ISM Advancement Consultant | Director of Development at The Calhoun School
Expertise
L.J. provides expertise in development for private-independent schools, specifically building the annual fund and hosting special events fundraising.
Current Role
In July 2018, L.J. joined The Calhoun School in New York City as Director of Development. With ISM, he:
- Leads or co-leads Summer Institute workshops on the annual fund and the development office
- Teaches and mentors advancement professionals during ISM’s weeklong summer Advancement Academy
- Conducts annual fund action plan and volunteer training consultations
- Assists ISM on Feasibility Study assignments, in particular working with clients to craft their campaign case statements
He holds the Leader Certification through ISM’s International Advancement Program (IAP−L).
L.J. has presented at conferences for CASE-NAIS (2015, 2014-Stellar Speaker), NYSAIS, and The Episcopal Church of the United States. He continues to serve on the Board of Trustees for Mary McDowell Friends School in Brooklyn, NY.
Prior Experience
Most recently, L.J. served for four years as the Director of Advancement at Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School in New York City, a 14-year progressive program for 650 students. Since joining the school in July 2014, LREI experienced record-setting annual giving results in annual fund, special events, and endowment campaign fundraising.
During the school year 2013-14, L.J. was Director of Development at Seacrest Country Day School, a PK-12 college preparatory school for 450 students in Naples, FL. In that one year under L.J.'s leadership, the annual fund increased 185%.
Before joining Seacrest in July 2013, L.J. was the Director of Development for Mary McDowell Friends School in New York City, a K–12 independent Quaker school in Brooklyn that serves 390 students with learning disabilities. L.J. joined the school in 2008 as its first Director of Development. During his five-year tenure, the annual fund doubled and the school tripled its capital campaign dollars.
From 2005–2008, L.J. was Director of Development at The Churchill School and Center in New York City, which serves 400 students with learning disabilities in grades K–12. There, he exceeded his annual fund goal by $200,000 each year, for a total increase of 45% over three years. He supervised a $10 million endowment campaign for faculty enrichment, raised within a one-year period.
Education
L.J. earned his master’s degree in fine arts from the American Conservatory Theater, CA; his juris doctorate from Suffolk University Law School, MA; and his bachelor’s degree from College of the Holy Cross, MA.