Andrew Zajac

About Andrew Zajac

I’m a nonprofit development consultant with experience in grant writing, fundraising strategy, donor relations, and proposal development across higher education and the nonprofit sector. At KO Consulting, I work with nonprofit and community-based organizations to develop competitive funding proposals, strengthen fundraising strategy, and move important projects forward across the Mahoning Valley and beyond.Before joining KO Consulting, I worked at the Youngstown State University Foundation, where I most recently served as Senior Development Officer and raised $8.5 million in philanthropic support for scholarships and strategic university priorities. That experience strengthened my work in donor cultivation, major gifts, proposal development, and relationship management.Today, I help clients define community need, shape fundable projects, build realistic budgets, and make a clear case for support. I’ve worked on foundation, corporate, government, and federal funding requests, including congressional directed spending and community project funding. What I enjoy most is helping organizations tell their story clearly and connect resources to work that matters.

Experience

1. Consultant, Non-profit Development

   Ko Consulting, Llc

   Jan 2026 — Present · Youngstown, OH, US

   Lead grant writing, fundraising strategy, and proposal development for nonprofit and community-based organizations across the Mahoning Valley and beyond.Write and shape competitive proposals for foundation, corporate, and government funding, including congressional directed spending and federal community project funding.Work directly with executive leaders to define community need, build fundable budgets, and construct a clear, evidence-based case for support.Serve clients across education, workforce development, health and human services, community development, and capital projects, from single grant submissions to broader multi-funder strategies.Manage the full proposal process by aligning applications with funder priorities, maintaining submission timelines, and strengthening strategy from first draft to final submission.Advise clients on long-term development planning, funding diversification, and organizational sustainability.

Education

• Youngstown State University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Political Science and History

• Youngstown State University

  Master of Arts (M.A.), History

Skills

• Mac Os
• American History
• Microsoft Office
• Sales
• Facebook
• History
• Store Operations
• Retail
• Debate
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Writing
• Political Campaigns
• Photoshop
• Trend Forecasting
• Iphone Support
• Sports Writing
• Social Media
• Visual Merchandising
• World History
• Window Displays
• Political Science
• Photography
• Customer Satisfaction
• Historical Editing
• Retail Sales
• Customer Service
• Public Speaking
• Customer Oriented
• Time Management