Kathy Kraas, Cfre Email & Phone Number

Chicago Illinois, Us

We are a hands-on consulting firm specializing in fundraising, marketing and board development counsel to nonprofits. We thrive on big lifts, steep ramps, short timelines and ambiguous ambitions. Our creative approaches result in identifying untapped and under-explored opportunities for increasing philanthropic income...oh, and a big boost in volunteer engagement. The results...Our clients execute campaigns that exceed previous fundraising records, build new buildings and grow programs. We see your potential from another point of view. We are engaged by complex multi-site nonprofits, independent schools, public school districts, association foundations and more. Seventy percent of our clients have hired us more than once! OUR SECRET SAUCE: 1. Our "can do" spirit2. Our experience with lofty ambitions and short time horizons3. Our passion, creativity and experienceYOU WON'T PUT SOMETHING PAST US THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE. JUST TRY! NICHE SERVICES:1. Major gift identification, cultivation and solicitation2. Capital campaign design and execution3. Marketing and communications strategyAND WE BELIEVE IN COMPLETE HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCYWe pride ourselves in adhering to the highest ethical standards of fundraising set by our accrediting institutions, such as AFP and CFRE. Additionally, K2 Consulting Group is a member of (APC), the Association of Philanthropic Counsel, an international association of consulting firms specializing in governance, management and fundraising. APC members adhere to a Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice, including the Donor's Bill of Rights

Chicago, Il, Us

Rebuilt National Louis University's board with Chicago civic leaders, focusing the message on NLU's role in Chicago public school reform. Led advancement, alumni relations, enrollment marketing and communications. Redeveloped the brand increasing enrollment leads by 33% in the first week of new campaign, reversing an enrollment slide. Hired senior professionals to reconstitute and professionalize the university's major gifts, alumni relations, marketing, public and media relations departments. NLU is the the largest private, PhD. granting College of Education - with then eleven campuses in the U.S. and one in Eastern Europe. What a challenge to lift the University's key historical assets and develop a brand around its work solving issues of public school reform.

Chicago, Il, Us

Directed the advancement program for this $85MM association, including the metropolitan board and 33 individual YMCA boards in a philanthropic growth effort. The YMCA association multiplied its annual fund, built three new YMCA’s, made needed renovations at each branch and successfully advanced a $65 million campaign - the largest YMCA campaign in the country at that time. We did this by building the YMCA's Board of Directors into one of Chicago's premier nonprofit boards with leading civic leaders and philanthropists, building the individual branch boards, strengthening the case for support, positioning the YMCA as one of the leading human service agencies in Chicago.

Us

Hired to open and market the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles’ flagship $14.5M ($50M today's dollars) Ketchum-Downtown YMCA on Bunker Hill. The YMCA surpassed its membership goals by 25% in the first week of operation. Within a few months of employment, I assumed the portfolio for fundraising as well, engaging 300 volunteers in soliciting funds for the less advantaged residents of downtown. By lifting the needs of downtown’s less fortunate residents to the attention of those who wanted to make a difference, we set national records over multiple years for both annual campaign income and numbers of volunteers.

Ba, Political Science

Spanish, Political Science