Category: Our Associates

Gaurav Bhanot

Post author By mturner
Post date October 5, 2016

Junior Associate

Gaurav (Gary) is an experienced web developer specializing in custom web application development, digital marketing, and data analytics for nonprofits. His previous work has included roles as Senior Front End or Web Developer at the University of Toronto, CIBC, and hjc. His work with nonprofits has included web development and digital marketing for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation of Canada and CIBC’s Run for the Cure, Sunnybrook Foundation and RBC’s Race for the Kids, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s Big Bike, Ride for Heart, and Jump Rope for Heart, and the WWF’s CN Tower Climb, among others. Gary holds a Bachelor of Technology degree from Swami Vivekanand Institute of Engineering and Technology, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Web Development from Humber College, and he is currently completing a Data Science Certificate from the University of Toronto. Gaurav is an active volunteer in his local community as well as in India, and in 2018, was awarded the President’s Excellence Through Innovation Award from the University of Toronto.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning

Sector Experience: Education; Healthcare

Gaurav’s fundraising must have: A captivating, user-friendly website with coordinated digital marketing campaigns.

Contact Gaurav at: gbhanot@ssutton-and-associates.com

America Associates Our Associates

Lauren Bergquist

Post author By mturner
Post date October 5, 2016

Senior Associate

Lauren Bergquist has nearly 20 years of experience as a results-driven nonprofit professional specializing in comprehensive development and fundraising for healthcare and the arts sectors. She has worked for large and small organizations and is skilled at building teams of high performing frontline fundraisers, establishing processes, infrastructure and metrics to drive productivity and deliver results, and creating a collaborative and entrepreneurial culture committed to a common goal. Over the course of her career, Lauren has been responsible for meeting multi-million-dollar fundraising goals, providing strategic direction to nonprofit management teams, and partnering with diverse stakeholders to build proactive and structured programs to support organizations in hospital and university healthcare foundations, as well as theatre and creative arts groups. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University and a Master of Arts degree from the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Lauren’s core expertise is in Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning. She also has extensive experience in Annual Giving and Direct Marketing; Development Program Review and Expansion Strategies; Donor and Constituent Engagement; International Fundraising; Major and Principal Gifts; Planned and Legacy Gifts; and Project Management.

Sector Experience: Healthcare, Arts & Culture

Lauren’s fundraising must have: A compelling and worthy mission, visionary and engaged leadership, empowered staff, donor-centric communications, and a strategic plan with clear deliverables and milestones, that requires and inspires collaboration and accountability. This is more than one “must have” but no one part or function of an organization can be successful without the other. Fundraising is a team sport!

Canada Associates Our Associates

Tanya Astolfo

Post author By mturner
Post date October 5, 2016

Associate

Tanya Astolfo is a seasoned information professional with over 20 years of experience with hospital foundations and consulting firms. Tanya’s career began in academic libraries and evolved into prospect research and prospect management. She has built and managed a research office and collaborated in the development of a prospect management system at a healthcare foundation. Tanya is an APRA International and APRA Canada member and volunteer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in History and Anthropology from St. Thomas University in New Brunswick, Canada.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Tanya’s core expertise is in Advancement Services. She also has extensive experience in prospect research and prospect management.

Sector Experience: Consulting, Hospital Foundations, Healthcare

Tanya’s fundraising must have: Strong prospect pipeline and informed fundraisers

Contact Tanya at: tastolfo@ssutton-and-associates.com

Canada Associates Our Associates

Kristina Anastasopoulos

Post author By mturner
Post date October 5, 2016

Junior Associate

Kristina has close to 10 years of experience in marketing and communications, with a focus on creating inspiring content and collateral for print and digital platforms. She began her career working in professional sports and currently works for the fundraising arm of a university healthcare facility. Kristina earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Concordia University in Canada.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Kristina’s core expertise is in Donor and Constituent Engagement. She likewise has a wide experience leading marketing and communication projects, developing and aligning strategic messaging to specific audiences, and sharing engaging stories with the community at large.

Sector Experience: Hospital Foundations; Healthcare

Kristina ‘s fundraising must have: Compelling stories – they are how we connect with our families, friends, and community. Ask us how we can help with that.

Contact Kristina at: kanastasopoulos@ssutton-and-associates.com

Canada Associates Our Associates

Gillian Aitken

Post author By mturner
Post date September 21, 2016

Junior Associate

Gillian Aitken has over 5 years of experience in fundraising and strategic development. In this time, she has executed a wide range of fundraising initiatives from writing grant proposals and cultivating funding relationships with corporations and foundations, to managing major gift programs and direct mail campaigns. While most of her career has been spent fundraising for charities in Canada, she spent four months in Varanasi, India, preparing successful grant proposals for a local literacy charity. Gillian earned her bachelor’s degree in Global Politics from Carleton University.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Gillian’s core expertise is in Major and Principal Gifts. She also has extensive experience in Donor Engagement and Donor Journey; Direct Mail; Board Relations; Fundraising Events.

Sector Experience: Education; Youth Empowerment; International Development

Gillian’s fundraising must have: Internal donor strategy meetings.

Contact Gillian at: gaitken@ssutton-and-associates.com

America Associates Our Associates

Jason Bateman

Post author By mturner
Post date September 21, 2016

Associate

Jason Bateman brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience in nonprofit development and revenue growth. He has led high performing teams that generate referrals and close six- and seven-figure gifts across mission driven organizations. Jason is known for rebuilding advancement infrastructure, aligning fundraising strategy with mission and values, and executing revenue plans that deliver sustained, outsized growth.

A defining strength of Jason’s career is his ability to fundraise for institutions rooted in intellectual leadership, public recognition, and cultural influence. At the Ayn Rand Institute, Jason led development efforts for an organization centered on literature, ideas, and intellectual legacy, including essay prizes and programs designed to activate young people through reading and public discourse. He stewarded donors motivated by long-term cultural impact, prestige, and legacy.

This work was complemented by Jason’s leadership at XPRIZE, a recognized prize-based institution, where he directed major gifts and stewardship strategies tied to high-profile competitions. Jason demonstrated the ability to tailor donor strategies while positioning institutions as idea-shaping platforms with lasting influence.

Earlier in his career, Jason held senior leadership roles at PragerU, as well as national and regional leadership roles at Vistage and Gen Next. He rebuilt advancement infrastructure during periods of organizational transition, strengthened stewardship practices, and managed complex revenue portfolios. These experiences sharpened his ability to align stakeholders while reinforcing donor confidence in leadership, governance, and impact.

Through his work with S. Sutton & Associates Inc., Jason advises nonprofit, philanthropic, and cultural organizations on fundraising strategy, major gift execution, and Board-aligned revenue growth.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Jason’s core expertise is in Donor and Constituent Engagement. He also has wide experience in Advancement Services, Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning, Corporate Sponsorships and Alliances, and New Donor Acquisition.

Sector Experience: Education, Arts & Culture, International Development, Community Based Membership & Advocacy

Fundraising Must Have: A noble mission and a desire to be innovative. If you have a world-changing or life-changing impact and are willing to try new and innovative strategies, then let’s collaborate to make some game-changing moves to yield explosive growth and inspirational stewardship.