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Highlights

  • Senior Data Analytics Consultant at Washburn McGoldrick since 2022.
  • Client projects include Centre College, College of Wooster, Davidson College, Grinnell College, Rhodes College, Rollins College, University of Richmond, Winston-Salem State University, William & Mary, and many others.
  • Leads Washburn McGoldrick’s artificial intelligence (AI) applications, including pioneering work in survey comment analysis. Specializes in surveys, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and integrating data from multiple sources to find insights. Key leadership roles with the National Alumni Survey and the Advancement Moving Forward industry survey.
  • Past experience includes Founder of SurveyLab, a senior consultant with DonorSearch AI, and more than a decade leading the philanthropic analytics division of a large consulting firm.
  • Active community volunteer working with at-risk post-incarceration individuals.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Susan L. Washburn

Of Counsel

swash@wash-mcg.com

Sue Washburn has more than 45 years of experience in educational advancement in both public and private higher education. Recognized as a leader in the profession, Sue is known as a strategic thinker, an expert in donor motivation, and an outstanding teacher and speaker. She has used her breadth of experience in governance, development, alumni relations and communications in consulting relationships with colleges, universities and schools in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Integrating her knowledge and experience with her desire to help others perform their advancement responsibilities well, she joined Bill McGoldrick to establish Washburn McGoldrick in 1995.

Sue began her development career as a campaign staff member at her alma mater, Franklin & Marshall College. She served on the campaign staff at St. Lawrence University in the 1970’s before becoming Vice President for Development at Centenary College. During nine years at The Evergreen State College, her responsibilities included Vice President for Development and Administration and Executive Director of The Evergreen Foundation. In these roles, she served as chief advancement officer and chief financial officer of the College. From 1988-1996, Sue returned to St. Lawrence to serve as Vice President for University Relations.

The former Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Sue is an active and recognized educator who has worked extensively with advancement staffs, deans, campus CEO’s and volunteer boards.

Sue has been a faculty member at CASE’s flagship educational fund raising conference at Dartmouth College, a featured speaker at CASE/NAIS, ACE and AGB programs, and chaired the CASE/UK conference at Cambridge University. In 2018, CASE honored her with the Burr Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sue earned her bachelor’s degree in English at Franklin & Marshall. She holds a master’s degree in management and marketing from Clarkson University and has completed advanced study at Harvard’s Institute for Educational Management.

Sue is the immediate Past Chair of the Board of Trustees at Franklin & Marshall College and an honorary degree recipient from St. Lawrence University. She has also served as an active board member for various community organizations.

Susan L. Washburn

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Intensives  helped us with our work with the top prospects, and it helped me structure gift officer pools and keep the team focused so that we are spending our time where we should.

Director of Major Gifts
VP / UNC

Myrna Bizer

The Intensives outline a strategic process and set of tools for a fundraiser to optimize giving and long-term relationships with a portfolio of donors. Having the full team trained in the Intensives process strengthens our major gifts efforts on many levels – how they view their role within the organization; how they collaborate with others to increase donor engagement; how they manage their time; and how they navigate conversations with donors.

Myrna Bizer
Associate Vice President for Advancement / Rollins College

Alex Eshelbrenner

Authenticity and purpose are at the core of major gift work. Intensives are a powerful opportunity to both learn and refine how to thoughtfully approach our work with elevated intentionality.

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