Cathy Card Sterling
Vice President
Overview
Cathy has devoted the past four decades to focus on the strengthening of the nonprofit sector in the nation’s capital and across the country. Cathy brings to Schultz & Williams and its clients her extensive experience in governance and board training, institutional advancement, managing during transition, and results-oriented fundraising and communications. Her specific focus areas include capital campaign planning and implementation, major gifts fundraising and stewardship, messaging, communications, and board strengthening.
Building on her nonprofit leadership experience, Cathy founded S&W’s Washington, D.C. office. Since joining the firm, she has partnered with numerous clients from the cultural arts, educational, environmental, and social service arenas. She has counseled them on advancing their organizations, designing new development programs, planning and launching capital campaigns, and creating successful solicitation strategies for campaign leadership and major donors. Cathy provided development counsel for the National Women’s History Museum’s $450 million campaign, served as interim vice president for development for Scholarship America, and designed a $35 million endowment campaign for the Shelburne Museum.
Background
Prior to joining S&W, Cathy served as vice president for development at WETA, the flagship public broadcasting station in Washington, D.C., where she helped plan and implement their campaign for the new century and advanced their board and volunteer leadership. She has also served as director of corporate and foundation relations for the Phillips Collection and as administrative officer with the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
Cathy is a former advisor and lecturer for The Fund for Arts and Culture in Central and Eastern Europe. She speaks widely on fundraising topics and was a master teacher within the national Public Broadcasting System. Cathy has conducted seminars in Russia, sponsored by The Fund for Arts and Culture, on public sector management and fundraising issues. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards and currently serves on the board of Christchurch School.
Nonprofit Experience
- Chautauqua Institution
- American Research Center in Egypt
- Shelburne Museum
- Hilda’s and St. Hugh’s School
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington
- Washington School for Girls
- The Wilderness Society
- Trust for the National Mall
Education
- Bachelor of Arts– Wheaton College
- Master’s in Business Administration – American University
- Master’s in Arts Management – American University