Charlie Michaud, Principal and Managing Director at CCS, brings more than 27 years of professional fundraising experience to the clients we serve. Based now in New York City after 15 years in the UK and Ireland, Charlie’s career spans working in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Charlie’s counsel has helped our clients raise more than $1 billion worldwide to advance important causes including: education, food security, global health, human rights, international relief and development, medical research, and poverty eradication. His areas of expertise includes campaign design and management, corporate partnerships, and mobilizing resources from governments.
Charlie has provided strategic counsel and high-level coaching to senior executives, board members, philanthropists and government officials. He has trained fundraising volunteers across diverse cultures and regularly presents on fundraising trends and best practices.
Edward Van Saders leads Financial Operations and Business Strategy for CCS. Edward has 30 years of experience in leadership roles across a broad range of start-ups, global media companies, and nonprofits. In this role, Edward oversees all financial functions.
Prior to joining CCS, Edward was the Chief Strategy Officer of a portfolio of privately owned media assets, leading finance, corporate development, and administration for 12 years. Previously, he served as Chief Financial Officer of AccuWeather, the digital brand Heavy.com, and the environmental media company EcoMedia (subsequently sold to CBS). Earlier in his career, he held financial leadership positions at NBC-Universal, News Corporation, and the Jim Henson Company.
Edward holds a BFA and a certificate in nonprofit management from Marymount Manhattan College where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees. Edward resides in Rockland County and Cape Cod with his family, including triplet daughters.
Pronouns: she/her
Arshia Sultan serves as the Executive Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at CCS. She leads the strategy and implementation of transformative company culture and employee engagement initiatives with a strong emphasis on continuous learning, empathy, and collaboration.
Prior to taking the position as head of DEIB, Arshia led the CCS Learning and Development team. She has a proven track record of designing and executing impactful training programs that enhance employee skills and foster professional growth, including CCS’s onboarding programming, live and on-demand curriculum, and executive training initiatives. Her expertise in adult learning principles and organizational development uniquely positions her to drive effective DEIB strategies that are both educational and transformative.
A proud NYU alum, Arshia currently resides in Chicago with her husband and two children and is an active volunteer, serving on the board of her daughter’s school and volunteering at various local nonprofits.
In her current role, Lauren Handwerker works closely with the executive team and firm leadership to advance firmwide initiatives with a focus on strategy development and growth planning efforts. Lauren previously managed talent acquisition and works closely with the HR team. She spent the first several years of her career at CCS in client services working as a Director with clients across all sectors.
Lauren received her MBA from NYU Stern and holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University. She serves on the Board of the New York chapter of Women in Development (WiD). Lauren resides in Westport, CT with her husband and daughter.
Adam Miller provides leadership and strategic guidance to the nonprofit sector, designing innovative fundraising initiatives, directing extraordinary campaigns, and advising on resource development models.
Partnering with organizations ranging from $1m to $100m+ in annual philanthropic revenue, Adam helps design tailored revenue growth strategies, optimize resource allocation, and implement programmatic initiatives.
Adam has provided guidance on various development functions and strategies both nationally and internationally and across all nonprofit sectors. He is an expert in board engagement, growth and sustainability planning, campaign methodology, principal and major gift strategies, organizational design, corporate partnerships, change management, complex gifts and planned giving, interim development management, data analytics and modeling, development assessments, feasibility and planning studies, and post campaign strategies, among others.
Adam serves as a CCS Learning Facilitator, has presented at national and international conferences, and has been published in journals and business publications. In 2020, the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) recognized Adam as a 40 Under 40 Leader. Outside of his work, Adam personally serves on several nonprofit boards and committees.
Prior to CCS, Adam practiced as an attorney counseling individual and business clients on employment and commercial matters, and helped secure two record-breaking jury verdicts. Adam earned a JD from Loyola University Chicago and a BA from Indiana University. Adam resides in Columbus, OH with his wife and two children.
Kate Villa has been helping to design, plan, and implement successful fundraising campaigns since she worked for Columbia University’s development office while in college. She truly enjoys creating and executing fundraising initiatives that connect donors’ passions with projects that change the world. Kate’s 25 years of experience, first as a chief development officer and now with CCS, have included: comprehensive campaign design and management, planning studies, assessments, and leading teams of staff and volunteer leadership to develop unique strategies and solutions to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.
Kate graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and Columbia College. She is the Immediate Past President of AFP Massachusetts, a former Vice-Chair of the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, and the past President of AFP of Northern New England. When not working or volunteering for good causes, she can often be found trying new recipes or restaurants, skiing in her native state of Vermont, training for a long bike ride, or with friends and family.
Select Client Partners
- American School for the Deaf
- Bangor Public Library
- Boston Latin School
- Bridge Over Troubled Waters
- Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School
- Combined Jewish Philanthropies
- Champlain College
- Green Mountain Valley School
- Kimball Union Academy
- Maine Audubon
- The New Commonwealth Fund
- New Hampton School
- Newton Wellesley Hospital
- The Rashi School
- USS Constitution Museum
- Walnut Hill School for the Arts
- The Winsor School
Sarah Sochacki has been with CCS for more than a decade and in the fundraising space for 15 years. Sarah continues to be drawn to philanthropy, believing that this field has the power to address some of the most complex challenges and questions in the world today. She feels privileged that her profession enables her to help find these solutions and give back in such a meaningful way.
As Managing Director, Sarah leads a variety of partnerships across the Central U.S. In her time at CCS, she has executed campaign planning studies, facilitated multi-million-dollar campaigns, directed development assessments and trainings, and coached development staff and volunteers through securing transformational gifts. With an expertise in case development and transformational gifts, Sarah is committed to crafting stories that marry resource development with each organization’s mission, financial needs, near-term goals, and long-term strategic vision. Her areas of focus include K-12 Education and faith-based efforts.
Sarah firmly believes that if development professionals only raise money, they are not successful. Successful advancement efforts foster meaningful relationships, strengthen an organization’s ability to drive positive impact, and create new visions for what is possible through partnership. Sarah leads with this mindset through all philanthropic efforts, ensuring a well-rounded approach is used to assist organizations.
As part of her continued commitment to philanthropy, Sarah regularly presents at various industry events, including with the International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC) and as a guest lecturer at the University of Mary. Sarah is also a frequent speaker at CCS’s firmwide, sector-, and region-specific webinars.
Sarah lives in Chicago with her husband Ben, her daughter Olivia, and their rescue pup, Fred. They enjoy bickering about college sports and being outside as much as Chicago weather allows. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Science in Fundraising Management from Columbia University.
select client partners
- St. Paul Academy and Summit School
- University School of Milwaukee
- Malvern Preparatory
- Lourdes Academy
- Notre Dame Academy
- Aim Higher Foundation
- National Merit Scholarship Corporation
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America
- Boys & Girls Club of Dundee Township
- Erikson Institute
- Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
- Diocese of Green Bay
- Diocese of Madison
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul-Minneapolis
Natalie joined CCS in 2011 and has served clients spanning education, faith-based, human service, arts and culture, healthcare, international, environment, public media, and association sectors. She has conducted numerous capital campaigns, feasibility and planning studies, development assessments, annual fund enhancements, strategic plans, and special development projects. Natalie has served as Counsel on campaigns that have cumulatively raised more than $1 billion, including multiple $100 million gifts.
Natalie serves on the Client Services Committee of the CCS Board of Directors. She facilitates training courses for CCS Directors, presents fundraising sessions for AFP, TABS, SAIS, FCIS, VAIS, AISGW, AIMS, AMCSUS, and a variety of conferences, and has chaired CCS’s Recruitment Committee. She was recognized for her work in CCS’s Mid- and South-Atlantic Region with the Dennick M. W. Skeels Memorial Award in 2015. Natalie recently concluded a four-year term on the Board Executive Committee of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) DC Chapter. Natalie graduated cum laude from University of Delaware with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Natalie resides in Reston, VA with her husband and two sons.
Select Client Partners
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
- Bermuda High School for Girls
- Georgetown Day School
- Inova Health System
- Jhpiego
- KIPP Baltimore
- Loyola University Maryland
- National Black Caucus of State Legislators
- National Museum of Bermuda
- National Public Radio (NPR)
- Paralyzed Veterans of America
- Peddie School
- Richmond Symphony
- Royal Institute of Law of the Kingdom of Bhutan
- Salem Academy and College
- Sidwell Friends School
- Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
- UNCF (United Negro College Fund)
- United Way of Central Maryland
- Volunteers of America
- West Virginia State University
- YWCA USA
In over 12 years with CCS, Aashika has supported clients with financial targets totaling over $1 billion. Guided by measurable, actionable plans, Aashika leverages fundraising strategy, data analytics, staffing assessments, pipeline development, and leadership engagement to grow fundraising capacity for nonprofits across every philanthropic sector.
Aashika’s approach to client support is anchored in consensus building at all levels. Aiming to architect fundraising solutions that address both a short-term, urgent need for funding as well as a long-term goal of financial sustainability, Aashika builds and organizes dynamic teams of fundraising professionals. People are the greatest resource at both CCS and within the nonprofit sector, investing in people is investing in progress.
Aashika cultivates great interest and expertise in case visioning, pre-campaign and planning studies, post-campaign assessments, Advancement audits, landscape analysis, major gift pipeline qualification, major and planned gift campaigns, endowment fundraising, as well as leadership recruitment and training.
A graduate of Syracuse University in both Philosophy and South Asian Studies, Aashika also earned a MS in Fundraising and Grantmaking from New York University (NYU). She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jesal, and serves on the board of the Cayton Children’s Museum.
select client partners
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, CA
- University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), San Diego, CA
- University of San Diego, (USD), San Diego, CA
- Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, CA
- Holocaust Museum Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Cayton Children’s Museum by ShareWell, Los Angeles, CA
- Direct Relief, Santa Barbara, CA
- TGR Foundation, Irvine, CA
- San Diego Foundation, San Diego, CA
- Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beverly Hill, CA
- Chandler School, Pasadena, CA
- Flintridge Preparatory School, Pasadena, CA
- Curtis School, Los Angeles, CA
Lindsey manages CCS’s Central United States operations team out of the Chicago office. She serves as a member of the region’s executive leadership and provides dedicated focus to propelling our firm’s growth mindset. In her daily work, she partners with leaders across the region and firm to identify and implement strategic initiatives related to business development, recruitment, talent management, communications, and other operational priorities.
Lindsey also partners on select client engagements, leveraging her skills in communications, creative messaging, data analysis, staffing, and overall fundraising planning as well as a passion for service stemming from her training as a social worker.
Lindsey has dedicated her career to supporting nonprofit causes. She strongly believes in the power of philanthropy in advancing missions and ultimately transforming communities. “The impact of nonprofit organizations on our society is undeniable,” says Lindsey. “It is a privilege to help drive the operations of a firm so committed to continuously elevating this important work.”
Lindsey received her master’s degree from the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and a bachelor’s degree from University of Miami. She was raised in a small town outside of Kansas City, Missouri and now lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband, son, and a house full of pets.
Select Client Partners
- DuPage Foundation
- Northwestern Memorial Foundation
- Northern Illinois Food Bank
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana
- University of Texas at Austin
