Jennifer Wilson

About Jennifer Wilson

Jennifer Wilson is a senior nonprofit consultant with nearly three decades of experience advising mission-driven organizations on fundraising strategy, including grants, institutional funding, and transformational philanthropy. As Assistant Vice President at CCS Fundraising, she partners with nonprofit leaders to design and execute sophisticated development programs, with particular depth in global healthcare philanthropy, academic medicine, drug discovery, and scientific innovation. Her work is grounded in results-oriented decision-making, helping organizations translate ambitious goals into fundable, sustainable strategies.Jennifer supports organizations and clients worldwide, advancing principal- and transformational-gift strategies, strengthening board and executive engagement, and guiding complex gift structuring, nonprofit governance, and strategic prospect engagement. She regularly works with foundations, ultra-high-net-worth donors, and international partners to align institutional priorities with philanthropic investment and accelerate long-term impact.Prior to joining CCS Fundraising, Jennifer held senior leadership roles across the nonprofit sector, including Foundation Director at University of Michigan Health–West, Vice President of Philanthropy and Brand at Girl Scouts, and Director of Philanthropy at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Earlier in her career, she served as Editor-in-Chief of Women’s LifeStyle Magazine, an experience that continues to inform her approach to executive communications, donor messaging, brand positioning, and board engagement.Jennifer is an active thought leader in philanthropy and nonprofit strategy. She has authored and co-authored articles on giving trends, grants strategy, and fundraising best practices; contributed to the “Individual Giving” chapter of CCS Fundraising’s flagship publication, The Philanthropic Landscape; and co-authored the CCS guidebook Elements of a Successful Board.Her leadership has been recognized through honors, including “Woman of the Year” by Alas Latinas, AFP West Michigan, and Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women. She has completed advanced leadership training through Huntington Bank’s Rising Women Leaders program, Leadership Grand Rapids, and Leadership West Michigan, and holds a Nonprofit Board Leadership certification from the Johnson Center for Philanthropy.

Experience

1. Assistant Vice President

   CCS Fundraising

   Aug 2024 — Present · New York, NY, US

Education

• Davenport University

  BA, Business and Marketing

  2000 — 2002

Skills

• Corporate Communications
• Public Speaking
• Management
• Event Planning
• Marketing Communications
• Facebook
• Strategic Communications
• Board Development
• Email Marketing
• Stewardship
• Philanthropy
• Editing
• Magazine Management
• Volunteer Management
• Public Relations
• Professional Networking
• Presenter
• Media Relations
• Annual Giving
• Speech Writing
• Social Media Marketing
• Press Releases
• Publicity
• Social Networking
• Writing
• Publications
• Nonprofit Consulting
• Non-Profits
• Journalism
• Grant Writing
• Leadership
• Advocacy
• Team Leadership
• Social Media
• Blogging
• Editorial
• Strategic Planning
• Crisis Management
• Nonprofits
• Non-Profit Development