When Dr. Alan Ray became president of Fisher College, a private institution in Boston, Massachusetts, he identified the need for a robust advancement program to help him achieve his ambitious goals. As a result, he approached Development Guild in 2017 with a unique request: to help build the advancement program from the “ground up” by simultaneously providing interim management and conducting an executive search for a Vice President of Advancement and Alumni Affairs.
By providing interim management, we prepared for a seamless transition for the College’s new leader. We spearheaded a number of critical initiatives: developing the scope for the College’s case for philanthropy; reviewing all staff’s development roles and expectations; reviewing all current fundraising policies and creating best practices for philanthropy; identifying the College’s prospect pool; and leaving a calendar of activities in place for the incoming VP. Our team worked closely with President Ray and Ellen Lyons, Director of Human Resources, to develop the VP opportunity and ideal candidate profile. This collaborative approach, along with our onsite experience at Fisher, provided our placement Brenda Sanchez with a deeply insightful on-boarding experience. She was prepared to make an impact from day one.
The Development Guild’s team were wonderful listeners and truly respected our school’s history, mission and culture. They kept the pace moving throughout the search process, but they never rushed a decision. Additionally, the candidate pool presented to us was impressive and diverse. We were able to hire someone who fit the exact profile for which we had been searching. Additionally, Development Guild provided invaluable on-site interim fundraising counsel throughout the search. In sum, they were excellent partners from beginning to end.
- Dr. Alan Ray, President
With over 2,500 executive search and fundraising client engagements, our experience spans the nonprofit spectrum.