Strategists for engagement and philanthropy. Helping nonprofit organizations build.
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Strategists

 

Joshua R. Proulx

In addition to his role as Senior Consultant and Sales Lead for Prosper Nonprofit Advisors, Josh is the Senior Director of Regional Engagement for the UConn Foundation. Proulx is a 15+ year veteran of the higher education and political industries with stints in Alumni Relations, Residential Life, University Faculty, International Career Services, International Recruitment, Sales, and Development.

In his current role of Senior Director of Regional Engagement with the UConn Foundation, Josh oversees the strategic vision of the Regional Alumni Engagement Team ,including virtual event offerings, in-person event engagement strategy, regional chapter and alumni network development, volunteer management and stewardship. He began his work with UConn in 2013 as Director of the Husky Alumni Network overseeing alumni career services and coaching, mentorship programs, economic development, startup initiatives, and grassroots legislative advocacy.

Prior to joining the UConn Alumni Relations team, Josh worked for Johnson & Wales University overseeing portions of the University’s residential life program, growing the University’s international internship program, and teaching courses in political science, sociology, and leadership.

Following his time at JWU, Josh worked as an International Development Consultant for the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Patisserie (National Pastry School of France), owned and operated by world famous Michelin star chef, Alain Ducasse, in Yssingeux, France, where he was responsible for university partnerships and training programs, as well as international admissions.

Josh also serves on the Alumni Board of Directors for the College of Arts & Sciences at Suffolk University. He lives in Brooklyn, Connecticut with his wife Kim and their daughter Lexi.

Education
SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY

M.S. International Relations
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
B.A. French & Political Science

Diane M. BarstowDiane is a fundraising professional with over twenty years of experience in nonprofit development. Following a career in corporate sales and marketing, she led state-wide development efforts for prominent national healthcare organiza…

Diane M. Barstow

Diane is a fundraising professional with over twenty years of experience in nonprofit development. Following a career in corporate sales and marketing, she led state-wide development efforts for prominent national healthcare organizations including the American Cancer Society and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In her current role, Diane serves as Chief Development Officer for the College of Natural Sciences at UMass Amherst, raising critical funds in higher education and engaging alumni to support their alma mater.

Diane specializes in donor-centric strategies ensuring the mission, values, and vision of the organization are upheld in the highest regard. She specializes in donor cultivation and stewardship. Her experience spans the continuum of fundraising from major gifts, annual fund solicitation, and employee giving campaigns to corporate sponsorship and special events fundraising. Diane is proficient in creating direct mail, email, and social media fundraising appeals. As a grass-roots advocate, she has extensive experience in volunteer management including recruitment, training, and retention.

Diane has a passion for improving the lives of others and having a greater impact in society. She shares her expertise as a guest lecturer in topics including Women in Leadership and Nonprofit Management, fostering the next generation of leaders.

Education:
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA)
B.S., Hotel, Restaurant, and Travel Administration

HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
A.S., Hospitality Management

Bryan GrossBryan is the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing at Western New England University (WNE) in Springfield, MA. He manages the Offices of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, Financial Aid, The Registrar’s Office, Market…

Bryan Gross

Bryan is the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing, and the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs at Western New England University (WNE) in Springfield, MA. He manages the Offices of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, Financial Aid, The Registrar’s Office, Marketing and Communications, Media Relations, and Special Events. Prior to this role, Bryan was the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management at St. John’s University in New York City and the Associate Vice President for Admissions at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, CT. Bryan is also the President of the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC).

He is currently a doctorate student at the University of Southern California, working towards his Ed.D in Organizational Change and Leadership, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2022. In his studies, he is researching how consumer mindset and declining demographics are impacting private Universities’ ability to balance revenue and expenses. Throughout his career, Bryan has directed multiple promotional marketing films and presented at dozens of regional, national and international conferences on a wide variety of topics related to recruitment, retention and marketing.

Education:
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
PhD (anticipated May `22), Organizational Change and Leadership

SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE
M.Ed., Counseling and Psychology

PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
B.S., Human Development and Family Studies

 
Rick MacdonaldRick is a veteran advancement leader with experience in all facets of philanthropy. His expertise has generated tens of millions of dollars for preparatory, university, and national nonprofit organizations. The ability to strategically…

Rick Macdonald

Rick is a veteran advancement leader with experience in all facets of philanthropy. His expertise has generated tens of millions of dollars for preparatory, university, and national nonprofit organizations. The ability to strategically develop relationships and transition prospects into investors has transformed the annual funds, capital and comprehensive campaigns, and planned giving societies he has overseen.

With a particular talent for and comfort in discussions of legacy, Rick has a demonstrated ability to inspire meaningful investment and aspirational outcomes in both established and new donors. Similarly, he has consulted with countless gift officers, administrators, and other donor-facing staff to teach recognition of planned gift opportunities, navigating far-sighted and familial discussions on giving, and basics of planned gift administration.

Rick is a graduate of Eaglebrook School, Kent School, and the University of Massachusetts, with advanced study in nonprofit administration at Louisiana State University.

Education:
Louisiana State University

Nonprofit Administration

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
B.A., Communications

 
Lindsay T. McGrath, M.Ed.As a networker-by-nature, Lindsay is passionate about relationship building, and helping students and young alumni grow and realize the power in their professional networks. Having worked in alumni relations and student enga…

Lindsay T. McGrath, M.Ed.

As a networker-by-nature, Lindsay is passionate about relationship building, and helping students and young alumni grow and realize the power in their professional networks. Having worked in alumni relations and student engagement, Lindsay is passionate about motivating and recruiting volunteers to become lifelong friends of the university. With experience developing and infusing philanthropy programming to support divisional goals, she is skilled at introducing the philanthropy pipeline to prepare students to engage with causes that matter to them.

Lindsay also has experience working with young alumni volunteers, building and maintaining a young alumni advisory council. She is an experienced event planner, annually executing events with more than 2,500 attendees. Passionate about student engagement in advancement, Lindsay is a two-time Outstanding Adviser award winner through CASE ASAP District 1, and enjoys sharing her experiences at student advancement conferences across the country.

Education:
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
M.Ed., Higher Education Administration
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY
B.A., Public Relation

Kendra Porter

Kendra is a marketing professional with 20 years of experience in the corporate and nonprofit sectors. From developing to executing initiatives, she designs programs driven to increase donor participation, constituent engagement, and engender lifelong dedication to organizations.

Merging a passion to impact others with event management, Kendra is effective at devising comprehensive fundraising strategies that include leveraging your donor management system, creating an annual giving program, and conceiving impactful special events. Skilled at cultivating strategic partnerships she is able to negotiate joint ventures for goodwill and increase community relations.

Her work crosses international borders from opening schools to disaster relief efforts abroad. She has worked with the Youth Institute of Science & Technology, HOPE Africa, Yéle Haiti, Banda Bola Sports Foundation, and the Gender Development Institute’s Climate Change and Mitigation Summit.

Kendra’s talents and skills were honed in sports and entertainment executing promotions for professional sports organizations and various record labels as well as producing concerts and media tours for top recording artists. She has provided market research and executed experiential events for clients including Madison Square Garden, U.S. Soccer, NBA, PGA and NASCAR.

With Kendra’s expertise she has been a conference facilitator for the Harvard School of Education, a guest speaker for the Harvard School of Business and the Meeting and Events Management Association.

Education:
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST

M.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management
B.S. in Promotional Marketing Management
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
Public Relations
PURCHASE COLLEGE
Fundraising and Board Development
FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Image Consulting

Erica Raggett

Erica is passionate about walking alongside organizations and individuals to increase their impact on communities. As the Founder and CEO of A 2nd Cup, a highly successful innovative social enterprise in Houston, TX, Erica has an intimate understanding of the scope of responsibilities held by nonprofit leaders and the issues impacting organizations. From mission and vision to infrastructure and evaluation, she has managed and directed every aspect of a non-profit and led her team to generate millions of dollars to pour back into anti-trafficking initiatives. Erica most thrives in casting vision and creating actionable strategic plans to ensure organizations meet their objectives and best serve the community. 

With nearly 20 years in the non-profit sector with focuses in research, education and social justice, Erica’s breadth of experience enables her to apply strategy and innovation to create systems and structures that reinforce the work of organizations and effectively evaluate and continually improve programs and outcomes. Erica is an empathic leader who thrives in supporting directors as they cast vision, manage teams, direct programs and ultimately grow their impact. 

Education 
CAL POLY STATE UNIVERSITY
B.S. Ecology and Systematic Biology
B.S. Animal Science