Bob Weston brings to CCS 30 years of independent school experience and expertise as an educator, administrator, and fundraiser. Over the span of his career, Bob has held several senior administrative positions, and worked extensively on hiring and recruiting faculty, collaborating on institutional strategic planning, and directing annual, major gifts, and capital campaign fundraising programs.
In his most recent role as Associate Head for External Affairs at St. George’s School, Bob directed the communications, alumni relations, and development offices, while also serving as the school’s chief fundraiser. He spearheaded the school’s From These Walls capital campaign, which raised over $32 million for programs, facilities, and endowment. He also directed the fundraising efforts to raise $3.5 million for the construction of two turf fields, and he helped to grow the annual fund during the school’s capital campaign.
As an experienced fundraiser and school administrator, Bob’s deep knowledge of independent schools’ culture, programs, and fundraising needs uniquely positions him to serve our independent clients well.
Bob received his MA in English literature from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English and his BA in English from Amherst College, where he also captained the men’s varsity basketball team.
Melissa Rothberg is an Executive Vice President at CCS. Based out of the firm’s New York office, Melissa works with a broad range of clients across multiple sectors and functions on strategy, operations, and management.
Since joining CCS in 2013, Melissa has partnered with public and private institutions in the fields of education, national and international advocacy, global leadership development, arts and culture, environmental policy, human services, and healthcare. She frequently works with clients not only to develop the resources necessary for building and executing ambitious fundraising goals, but also on the infrastructure essential for sustaining them over the long term. Experienced at both high-level campaign strategy and day-to-day organizational operations, Melissa has supported clients with financial targets ranging from $25 million to more than $1 billion.
Melissa received her BA from Kenyon College and her MA from The University of Chicago. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Diabetes Link, the Development Committee of the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue, and the Steering Committee of Kenyon Women Giving Back.
select client partners
- Human Rights Watch
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- City University of New York/City College
- Signature Theatre
- Committee to Protect Journalists
- The New York Women’s Foundation
- The Dodd Center for Human Rights, at the University of Connecticut
- The New York Botanical Garden
- Central Synagogue
- Resolve to Save Lives/Vital Strategies
Allyson brings almost twenty years of experience in fundraising, nonprofit management, and board development to client partners, collaborating in a variety of ways to support growth and success. With ten years at CCS, Allyson’s work includes interim management, campaign execution, planning studies, development assessments, and capacity building for diverse organizations across social sectors. Her key achievements include heightening campaign performance, securing transformational seven and eight- figure commitments, and implementing successful fundraising initiatives from concept to public phase.
Allyson has worked directly with teams of thought leaders whose goals are to advance outreach, education, and leadership around mission-critical initiatives. In each project, Allyson aligns the fundraising endeavor with a spirit of collaboration and team-building, which serves as the underpinning for incredible success.
Over her time at CCS, Allyson has served as Co-Chair of the People of Color/Multicultural Employee Resource Group (ERG) and is an active member of the firm’s DEI Working Group. She is also on the DEI Subcommittee of CCS’ Board of Directors.
Allyson is a former board member of both the Clemson University Black Alumni Council and the Community Investment Network. A graduate of the Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Program, she also served on the Chamber’s Board of Regents. Allyson volunteers with the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development (US Virgin Islands) around hurricane recovery, community organizing, and building collective leadership for nonprofit organizations. Allyson resides in Atlanta, GA and is a founding member of the Black Alumni Collective and a German Marshall Fellow. A graduate of Clemson University, Allyson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish language and International Trade. She also completed the Master dei Talenti program at Fondazione CRT (Torino, Italy), and she holds a master’s from Boston University in arts and nonprofit administration.
select client partners
- Boys and Girls Clubs of America
- Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
- Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford
- Medical College of Georgia
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- My Brother’s Keeper Alliance
- Tuskegee University
- University of Florida
- Winston Salem State University
- Xavier University of Louisiana
Since joining CCS in 2011, Carl has been privileged to have provided counsel to numerous clients in the faith-based, health, education, and social service sectors. His areas of expertise include project management, capital campaigns, feasibility and planning studies, organizational development, data analysis, volunteer management, major gifts, and annual fundraising.
Carl is a strong believer in the power of philanthropy and the opportunities it can provide. “I am blessed to have been the beneficiary of the generosity of others through scholarships. I have experienced firsthand the impact philanthropy can provide.”
Growing out of these experiences, Carl appreciates the importance of being socially just and giving back to those less fortunate. Therefore, he chose to pursue a career in helping nonprofits provide opportunities to those who need it most.
Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Carl resides in Rockville Centre, on Long Island, with his wife, Caroline, and daughter, Mairéad. He is a proud graduate of Belvedere College S.J. in Dublin and The University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Select client Partners
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
- The University of Scranton
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens
- Catholic Charites of Long Island
- The Guide Dog Foundation/ America’s VetDogs
- Ability Beyond
- Rochester General Hospital
- The Stony Brook School
- Adam J. Lewis Academy
Chris Polito brings 16 years’ experience in designing, implementing, and managing key philanthropic initiatives for nonprofit organizations in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and Canada.
Since joining CCS in 2006, Chris has partnered on more than 50 strategic resource development initiatives and capital campaigns that have raised collectively over $500 million. Chris is an expert in feasibility and planning studies and development assessments and annual appeals. He has implemented leadership and major gifts fundraising for numerous clients in faith-based, healthcare, human and social services, and primary and secondary education sectors.
From July 2013 to January 2016, Chris, his wife and daughter, moved to Toronto where he served as Executive Director of the Archdiocese of Toronto’s $105 million Family of Faith Campaign, which ultimately raised more than $170 million CAD, becoming the most successful faith-based fundraising initiative in Canadian history.
Chris served as the President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Southern New Jersey Chapter from 2019-2021 and was recognized as a top 40 Under 40 Leader by the Philadelphia Business Journal in 2020. He has been invited to speak at national and international industry conferences hosted by Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS), AFP Eastern Pennsylvania, Greater Philadelphia, Greater Toronto and Southern New Jersey Chapters, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS), and the Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia.
Currently residing in Mount Laurel, NJ with his wife and daughter, Chris grew up in Colts Neck, New Jersey, went to Red Bank Catholic High School, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.
select client partners
- Archdiocese of Toronto, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Archdiocese of Newark
- Elwyn (Media, PA)
- Kean University (Union, NJ)
- Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley
- Roman Catholic High School (Philadelphia, PA)
- Saints Peter and Paul Parish and School (Easton, MD)
- The Gunston School (Centreville, MD)
- The Shipley School (Bryn Mawr, PA)
- United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (Philadelphia, PA)
- West Catholic Preparatory High School (Philadelphia, PA)
- World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)
recent resouces
“Build Your Digital Presence for 2021 and Beyond”
With more than twenty years of experience in the U.S. and Europe, Lara has worked with a range of clients – from those raising billions to those building a culture of philanthropy – across every nonprofit sector. “I always wanted to work in the nonprofit sector but couldn’t find ‘my’ one cause. For me, finding CCS was the answer,” Lara says.
Shortly after joining CCS in 2008, Lara moved to the European team, where she spent several years serving clients in Paris, Dublin, and Geneva. Notably, Lara spearheaded the historic €10 million campaign to transform the American School of Paris’ campus. In 2015, Lara returned to the New York City area and serves clients with local, national, and international reach. From helping RIOULT Dance New York build a permanent home, to building endowments for day schools through UJA-Federation’s Jewish Day School Challenge Fund initiative, to providing campaign strategy to several RWJBarnabas Health hospitals in New Jersey, to planning a global campaign for National Geographic Society, Lara enjoys the process and partnership of our work.
“I love the opportunity to work with, and learn from, so many admirable leaders and volunteers who are dedicated to their cause and community,” she says.
Lara is a graduate of Northwestern University. She is a dual citizen of the USA and France and conversant in French, Spanish, and Arabic. As a volunteer, Lara serves on the Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) New Jersey Chapter and on the Alumni Giving Committee for the American School in Japan.
Select client Partners
- American School of Paris
- Duke Health
- Gateways Music Festival
- Geneva Centre for Security Policy
- JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)
- Lycée Français de New York
- National Geographic Society
- Reporters without Borders / Reporters sans frontières
- RWJBarnabas Health
- Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
- United Jewish Appeal – Federation of New York
Rosanna brings more than a decade of experience supporting national and international nonprofits with fundraising strategy. Since joining CCS in 2010, Rosanna has partnered with organizations to help plan, manage, and implement successful fundraising initiatives. Her counsel has helped many organisations secure the largest gifts in their history, including six-, seven-, and eight-figure commitments.
“Our clients drive positive change in the world. Having the opportunity to help them achieve their goals by supporting them in an effective manner is an honor,” says Rosanna.
In addition to working directly with clients, Rosanna helps lead CCS’s business development and marketing in Europe.
select client partners
- Action Against Hunger
- Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative (AGI)
- The American Church in Paris
- The Children’s Society
- Cystic Fibrosis Trust
- Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
- Durham University
- New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute
- Nottingham Trent University
- SeriousFun Children’s Network
- UNICEF
- Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
- United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
Since joining CCS in 2011, Katlyn has partnered with dozens of visionary non-profits to plan and implement the fundraising initiatives essential to their missions.
A Pacific Northwest native, Katlyn leads our office in Seattle and spearheads our PNW partnerships. Her client engagements span all major nonprofit sectors, and her expertise includes campaign planning and management, development planning and assessments, and major and principal giving initiatives. She has planned and advised on campaign goals ranging from $2 million to $600 million.
Katlyn believes that fundraising is about more than just resource development; it can advance all facets of an organization’s mission, and it should be positive, dignified, and inclusive experience for all involved. Katlyn brings a data-driven mindset and CCS’s unparalleled expertise to every project, and she is committed to grounding every engagement in the client’s culture and values.
Katlyn regularly presents on fundraising trends and strategies both locally and nationally. Her passion for mission-based work was sparked as a child when she volunteered at a local homeless shelter.
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Arizona State University, Katlyn began her career as a High School English teacher and is a Teach for America alumna. She is proud to be a founding board member for Mobile Pathways, an organization facilitating justice for immigrants and refugees.
select client partners
- Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
- Literary Arts, Portland, OR
- MarinHealth, Greenbrae, CA
- PeaceHealth, Vancouver and Bellingham, WA; Eugene, OR
- Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR
- The Salvation Army Northwest Division, Seattle, WA
- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA
- The Freshwater Trust, Portland, OR
- UCSF Medical Center & UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, San Francisco, CA
- YMCA of Silicon Valley, San Jose, CA
For the last 15 years, Lindsay has worked side-by-side with nonprofit organizations across the religious, cultural, healthcare, human service, and academic medical sectors. Partnering with leadership and volunteers, Lindsay’s strategic counsel and expertise have helped raise hundreds of millions of dollars. Lindsay maintains a clear focus on goals and objectives while assisting organizations to learn best practices and truly build an enthusiasm for development. Over the years, Lindsay has cultivated her strengths in the areas of campaign strategy and management, applying fundraising metrics for success, donor cultivation, and volunteer training and management.
Lindsay previously served as a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Anne’s. She is a graduate of Santa Clara University and secured her MBA from UCLA Anderson.
select client partners
- Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley, Lancaster, CA
- The Climate Registry, Los Angeles, CA
- Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, CA
- Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, NM
- Ronald McDonald House Orange County, Orange, CA
- St. John Fisher Catholic Church, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
- St. Louis de Montfort Parish, Santa Maria, CA
Brad Patterson is an Executive Vice President based out of CCS Fundraising’s Central United States offices, serving Catholic, diocesan clients across the United States and Canada. In partnership with CCS Principal and Managing Directors, Brad leads the design and day-to-day management of all CCS staff assigned to our diocesan projects. He has dedicated his career to studying, innovating and side-by-side partnership in support of Catholic, diocesan initiatives. With over 25 years of experience, Brad has been at the forefront of this sector, bringing the best practices from across the country to each client partnership.
Brad has designed and managed fundraising campaigns that have raised more than $2 billion in support of local parishes and diocesan ministries for client partners. He is a thought leader in the religious sector and a mentor to hundreds of current and former CCS employees.
With an expertise in the management of large, volunteer led, multi-organizational campaigns, Brad is a strategist, educator, partner, mentor, and storyteller. He partners with organizations to help turn their vision into reality. Brad leads our partnership with ICSC, support for ICSC regional gatherings in the Central United States, our partnership with a CCS led Diocesan Advisory Council, our partnership with #IGiveCatholic and our internal Catholic Service Team.
Brad resides in Austin, Texas, where he has partnered with the Diocese of Austin to lead their first two diocesan campaigns over the past 18 years. He is a proud graduate of Indiana University and enjoys hiking, exercise, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
- Archdiocese of Chicago
- Archdiocese of Denver
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
- Archdiocese of Mobile
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- Archdiocese of Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Diocese of Austin
- Diocese of Cheyenne
- Diocese of Cleveland
- Diocese of Columbus
- Diocese of Dallas
- Diocese of El Paso
- Diocese of Fort-Wayne — South Bend
- Diocese of Fort Worth
- Diocese of Greensburg
- Diocese of Green Bay
- Diocese of Helena
- Diocese of Lafayette—IN
- Diocese of Lincoln
- Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Diocese of Springfield, IL
- Diocese of Stockton
- Diocese of Toledo
- Diocese of Tulsa
- Catholic Foundation of Northeast Texas
- St. Vincent’s Hospital Foundation
- University of the South, Sewanee