Consultant Spotlight: Erin Flannery

At Fox Campaigns, we’re honored to work alongside consultants whose passion, expertise, and dedication make an incredible difference for nonprofits nationwide. In our Consultant Spotlight series, featured in our newsletters, we highlight the people behind capital campaigns, grant writing, and fractional staffing—the trusted advisors guiding organizations to dream bigger, plan smarter, and achieve transformative results.

With more than 15 years of experience leading cultural programming and development at nationally recognized nonprofits—including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Public Radio, and WNET/Channel Thirteen—Erin Flannery brings both creativity and strategy to her work in philanthropy.

Throughout her career, Erin has helped organizations and artists connect vision to resources—guiding campaigns, refining messaging, and building major gifts programs that make transformational work possible. Her approach to fundraising is both art and science: rooted in storytelling, relationship-building, and a deep belief that philanthropy connects values to action.

A dedicated advocate for mission-driven organizations, Erin also models the leadership she inspires in others. She serves on several nonprofit boards and was recently recognized by Opera America as one of its 2025 National Opera Trustee honorees for her exceptional board service with Experiments in Opera.

In our conversation, Erin shares what drives her passion for this work, why she believes fundraising is really about matchmaking, and how she continues to champion creativity, community, and the nonprofit sector as a whole.

Tell us all about you!

I have more than 15 years of experience leading cultural programming and development at nationally recognized nonprofits, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Public Radio, and WNET/Channel Thirteen. I’ve spent my career helping organizations and artists connect vision to resources - guiding campaigns, refining messaging, building major gifts programs, and fostering partnerships that make creative work possible.  I love to help mission-driven organizations navigate transformational growth and fundraising innovation. I’m also deeply invested in Board leadership, and I try to practice what I preach.  I serve on a number of Boards, and was recently honored to be named one of Opera America's 2025 National Opera Trustee Recognition for my work with a wonderful company called "Experiments in Opera." 

Why do you love your work/profession?

I try to approach my work with the idea that fundraising isn’t about asking for money.  I see it as being a matchmaker:  people have values they want to see reflected in the world, whether it's  the right to affordable childcare, a thriving arts community, excellent education, or democracy itself, and nonprofits are the ones with the boots on the ground bringing those values to life.  Philanthropy connects vision to action. I’m passionate about helping nonprofits refine their messaging so they can fully express their value, to demonstrate not just the impact of their programs, but their essential role in a thriving economy and community. Non-Profits do not get enough credit for the work they are doing! 

If you were to meet the founder or CEO of any non-profit, who would it be and why? 

I am going to give you an answer that maybe you aren't expecting, and that goes way, way back - (also because I "grew up" in public radio and public television and I can't help myself): Benjamin Franklin!  He was a visionary nonprofit leader because he didn’t just ask for money; he invented systems that made giving more effective and community-driven.  When he helped found Pennsylvania Hospital in 1751, he invented the matching gift concept. He persuaded the Pennsylvania Assembly to pledge public funds on the condition that private citizens would first raise a matching amount.  It was an idea that together with shared responsibility, we can build something larger than ourselves. 

Successful campaigns start with trusted expertise. Discover how Fox Campaigns provides the leadership, strategy, and tools your organization needs to reach its goals. Learn more.