Catherine M. Connolly

Catherine has been working in direct marketing fundraising for more than 35 years, assisting clients both nationally and locally who want to build and strengthen their direct response efforts.  Her consulting practice is based on developing marketing strategies to build support and maximize income from members and donors for nonprofit organizations — providing quality consulting to the organizations making a difference in the world … by designing fund raising systems that suit their needs and constituencies … with the highest level of service and collaboration possible.

In her professional experience, Catherine has been on both sides of the consulting relationship — as client and counsel.  After learning her craft at Craver, Mathews, Smith, & Company/West working with clients such as Greenpeace USA, Greenpeace Canada, African Wildlife Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club, and public television stations across the country, Catherine went on to Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund (now known at Earthjustice).  There, she strategically integrated direct marketing into the Development operation and built the institutional readiness needed for successful fundraising, including a midlevel giving program.

She has served on the Governing Board of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy since 2021 and on the Fundraising Board since 2019.  She was a member of the AFP Political Action Committee, serving from 2017 to 2022 and as Chair in 2019-2020.  For the AFP Association Governing Board, she served from 2012 to 2018, including as Treasurer in 2013-2014.  She has been active with the AFP California Capital Chapter since 2000, serving on their board from 2006 to 2014 and as President in 2009.  Over these years, she has been fortunate to serve on and chair various committees and task forces — from Marketing and Communications to Awards, Committee on Directorship, Investments, and two different groups focused on Governance.

Additionally, Catherine is a member of The Nonprofit Alliance, and she has been a member of the Association of Direct Response Fundraising Counsel since 2009.  

She holds an MBA from Saint Mary’s College of California, graduating cum laude, and she has held the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification since 2003.  She has participated in the AFP Faculty Training Academy, with a focus on adult learning techniques.