McDermott + Bull has successfully placed Maureen Fitzgerald as Chief Development Officer (CDO) at Make-A-Wish (MAW) of Metro and Western New York. In her new role, Maureen will lead the development department, managing a team that oversees major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundations, annual giving, special events, community fundraising, and research. Maureen will be an integral part of the executive team, working in collaboration with the CEO board, to diversify and build organizational revenue, expanding the organization’s reach and furthering its cause.
Maureen brings deep experience in strategic and fiscal planning; staff board, volunteer development; and donor engagement to her new role as CDO. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s (JDRF) Greater New York City chapter, leading the organization through a merger of two chapters and expanding philanthropic and digital engagement to counter limitations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Maureen’s broad fundraising career has also included leadership positions as Vice President of Individual Giving with March of Dimes; Northeast Division President at the National Kidney Foundation, and Vice President of the Manhattan Region for the American Cancer Society. Maureen earned her B.A. in sociology, with a concentration in urban studies, from the University of Pennsylvania.
Nationally, Make-A-Wish is recognized as one of the top 10 children’s charities in the US, and the organization has been honored in the most recent edition of “America’s Greatest Brands”. Make-A-Wish Metro and Western NY has been recognized locally, regionally, and nationally for its fundraising, stewardship, governance, and workplace culture. The chapter has been awarded four stars from Charity Navigator and has been named one of the “50 best nonprofits to work for” by The Nonprofit Times. The organization’s mission is “Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.”
This executive search was completed by McDermott + Bull Partner Sue Waterbury, Senior Executive Recruiter Allison Cox, and Senior Research Associate Josh Nichols.