The greatest part of our work is when we sit with our clients, no matter the institution or their understanding about philanthropy, and work hand in hand with them to accomplish things they perhaps only dreamed were possible.

Steve Manno has spent nearly his entire career in fundraising, including almost 25 years with CCS. Steve is proud to serve as the chief architect and thought partner for each of his client partnerships. He is committed to empowering and elevating the impact of the nonprofit sector by securing the capital needed to advance these critical missions. As Principal & Managing Director, Steve leads the firm’s work in St. Louis and throughout the Central U.S. He oversees a team of fundraising experts and feels privileged to work with them, as well as with his dedicated client partners.

When approaching any client engagement, Steve grounds himself in the big picture, understanding the desired outcome and potential impact of the initiative at hand. Steve’s passion for his work has led him to embrace the weight of responsibility and ownership of each partnership – from raising funds to build a new church to funding community health initiatives.

Steve has worked with organizations of every demographic and raising nearly $2 billion for a host of charitable needs. His areas of expertise include development assessments and analysis; campaign studies, planning, design, and management; volunteer recruitment and development; board and staff training; start-up philanthropy; and major gift cultivation and solicitation. Steve shares his expertise as co-chair of the firm-wide Healthcare Sector Group. Additionally, Steve serves as one of the firm’s leading executives partnering with institutions of the Catholic Church.

In an effort to further advance fundraising and philanthropy, Steve regularly presents at conferences and webinars across sectors for the Woodmark Group, AHP, various AFP chapters, and even piloted CCS’s first podcast series on philanthropy.

Steve is a native of Syracuse, NY and a graduate of Canisius College, where his passion for philanthropy was born after engaging in grassroots fundraising efforts with classmates. Steve currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri and is a proud father to his son, Sam; together, they enjoy boating, travel, skiing, and fishing.

select client partners

  • St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation, St. Louis, MO
  • Community School, St. Louis, MO
  • Thomas Jefferson School, St. Louis, MO
  • Whitfield School, St. Louis, MO
  • Forest Park Forever, St. Louis, MO
  • Gateway Arch Park Foundation, St. Louis, MO
  • Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation, St. Louis, MO
  • Make-A-Wish Missouri, Ballwin, MO
  • Truman Library Institute, Independence, MO
  • Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
  • Temple Congregation Ohabai Shalom, Nashville, TN
  • YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, Nashville, TN
  • St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO
  • Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Nashville, TN
  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
  • Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Nashville, TN
  • Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation, Little Rock & Springdale, AR
  • Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK
  • Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Preservation Hall Foundation, New Orleans, LA
  • Our Lady of La Leche National Shrine, St. Augustine, FL
  • Diocese of Des Moines, Des Moines, IA
  • Diocese of Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
  • Arbor Day Foundation , Nebraska City, NE 
  • Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO

St. Louis

7733 Forsyth Boulevard, Suite 525
St. Louis, MO 63105

(314) 626-0699

Contact

Featured Projects

Saint Louis Zoo

Saint Louis Zoo

Central U.S.

The Saint Louis Zoo and CCS Fundraising partnered on a feasibility study, development assessment, and predictive modeling to help resource and bring their strategic plan to life.

Thomas Jefferson School

Thomas Jefferson School

Central U.S.

CCS partnered with Thomas Jefferson School to launch the school’s first major fundraising campaign. As the COVID-19 pandemic struck, CCS advised Thomas Jefferson on how to address immediate needs, evolve its campaign strategy, and maintain fundraising.

Featured Insights

Video

Introducing the Manno Minute

July 2021

The past eighteen months was a lot. A lot of change, a lot of unique stresses, a lot of information overload. In this series, CCS Principal & Managing Director Steve Manno helps distill some of that key information for you so that you can continue to focus on your important work.