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Phone 1: (507) 429-0245

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Nancy Brown, MNA

Consultant/Other

Bio

As a career-long nonprofit professional, I enjoy sharing what I have learned through successes and failures, research and trial and error. I am a bit of a wonk when it comes to policies and procedures particularly when it comes to donor stewardship.

Having recently retired from full-time work, I am excited to be engaged with Crescendo Fundraising Professionals, LLP, a capital campaign consulting firm with more than two decades running successful campaigns. 


Teaching and presenting on philanthropy, fund development, planned giving, board management, policy makes my heart sing. I taught Planned Giving Basics in the LaGrange College Master's in Philanthropy and Development Program for five years and am told I have a "gift" for making planned giving understandable.

Now having worked in both a fundraising and grant-making capacity, I have a deeper understanding of the complexities of fundraising and development.

Education

University of Notre Dame
South Bend, Indiana, United States
Master's in Nonprofit Administration, 1995

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Bachelor of Arts, 1987
Journalism - Public Relations

Professional Associations

Association of Fundraising Professionals
1996 - Present

Job History

Self-employed
Independent Advisor/Consultant
September 2024 - present

Winona Community Foundation
President/CEO
Winona, MN, United States
May 2019 - December 2024

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Senior Developmet Director
Winona, MN, United States
November 2016 - April 2019

Thompson & Associates
Vice President - Consultant
August 2012 - February 2017

Honors and Awards

Certified Fund Raising Executive
CFRE (37375)
2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018

Outstanding Professional Fundraiser
AFP-WI, Upper Mississippi Valley
2016