Dr. Ashutosh Nandeshwar thrives on creating effective systems and processes with tools and technology. With his education in systems engineering, artificial intelligence, and design thinking, he built solutions to improve fundraising results at the world’s top higher education institutions. He has written multiple books, including a co-authored book titled “Data Science for Fundraising.”
Ashutosh says, “CCS works with a range of nonprofit organizations, and that offers a unique opportunity to apply data science and analytics at scale to make a significant impact in the world.”
Ashutosh earned his Ph.D. and MS in Industrial Engineering, specializing in machine learning, and an MS in design thinking. He loves speaking about the power of data and is invited to give keynotes at national conferences. He is an active member of various professional organizations, including a term on Apra’s board, where he led the planning of the data science curriculum for the fundraising industry.
Kara Christ currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing for CCS Fundraising, leading a team of passionate marketers charged with elevating the brand to contribute to firm growth. She is a data-driven marketing executive skilled in branding strategy, digital experiences and social media, business and relationship development, campaigns implementation, and managing cross-functional, global teams.
With nearly 15 years’ experience delivering successful marketing programs to organizations such as the American Red Cross, KPMG, Alliance Bernstein, and United Bank, Kara is regarded as having strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. She brings an analytical eye for detail and a solutions-oriented approach to setting strategy, problem-solving, and achieving organization goals.
Kara is proud to serve on the Board of Directors of the American Marketing Association, Washington, DC Chapter as the Partnerships Chair, and also on the Board of her Homeowners Association as the Communications Chair. She is passionate about volunteering and regularly donates her time teaching financial literacy (United Bank), mentoring high school students (Urban Alliance), reading to kindergarten children (KFFL), and giving blood at local blood drives (American Red Cross). Kara considers herself a “double-bulldog” having received an MBA from Georgetown University – McDonough School of Business and a BA in Journalism from the University of Georgia.
Elizabeth joined CCS in 2013 and brings deep experience in the education, healthcare, and religious sectors. She has conducted strategic planning and operational assessments, led high performing fundraising teams, and managed major campaigns across the country that have raised more than $750 million. Finding joy in teamwork with clients, Elizabeth brings a combination of skilled project management and high-level strategic guidance to each partnership.
Elizabeth earned her BA from Emory University and MBA/MTS from Vanderbilt University. She recently returned home to Nashville with her husband and two spaniel pups, after living in Chicago, IL, San Francisco, CA, and Sandpoint, IDover the years. They love spending time outdoors hiking, camping, & kayaking, and volunteering for their local parks.
Select Client Partners
- University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- Antioch University, Yellow Springs, OH
- Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Center City, MN
- Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, Palo Alto, CA
- PeaceHealth, Vancouver, WA
- Hennepin Healthcare Foundation, Minneapolis, MN
- Archdiocese of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
- Diocese of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
- Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, Chicago, IL
- The Bush School, Seattle, WA
- College Prep, Oakland, CA
- St. Philip & St. Augustine Catholic Academy, Dallas, TX
- Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, Appleton, WI
- Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Detroit, MI
- Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati, OH
Matt joined CCS in 2019 and has spent much of his professional career in the fundraising and non-profit space. Matt is drawn to the power of philanthropy to address some of today’s most complex and pressing issues in the US and around the world.
At CCS, Matt has lead projects with fundraising goals in excess of $600 million across all sectors. Matt’s expertise lies in campaign management, development assessments, major and principal gift strategies, volunteer engagement, data analytics, and capacity building. Matt’s goal with every client engagement is to elevate the organization’s capacity to support its mission through philanthropy.
Matt is a Canadian/American dual citizen and has spent time living in Europe. He brings a global perspective to his work and has experience working with various international organizations.
Matt holds a Master of Arts from University College London and a Bachelor of Arts from Centre College.
With roots spread across the country, Matt now calls Durham, NC home. He enjoys any opportunity to learn something new and exploring North Carolina’s natural spaces.
Select Client Partners
- Lions Clubs International
- Minnesota Public Radio | American Public Media
- Soles4Souls
- NMDP (formerly Be The Match)
- Communities Foundation of Texas
- Dallas College Foundation
- United Way of Greater Cleveland
- YMCA of the North (Twin Cities)
Eleanor has dedicated her professional career to supporting the development goals of nonprofit organizations. Her counsel has furthered the philanthropic efforts of institutions and initiatives throughout the Midwest since 2014.
Eleanor brings expertise in major gifts strategy, communications, volunteer management, and coalition-building to every engagement. She has worked extensively with organizational leaders, board members, government officials, and donors to champion transformational initiatives. She values creativity, integrity, and a spirit of collaboration.
Since joining CCS in 2018, Eleanor has led successful efforts across sectors including environmental, arts and culture, healthcare, higher education, and public-private partnerships.
Eleanor earned a BA in American Studies and French from Smith College. Originally from Western Massachusetts, Eleanor lives in Chicago with her family and enjoys visiting museums and Lake Michigan.
select client partners
- Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Detroit, MI
- Hennepin Healthcare Foundation
- Lake Forest Open Lands, Lake Forest, IL
- Saint Mary’s College
Anthony has strong beliefs in advocacy and empowerment to ensure those most in need can reach their potential.
Anthony advises leaders such as headmasters, university presidents, CEOs, chairpersons, bishops, religious leaders, and hospital consultants to plan and implement fundraising campaigns with multi-million revenue goals.
Anthony is extremely diligent and meticulous in his approach to his job to ensure the smooth running of each project he take on. In supporting this, he conducts feasibility studies, produce financial reports and draft policies and procedures which allow him to identify areas to focus on and present recommendations to Boards. Anthony also drafts marketing materials, speaking scripts for leadership, and donor updates for the stewardship of their gifts.
select client partners
- Diocese of Shrewsbury
- The Mater Hospital Foundation
- Children’s Health Ireland
- Dublin City University
- Sutton Park School
- Cavan Cathedral
- Dublin Zoo
Elizabeth is a thought leader in philanthropy and expert in fundraising. She has led capital campaigns and development initiatives that have collectively raised nearly one billion dollars for education, healthcare, arts and culture, and advocacy organizations.
Since joining CCS in 2013, Elizabeth has partnered with institutions to plan and implement multi-million-to-billion-dollar campaigns. She provides counsel on strategic planning, major gifts fundraising, and board engagement. Elizabeth has also directed campaign planning (feasibility) studies, served in interim development roles, and managed annual campaigns and special fundraising events.
For the past seven years, Elizabeth has taught a fundraising course at the University of Pennsylvania to graduate students in the Nonprofit Leadership Program. She serves on the School of Social Policy and Practice (SP2) Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board, and in 2020, she was inducted into the SP2 Alumni Hall of Fame for her work with mission-driven organizations.
Elizabeth has been recognized by Crains New York Business as a “Notable Leader in Accounting, Consulting & Law,” The New York Jewish Week as a “thought leader in Jewish philanthropy” in their 36 to Watch, and BELLA Magazine as a “Woman of Influence in Philanthropy.” She is a board member at the Association of Fundraising Professionals NYC Chapter, where she has served on the Mentorship Committee, and is a member of Women in Development New York. You can find Elizabeth offering her fundraising expertise at industry conferences, on nonprofit podcasts, and on social media platforms including LinkedIn and Instagram.
Elizabeth’s belief in social impact influenced her fundraising career: In rural Rwanda, she volunteered at a youth village for vulnerable Rwandan youth that was founded in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. In Jaipur, India, she lived and studied the generational empowerment of Indian women, working with mothers seeking to build lives of dignity and prosperity for themselves and their families. These global experiences—grounded in the values of inclusion, diversity, and access—motivated Elizabeth to improve the world through philanthropy.
Elizabeth holds a Masters in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University. She lives in New York with her husband and their two daughters and is an avid hiker and tea drinker.
Select client Partners
- ADL (Anti-Defamation League)
- Asphalt Green
- Baptist Health South Florida
- Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
- The Chapin School
- The Children’s Health Alliance for Israel
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- Columbia University School of Nursing
- E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation
- Friends Academy
- The Hewitt School
- Jewish Women International
- Larchmont Temple
- Low Income Investment Fund
- The Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
- Museum of West African Art
- New York Youth Symphony
- The Newark Public Library
- NYU Stern School of Business
- The Osborne Association
- Park Avenue Synagogue
- The Parkinson’s Foundation
- The Police Athletic League
- Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools
- The Ramaz School
- The School of American Ballet
- The Spence School
- The Speyer Legacy School
- Sutton Place Synagogue
- Two Ten Footwear Foundation
- Versiti Blood Research Institute
- Williamstown Theatre Festival
- The YIVO Institute of Jewish Research
- YWCA Greenwich
recent resources
Senior Vice President Scott Vachon is a seasoned fundraising and development professional with a breadth and depth of experience unique among his peers.
For more than three decades, Scott has supported and directed nonprofits across sectors to achieve their goals and grow their impact. He brings to each client engagement an exceedingly solid grounding in best practice coupled with the capacity and desire to think strategically and out-of-the-box. He excels at analyzing circumstances, strategizing next steps and comprehensive plans, and driving action that is outcomes-based.
Recently, Scott designed and facilitated CCS’s Unleashing Federated Member Fundraising, an annual day-long summit for development leaders of national and international organizations to discuss strategies and share models and best practices. Participating organizations have included the American Civil Liberties Union, Easter Seals, Feeding America, Make-A-Wish America, the National Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, Special Olympics, United Service Organizations (USO), United Way Worldwide, and others.
Scott is a certified professional coach and is regarded as a fundraiser’s fundraiser. Within CCS, he is relied upon regularly to help mentor and train newer directors. He takes great interest in understanding others and in helping his fellow professionals develop their capacities and grow as people.
select client partners
- Be The Match/The National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis/National
- United Way of Metro Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Feeding America, Chicago, IL & National
- UC Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland, CA
- Columbia Business School, New York City, NY
- University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA
Mark Urban, Senior Vice President, brings a diverse perspective to every client engagement. A combined almost four decades of experience in the nonprofit, education, and healthcare sectors has molded him into a dynamic and highly effective professional who is able to interface with internal and external stakeholders alike. Mark has extensive experience with leadership and major gift initiatives, interim development office management and assessment, development audits and philanthropic capability assessments, endowment programs, board training and development, prospect research, and campaign management. During his career, he has been involved in campaigns and annual appeals that have raised over $2 billion.
Mark is currently advising the Kean University Foundation providing management services as well as advising them prior to the launch of visionary strategic planning process in advance of a capital campaign. Prior to CCS, Mark held a number of roles in the Higher Education and Healthcare fields including at his alma mater, Columbia University for seven years.
Mark received his Bachelors Degree in Applied Mathematics from Columbia University. A strong proponent of volunteerism, he has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for more than 20 years. He also serves as a fundraising volunteer for his children’s schools and athletic clubs.
Mark, his wife, Emily and their three children, reside in West Windsor, NJ. During the summer, Mark and his family spend weekends in South Kingstown, RI. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and reading.
select client partners
- Kean University Foundation
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
- St. Killian Parish
Jessica brings more than a decade of professional fundraising and non-profit management experience to the clients we serve. A talented major gift fundraiser and strategist, she has partnered with local and global organizations to design and manage successful fundraising initiatives.
Jessica has significant experience conducting fundraising audits and feasibility studies; developing major gift strategies for individuals and corporations; conducting prospect research; coaching and mentoring organizational leaders; and managing transformational campaigns.
Jessica has worked with a diverse group of not-for-profit organizations spanning education, advocacy, international relief and development, health, arts, and other global imperatives.
Prior to joining CCS, Jessica worked with organizations including Umbrella Foundation in Nepal, Concern Worldwide, Robin Hood Foundation and the Office of the President of the General Assembly at the United Nations.
Jessica earned an M.A. in International Development from University College Dublin, and a B.S. in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University. Jessica lived and worked in Dublin, Ireland for four years with CCS and now resides in her hometown of New York City with her husband, son, and Bernadoodle, Murph.
select client partners
- The Motley Fool Foundation
- Asia Society
- Lehigh Valley Health Network
- The Nature Conservancy China
- Stamford Symphony
- University College Dublin
- Philanthropy University
- Science Gallery International
- Mercy International Association
- Aurora Humanitarian Initiative
- New York Common Pantry
