Rochelle Jerry, CFRM
Rochelle M. Jerry, CFRM is a seasoned nonprofit executive, national speaker, and fundraising strategist with more than 29 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, governance, strategic planning, and fundraising development. As CEO of Jerry Consulting Group LLC, and Jerry Family Philanthropic Foundation, Inc. Rochelle partners with mission-driven organizations nationwide to build sustainable funding ecosystems, strengthen governance practices, deepen donor engagement, and elevate organizational impact. Throughout her distinguished career, she has helped raise more than $18.5 million in new operating revenue while leading transformative fundraising, sponsorship, grant development, and volunteer engagement strategies.
Her expertise spans fundraising development, grant writing, board leadership, governance, corporate sponsorship, strategic communications, executive coaching, volunteer engagement, and equity-centered philanthropy. Rochelle has served in leadership roles with prominent organizations including the Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM), Society of Surgical Oncology/The SSO Foundation (SSO/SSOF), American Society of Plastic Surgeons/The Plastic Surgery Foundation (ASPS/PSF), Indiana Black Expo, and Indy Arts Council.
Rochelle serves as Adjunct Faculty at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy The Fund Raising School, where she teaches fundraising and nonprofit leadership courses for professionals across the country. She is also a Global Board Member and Chair of the IDEA Global Committee for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). In addition, she serves as a Senior Advisor with Aperio Philanthropy and is a regular contributor to Nonprofit Quarterly through its “Ask a Nonprofit Expert” column.
A respected thought leader in the sector, Rochelle speaks nationally on topics including board engagement, governance, AI in philanthropy, volunteer ecosystems, donor strategy, equity-centered fundraising, and sustainable funding models. She is the creator of the LinkedIn newsletter Dear Nonprofit CEOs: Get Off the Struggle Bus—Sustainable Funding Awaits and host of the podcast Fundraising Confessions: The Truth Behind the Profession, where she champions transparency, innovation, and long-term sustainability within the nonprofit sector.
Rochelle is a graduate of the 2025 Leadership + Legacies Executive Women program in partnership with the Women’s Foundation of Indiana and a member of the 2026 cohort of the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, John M. Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute. She continues to advocate for transformational leadership that empowers organizations and communities alike. Her supportive and strategic leadership approach has consistently strengthened volunteer participation, leadership engagement, fundraising outcomes, and organizational culture.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from DePaul University and pursued graduate studies in Nonprofit Management. Rochelle earned her Certificate in Fund Raising Management (CFRM) from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s The Fund Raising School, a Digital Marketing Science certification from Indiana Wesleyan University, and completed public relations training through Porter Novelli and Ketchum Companies.
Driving Change. Inspiring Hope. Building Power.