★★★★★
I have known Jill for over 10 years. She is a phenomenal non-profit leader who brings a wide range of skills and experiences to her roles. I have worked with many people over the past 30 years and Jill stands out as an exceptional leader. She can hold the “big picture” while at the same time managing the complex details of a project or department.
Jill led the Development team and the work at Families First to open a regional office in Western MA. Not only was she successful in raising the funds needed to sustain the work, but she also created partnerships that continue to this day. People still talk about the incredible foundation she laid for the success and sustainability of this work.
Jill also works very well with a diverse team of people, reflecting the value of bringing people with different perspectives together to solve issues and launch projects. I am excited for her and her potential clients who will benefit greatly from her broad experience, skills and knowledge.
- Sue Covitz, Executive Director, Families First
★★★★★
Jill’s work for our organization was a GAME CHANGER. Like many organizations big and small, we were focused on the work, and rarely finding time to organize ourselves around building the necessary skills to build and implement a strategic development plan.
Jill took on the passion for our work, fully grasping the meaning and significance, and channeled that energy into a clear plan. She took stock of our existing systems (without judgement, even around the parts that were messy), and created and presented new and better systems. She introduced us to database systems that were much better than what we had been using, and much cheaper! For some years prior to working with Jill much of our data was stacking up in folders, never to be seen again, and Jill got in there and organized it into a system that we could access and understand easily, then developed a plan for the future that was broken down into doable and measurable goals.
Jill is a strategic and organized thinker with very strong people skills. She is direct and clear while also making the entire staff feel seen, understood, and appreciated. Jill supercharged our trajectory and is one of the best things to ever happen to our organization.
- Catherine Gobron, Executive Director, LightHouse Holyoke
★★★★★
While Jill's skills are many, I will focus on her contributions to three major projects she spearheaded: strategic planning, communications planning and grant writing. For the first two areas, she impressed me with her calm, focused and forward-thinking abilities. She managed internal staff and external consultants with a strong sense of direction.
She simultaneously was a grantwriting machine, taking complex concepts and successfully applying them with major success to a variety of funders. Similarly, she tackled a variety of communications initiatives on a nonprofit budget from the glimmer of an idea to full execution.
Her demeanor is deceptively low key, as her pace is fast and focused. She is a team leader, insightful and resourceful, skilled at both brainstorming and detail work.
- Dr. Maureen O'Brien, Co-founder of Brazelton Touchpoints Center at Boston Children's Hospital and former Curriculum Director at Families First
★★★★★
I had the privilege of having Jill as my supervisor when I was first learning the ropes of grant writing, and I can confidently say she is the most skilled writer I have ever worked with. Her ability to craft compelling and precise grant proposals is unmatched.
Beyond writing, Jill helped me develop the skills to think strategically about fundraising. She has a remarkable talent for breaking down complex strategies in a way that empowers those around her. Her mentorship shaped my approach to long-term strategic planning, and the skills she taught me continue to influence my work today.
- Amylark Lorwood, VP of Development & Communications at Lollipop Farm and former Assistant Director of Development at Families First
