Catherine M. Connolly has been working in membership and direct marketing for almost 25 years. She has been on both sides of the consulting relationship — as both a client and a consultant. After working at a large, national consulting agency, she spent time at Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund (now known at Earthjustice). There she integrated the direct marketing program into the bigger scheme of the entire Development office, along with building the institutional readiness needed for a successful mail program.For more than 15 years, she has been consulting, working with clients both nationally and locally who are facing challenges with their direct marketing efforts.

Catherine holds an MBA from Saint Mary’s College of California, graduating cum laude. She has been a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification for more than 12 years. Catherine is a member of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), DMA Nonprofit Federation, Association of Fundraising Professionals and the local California Capital Chapter, and Association of Direct Response Fundraising Counsel. This year, Catherine was elected to the international board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).