“” Instructors and Facilitators

Professional Fundraising Certificate Program

Instructors and Facilitators

Jon Schaffrath, CFRE, MBA

Director of the Professional Fundraising Certificate Program

Jon Schaffrath began his career in nonprofit fundraising at the Harvard Business School (HBS) in 2006 and has continued to fundraise for HBS in a number of different positions since then. Jon is currently Director of Development Strategic Initiatives working fundraising strategy projects and managing a portfolio of 100+ major gift prospects. Jon earned the Certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University, and in 2011, he began teaching as a part of the program. Jon graduated from Boston College, earned his MBA from Babson College and achieved the Certified Fundraising Executive designation in 2020. Jon also teaches fundraising at the Harvard Extension School and is a regular speaker at the annual CASE Conference.

Professional Fundraising Instructor Jon Schaffrath

Michael J. Bobbitt

Instructor, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

Michael J. Bobbitt has dedicated his professional career to arts leadership. He is a theatre director, choreographer, and playwright. On February 1, 2021, he joined Mass Cultural Council as Executive Director, becoming the highest-ranking cultural official in Massachusetts. Upon joining Mass Cultural Council, Bobbitt was invited and agreed to serve on the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) Board of Directors.

Bobbitt gained extensive experience in nonprofit arts management by training at Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management, The National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program, and Cornell University’s Diversity and Inclusion Certification Program. He has served as an Associate Professor of Theatre at both the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Howard University and volunteered on numerous nonprofit boards, including Non-Profit Village, Maryland Citizens for the Arts, Leadership Montgomery, Weissberg Foundation, Watertown Public Art Commission, and ArtsBoston. In 2021 he was selected to join artEquity’s second cohort of the BIPOC Leadership Circle.


Amanda Dempster

Facilitator, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

Over the last decade Amanda has been involved in ministry and education, serving as a pastor, professor and a Dean of Undergraduate Studies. She holds a B.A. degree in Anthropology and Sociology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and a Master of Divinity from Shiloh University. In the fall of 2020, she received a Certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University. Last year she joined the development team at International Justice Mission, a non-profit working to end slavery in our lifetime by partnering with local justice systems to end violence against people living in poverty. She currently serves as a Director of Partnership Engagement on the Mid-Level Giving Team. Her background in ministry and education have proved a good foundation for philanthropy, as she enjoys walking alongside partners and discovering their passions and interests.


Neida Jimenez

Instructor, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

Neida is the Director of Major Gifts at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University. In this role, she works to deepen relationships with alumni supporters and identify new major gift prospects for the school. Neida brings nearly 15 years of development experience to Northeastern. Before her appointment, she was a major gifts officer at Harvard Business School (HBS) where she worked with alumni across different regions including London, Texas, and New York. Neida started at HBS as a Leadership Giving officer on the Young Alumni team where she had great success building and cultivating a pipeline for the next generation of philanthropic leaders. She also served as interim director of the HBS Fund during which time she played an instrumental role in building and launching the fund’s strategy and infrastructure. Before HBS, Neida worked on the development team for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard and served as Director of the Graduate School Fund which supports masters and doctoral students. Development was Neida’s second career. She came to Harvard thinking she would pursue a doctoral degree but ended up working with faculty across the University in various inter-faculty initiatives including the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies. It was not until graduate school that Neida discovered development as a career; she has never turned back. She holds degrees from Rutgers University (BA in Spanish) and The University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education (MS in Education).


Kylie Johnson, CAP

Instructor, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

For over two decades, Kylie Johnson has helped donors make charitable gifts that make an impact and meet their personal and philanthropic goals. As Planned Giving Director for Baystate Health Foundation (BHF) in western Massachusetts, Kylie serves as a member of the leadership team and leads the development and growth of a comprehensive planned giving program. She is focused on the donor-centric, relationship-building work that leads to major and principal gifts both deferred and outright. She moves forward all aspects of the gift planning program, including a robust marketing program, and works closely with donors, their advisors, staff, and health system/physician leadership to increase philanthropic support to BHF. A program builder, Kylie was named “Top 40 under 40” for her work as a director in Virginia Tech’s successful one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign. She also helped launch a $300M campaign at UMass Amherst, directed planned giving and an endowment campaign for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, and served wealth management clients as a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch. Committed to giving back to the profession, Kylie serves on the board of the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County, is a member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP) and is a past board member of the Planned Giving Group of New England (PGGNE). A graduate of Virginia Tech and Washington University in St. Louis, she holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) designation from the American College for Financial Services.


Sandy Kingsley

Facilitator, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

Sandy is an alumnus of Kansas State University and holds a BS in Family Studies and Human Services, a Minor in Conflict Analysis and Trauma Studies and Certificate in Conflict Resolution. Sandy’s professional background ranges from corporate aviation charter brokerage, event planning, marketing, sales and most recently, higher education. Sandy completed the BU Professional Fundraising Certificate Program in December of 2016 and is pursuing a career in the non-profit sector. Sandy is passionate about advocacy and stays engaged by volunteering her time to organizations that promote equality, education, justice and tolerance.


Theresa Lee

Instructor, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

Theresa Lee is the Founder and CEO of TJL Partners, a consultancy that provides top-quality strategy, training, and practical solutions for your fundraising and staffing challenges. She has worked in a variety of advancement roles including major gift fundraising, management of annual and major gift fundraising teams, alumni and parent relations, human resource and budget management. As an expert in annual giving and special project fundraising, she believes passionately in an integrated marketing strategy and the impact of great stewardship.

For more than 28 years, she served as a senior executive in advancement at MIT, Boston College, Holy Cross, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and UMass Lowell after an early career in Student Affairs at Northeastern University. As a leader and a frequent speaker Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and Women in Development (WID), she has shared knowledge and practical solutions with fundraising professionals from across the country in all types of non-profits. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Maine and a master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University.


John Maragos

Facilitator, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

John Maragos was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He attended DePauw University and the University of Illinois— Chicago Campus, where he studied political science and urban policy and planning. He moved to Brookline, MA and received a Master of Divinity degree from Holy Cross; and did independent postgraduate studies with Dr. Chris Argyris at Harvard in action learning/organizational learning.

John is a professional fundraising, marketing, and action learning consultant; and a former instructor in economics and finance. He works with both nonprofits and for-profit organizations domestically and internationally, and enjoys teaching and collaborating in helping others learn and grow as professional fundraisers.


Adele Mezher

Instructor, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

Adele Mezher is a certified Diversity & Inclusion Recruiter who serves as Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Pearl Street Collective, an award-winning executive search and talent strategy firm for the higher education, nonprofit, and health sectors. She has three decades of experience in the executive search industry initially leading CEO and VP-level engagements for Fortune 500 technology and manufacturing clients before transitioning to nonprofit search and specializing in advancement and development. For the last fifteen years, she has partnered with presidents, boards, and leadership teams who seek advancement talent, particularly in preparation for multi-million and multi-billion-dollar campaigns, and has provided counsel on career pathing, inclusive onboarding programs, organizational design, and succession planning. Adele is an active volunteer with SquashBusters, a member and mentor of Women of Color in Fundraising & Philanthropy, and supporter of the #HIREBLACK Initiative and the scholarship-granting Lebanese American Awareness Association.


Marcela Muñiz, Ph.D.

Instructor, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

Marcela Muñiz has utilized her career in higher education and philanthropy to promote equity and opportunity. As Vice President of Philanthropy at the Latino Community Foundation (LCF), Marcela leads fund development efforts to fulfill the Foundation’s philanthropic aspirations. Prior to LCF, Marcela served as regional director of capital giving for Harvard University, where she led strategic fundraising efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Prior to joining Harvard’s team, Marcela was an Assistant Dean of Admission at Stanford University. An expert on diversity in higher education, she has published and spoken widely on education topics including college access and faculty and student diversity. Marcela graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Sociology and Spanish, MA in Sociology, and PhD in Education.


Stanley Onuoha

Instructor, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

Stanley Onuoha is the Director of Parent and International Philanthropy (West Coast & Asia) at Emerson College. He is a native Bostonian and former Founder & Managing Partner at Fruition Consulting. Stanley draws on his career as a Portfolio Manager and Corporate Banker at BMO Capital Markets, RT Capital, and Bank of America to help organizations effectively manage risk and quantify impact. Additionally, he has served on leadership boards in a myriad of community-based organizations to develop fundraising strategies and philanthropic programming. He has served as Governance Chairman for Museum of African American History and as the former Vice President of the Greater Boston Morehouse College Alumni Association.

Additionally, Stanley has served on the EdVestors School on the Move Host Committee and Seed Fund Panel, and as a former coach for Junior Achievement of New England’s Business Academy. Currently, he serves as a board member for the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club and Board Trustee for Roxbury Prep Charter School network (Uncommon Schools). He is a proud Boston Latin, Morehouse College (Business Management), and Harvard University (Education Policy & Management, Ed.M.), graduate. He brings his professional & educational networks, insights, and energy to the Emerson Community.


Kelli Rafferty

Instructor, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

Kelli Rafferty, MPA is the Executive Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement for the Mary & John Elliot Charitable Foundation and Elliot Health System/SolutionHealth in Manchester, NH. Kelli has nearly 30 years of nonprofit management, community health, and philanthropy experience. In her current role at Elliot Health System/SolutionHealth, Kelli Provides strategic planning and leadership for the philanthropy programs of SolutionHealth, Elliot Hospital and Southern NH Health. In 2020, she directed a successful capital campaign, raising nearly $13M for the expansion of cancer services at Elliot Hospital, helping to open the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care.

She has previously served as the Executive Director of the Genesis Foundation for Children in Boston and as the Philanthropy Officer at Baystate Health Foundation/Baystate Health, where she was on the leadership team for Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield. Prior to joining Baystate Health, Kelli was Vice President for Development at Easter Seals Massachusetts and held various roles during her 14-year tenure at American Cancer Society, including Massachusetts State Vice President for Development and National Director of Mission Integration for the Relay For Life program.

Kelli received her B.A. in Politics from Saint Anselm College (Manchester, NH) and her M.A. in Public Administration from American International College (Springfield, MA).


Sam Sanker

Instructor, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

Sam Sanker is a New Jersey native.  He holds a degree in psychology from Harvard University and earned his law degree from Fordham University School of Law.  He currently serves as the Director of Development at Tufts University’s School of Arts and Sciences, as well as the President of the Planned Giving Group of New England.  Prior to his career in fundraising, he practiced law as a litigation associate in New York City.  In addition to Tufts, he has spent time at Harvard Medical School and Wake Forest University.  He oversaw the gift planning program at Harvard Medical School and designed and launched the planned giving programs at the YMCA of the North Shore and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.  In his spare time, he enjoys music, literature, film, and art.


Morgan Schaffrath

Facilitator, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

The majority of Morgan’s career has been in finance and software development in the Boston Area. In recent years she has been spending time focused on early childhood development. Morgan is an alumnus from Boston College having completed her BS in management as an undergraduate as well as earning a Masters in Business Administration. 

Throughout her life, Morgan has been committed to nonprofits and has had a number of volunteer roles as a mentor and buddy with the Walker School and with the elderly. This work has inspired her to seek out new ways to ensure that the organizations she cares about are sustained and well supported.


Ellen Sullivan

Instructor, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

As director of international advancement at Phillips Academy, Ellen shapes cultivation and gift development strategies for Andover’s top potential campaign donors from abroad and manages a portfolio of international principal giving prospects.  She came to Phillips Academy after a long career in higher education at Harvard University and Boston College, where she held similar positions in international advancement. Previous roles include director of corporate and foundation relations, associate director of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, and admissions officer for Harvard College.

Ellen has a B.A. in political science from Boston College and a M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, with a focus on international education. Ellen is a board member of South Africa Partners, a Boston-based nonprofit organization focused on advancing health and education in South Africa.  She is a past member of the Board of Trustees of CASE, where she was Chair of the International Committee and the honoree of the John Lippincott Award for Global Advancement and Support of Education (2017). She was also the convener of the Advisory Council on Education of the Fetzer Institute, an operating foundation in Kalamazoo, Michigan. 


Frank White

Instructor, Metropolitan College, Certificate in Professional Fundraising

Frank White has been involved with technology and communications since the 1970s, with experience ranging from television production to cable television consulting, to high technology public relations. He has been working in the field of development since 1994. Most recently, he worked in alumni relations and resource development at Harvard Kennedy School. Currently, he is an independent consultant to nonprofit organizations with an emphasis on development communications. He is an alumnus of Harvard College and Oxford University.

Professional Fundraising Instructor Frank White