Elizabeth Abel, MS’13

Elizabeth is a thought leader in philanthropy and expert in nonprofit fundraising. She has designed, advised, and directed development initiatives and capital campaigns that have collectively raised nearly one billion dollars for education, healthcare, arts and culture, and advocacy organizations.

Elizabeth is a Senior Vice President at CCS Fundraising, a global fundraising consulting firm that partners with nonprofits. Since joining CCS in 2013, Elizabeth has worked with institutions to plan and implement large-scale fundraising campaigns with revenue goals ranging from $5 million to over $1 billion. In this role, she provides counsel on strategic planning, major gifts fundraising, and board engagement. Elizabeth has also directed campaign feasibility studies, served in interim development roles, and managed annual campaigns and special fundraising events.

Elizabeth is an instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches “Fundraising & Philanthropy: The Donor Journey” to graduate students in the Nonprofit Leadership Program. Elizabeth serves on the Board of the Nonprofit Leadership Program Alumni Association, and in 2020, she was inducted into the School of Social Policy and Practice Alumni Hall of Fame for her work with mission-driven organizations.

In 2022, Elizabeth was recognized by BELLA Magazine as a “Woman of Influence in Philanthropy.”  She is a board member at the Association of Fundraising Professionals NYC Chapter, where she also serves on the Mentorship Committee and is a regular contributor to NonProfit PRO. You can find Elizabeth offering her fundraising expertise at industry conferences, on nonprofit podcasts, and on social media platforms including LinkedIn and Instagram.

Elizabeth holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University. Elizabeth resides in Manhattan with her husband and daughter. She is an avid traveler, hiker, and tea drinker.