About

Raising funds and awareness for the world’s most important work - yours

Susan is an experienced nonprofit leader with a strong background in development, marketing, and organizational growth. She most recently served as Chief Development and Marketing Officer at DarkSky International, advancing dark sky preservation and climate action both locally and globally.

Her career includes senior roles in Development and Marketing at Save the Children and the American Cancer Society, as well as entrepreneurial leadership positions as founder, president, and board member of the nonprofit Chinese Language School of Connecticut. Over a decade of service, she grew the organization from a local school into a nationally recognized educational institution with in-person and virtual programs across the U.S.

Susan has served as founder and Program Director of the Impact Vine, a nonprofit crowdfunding initiative launched by the Community Fund of Darien, and has contributed her expertise to additional nonprofit organizations and several for‑profit startups.

She holds dual MBAs in Finance and International Business from Fairfield University and a BBA in Marketing from Pace University.

She brings: 

  • 20+ years’ experience developing and growing nonprofits and small businesses
  • Deep understanding of development and fundraising, marketing and communications, operations, corporate partnerships, and publicity, nationally and globally
  • Extensive experience working with diverse and global teams of board members, staff, volunteers, donors, nonprofits, schools, community-based organizations, stakeholders, and corporate partners, to increase efficiencies, generate engagement, raise funds, and expand outreach
  • Exceptional organizational, project management, time management, business development, and analytical skills
  • High energy, creative self-starter, data-driven, extreme commitment to detail, strong analytical aptitude
  •  Excellent technology skills including Google Suite, Salesforce, Office365, Monday, Canva, Google Analytics, Meta Business Manager, custom-built CRM systems and all social media platforms
  •  15+ years’ experience volunteering with justice, conservation, preservation and advocacy initiatives


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What People Say

Susan held the positions of Director of Development and Communications and later, Chief Development and Markting Officer, (managing) a team (of) six staff members, two interns and three consultants. Her responsibilities included developing strategies for marketing, communications, fundraising, membership and corporate sponsorships, (managing) the publication of Nightscape, DarkSky’s quarterly magazine (and) finalizing DarkSky’s rebranding efforts (while) demonstrating passion and commitment to our cause.

Ruskin Hartley, CEO, DarkSky International

Susan is a multifaceted.. strategic marketing professional (with) excellent strategic planning and marketing skills, as well as high level program management (experience) at a level of competency that few people have achieved in their careers. If you are lucky enough to hire her, you will receive in turn a highly competent professional who will ask the right questions and transform your organization in a way that will benefit all involved.

Lisa Maniero, Author, Researcher, Management Professor, Fairfield University

Contact

You can email me at susan@servenstrategies.com or find me on LinkedIn.