Liz Freirich

About Liz Freirich

Driven by a deep commitment to mission-focused leadership, I bring over two decades of experience in philanthropy, fundraising, and organizational development. As a values-driven executive, I have led transformative initiatives across nonprofit organizations, secured multimillion-dollar portfolios, and fostered a culture of collaboration, innovation, and measurable impact.My career has been defined by my ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution. From overseeing fundraising portfolios to securing major gifts, I have exceeded revenue goals by leveraging data-driven strategies, cultivating donor relationships, and designing engagement opportunities. My leadership philosophy centers on empowering teams through mentorship and aligning individual aspirations with organizational priorities while enabling high-performing teams to thrive.At the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, I restructured a development team to exceed fundraising goals and also led the organization to host its largest fundraising event to date. I have partnered with leaders to develop essential financial infrastructure and spearheaded a CRM migration to enhance donor engagement and streamline operations.During my tenure at UNICEF USA, I advanced from senior major gifts officer to senior director of philanthropy, where I led a team that achieved its largest major gift fundraising year. I developed KPIs and metrics to drive team growth, mentored colleagues globally, and played a key role in national training programs. My ability to collaborate across teams and regions allowed me to deliver strategic fundraising solutions tailored to diverse donor audiences.My expertise spans all aspects of fundraising, including major gifts, government partnerships, family foundations, events, and endowment campaigns. I excel in developing donor-centric strategies, leveraging CRM systems, and driving innovation to support organizational growth. With a passion for leaving every organization better than I found it, I am committed to using philanthropy as a force to create meaningful change.I thrive in roles where I can align organizational missions with impactful fundraising strategies for long-term sustainability and growth. I love collaborating and contributing to driving meaningful impact and supporting the advancement of an organization’s mission.

Experience

1. Director of Development for New York

   The Nature Conservancy

   Jun 2025 — Present · New York, NY, US

Education

• Fieldston High School

  High School

• Conservative Yeshiva

  Talmudic Studies

• Trinity College-Hartford

  Bachelor of Arts, History and Women's Studies

• Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion

  Rabbinical Studies