Catherine Spear brings more than 30 years of national, regional and local professional experience in the non-profit sector, as an executive director, campaign counsel, trainer and consultant in nonprofit board and volunteer development, organizational development, and fund development. 

Her range of work has included board and leadership training, organizational assessments, development audits, program audits, strategic planning, campaign readiness, annual campaign, capital campaign, and board, staff and executive coaching. 

She has served as an instructor in the Nonprofit Management Program for the University of California, Irvine, on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Orange County chapter, and as co-chair of National Philanthropy Day 2015 and 2016.  She has held the credential for a Certified Fund Raising Executive in good standing since 1998.

Professional Background

Professional Affiliations:

• Member, Association of Fundraising Professionals, 1997 - 2022 AFP
• Member, Board of Directors, Association of Fundraising Professionals, 1998 - 2003, 2016 - 2021
• Co-Chair, National Philanthropy Day, 2015 - 2016 NPDOC
• Member, Planned Giving Round Table, 1999 – 2004
• Member, Academic Advisory Group, UCIrvine Certificate Program, 2002 - 2009

Honors:

• 2009 Distinguished Instructor Award, University of California, Irvine
• 2017 Outstanding Professional Fundraiser, Association of Fundraising Professionals
• Honored, 108th Congress, U.S. House of Representatives, as an expert fundraiser and fundraising for California schools.

Classes, Presentations and Lectures:

• Funding Your Annual Operating Budget, UC Irvine, 2001 – 2009
• Non Profit Board and Volunteer Development, UC Irvine, 2001 – 2009
• Capital Campaigns, UC Irvine, 2002-2008
• Ethics in Leadership and Fundraising, UC Irvine, 2005-2009
• Corporate and Foundation Solicitation and Research, UC Irvine, 2002
• Solicitation Seminar, Client Training, 1996 - 2020
• Personal Coaching for Nonprofit Executives, Client Training, 2000 – 2022
• Mastering the Nonprofit Organization, Non Profit Resource Center, 2001
• Case Study Workshop, Non Profit Resource Center, 1999
• Marketing the NPO to Corporations and Foundations, Cal State Fullerton, 2001 and 2002
• Vision and Goal Setting, Student Leadership Institute, Cal State Fullerton, 2001 and 2002
• Summer School for Nonprofits: Board Development and Fundraising, Cal State Fullerton, 2006 – 2009
• Board, Volunteer and Staff Leadership, OneOC 2019
• Ethics in Fundraising, Client Training 2019 - 2022
• High Impact Boards, Client Training, 2020-2022

Associates