Dynamic Presentations
Laura is well sought after speaker, both nationally and internationally. When you hear Laura speak, there is no doubt you will be entertained, energized and well educated. For the past 17 years, Laura has been teaching nonprofit business management; leadership; fundraising trends; annual, major gift, planned giving, special events; and capital campaign courses on a certification and master’s degree level for New York University, Columbia University, Duke University, University of Pennsylvania and the Smithsonian Institution. Her speaking engagements include yearly presentations at the Association of Fundraising Professional’s (AFP) International Conference; eight International Web Conferences for AFP; keynote speaking presentations for numerous AFP Chapters nationwide; and the Council for Support for Advancement and Education and Planned Giving Councils.
Over the past several years, many prominent international nonprofit and for profit groups have discovered the impact Laura’s presentations have on their diverse audiences. This year Laura has been doing extensive work in Russia, helping that country develop a more “philanthropic culture” by applying some of the fundraising techniques of the American Fundraising Model. In February 2011 she was invited by Troika Dialog Bank, to be the keynote speaker at The Global Economic Russia Forum in Moscow and spoke on the topic “Maximizing Philanthropy During Economic Recovery,” as well as a speaker on Michael Milken’s philanthropy panel. This past May, Laura gave a presentation on “Fundraising for Political Campaigns and Businesses” to the Moscow chapter of the Women’s Democracy Network, and a master class on “The Important Role of Communications in and Fundraising Campaign” for the NGO Russian School Foundation. She also trained the Atlas Corp Fellows from 27 countries in August 2011 on “How to Create a Diverse, Sustainable, and Successful Fundraising Program in Any Country.”
In November 2011 Laura will be addressing the VII International Business Conference in Minsk, Belarus, addressing “Development Trends in World Money,” and in May 2012, Laura will conduct several Master Classes at the annual Fundraising FINZ Conference in Auckland, New Zealand.
In 2009, Laura trained and provided individual giving strategies for the Vice Chancellors, senior staff, and advancement staff of University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and was a keynote speaker at Universities Australia Marketing, Communication and Development Conference.
Her best-selling books are “The ASK: How to ASK for Support for your Non Profit Cause; Your Creative Project; and Your Business Venture” (Jossey-Bass 2010); “The Ask: How to Ask Anyone for Any Amount for Any Purpose (Jossey-Bass 2006) and “Developing Major Gifts: Turning Small Donors into Big Contributors”(Jones and Bartlett 2001).
Formerly Laura was Vice President for Philanthropy, at Pace University in New York, NY, where she raised over $92 million in six years. She oversaw all aspects of fundraising and alumni relations for a staff of 35 on five campuses.
She served as Associate Vice President for Development at Temple University, Philadelphia, where she began fundraising toward a $300 million capital campaign, managing and coordinating the major and planned giving programs, corporate and foundation funding, and alumni relations for 15 schools and colleges, two hospitals, and the athletic program. Prior positions include Major Gifts Manager for Deborah Hospital Foundation where she raised $6 million from grateful patients in one year; Assistant Director of Development for Temple University’s School of Medicine where she raised an unprecedented $1 million in the annual fund; and Director of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, where she began and major gift program and bequest society.
Laura is a journalism graduate of Rutgers College, New Brunswick, NJ, and holds a law degree from Western New England College School of Law. Prior to her fundraising career, she clerked for an appellate court judge in Pennsylvania, and practiced law for over six years as a Deputy Attorney General IV for the Attorney General’s Office, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, specializing in civil litigation.
Her community involvement includes serving as a board member for the Association of Fundraising Professional Greater New York Chapter; Operation Homefrone; and the Cherry Lane Theater, NY; an advisory board member for New York University and Columbia University’s Masters in Fundraising Programs; and a volunteer for the Bedford, Barrow, Commerce Block Association, NY, and the Caring Community, NY.
Laura is available for speaking engagements, conference, seminars, book signings, and training sessions internationally. Her speaking schedule can be found on the Speaking Schedule section of this website.
