraising must have: Quality data analytics to guide in data- based decision making.

Contact Beth at: [email protected]

Executive Associate

With over 30 years of experience in philanthropy, Martina has earned a reputation as a turn-around specialist. Her approach has achieved comprehensive and transformative change for a wide range of leading organizations in the U.S. including during her 14 years with Johns Hopkins Medicine and seven years with the University of Maryland. Utilizing a strategic approach to program assessment and development, she has realigned, retrained, and coached teams, as well as internal and external stakeholders, to perform effectively and collaboratively, resulting in consistently higher results year over year.

Martina has 20+ years of direct experience in grateful patient philanthropy, securing transformational 7- and 8 – figure commitments primarily from individual donors. As a philanthropy leader, she is able to effectively fulfill organizational vision grounded in applying best-case practice and data analysis through clear communication, strong organizational execution and team building across stakeholders.

Areas of expertise: Martina’s predominant area of expertise is in Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning. She also has extensive experience in Development Program Review and Expansion Strategies, and Major and Principal Gifts.

Sector Experience: Arts and Culture, Education, Healthcare.

Fundraising Must Have: Every organization should align its vision and mission with its goals, strategies, and culture.