Mary Ellen Fraser
Vice President
Overview
Mary Ellen is currently a development consultant working with nonprofit organizations to achieve their fundraising goals. Prior to launching her consultancy, she worked at leading institutions in Washington, D.C. For nearly three decades, Mary Ellen has led highly accomplished development teams, creating, and implementing successful strategic plans for annual and campaign advancement efforts.
Background
As the chief development officer at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Mary Ellen directed fundraising in Washington and at its five overseas centers. She oversaw the Corporate and Foundation Relations Office at the Brookings Institution during its Second Century Campaign, raising both restricted grants and general support while at the same time, managing the corporate members of the Brookings Council—a group of more than 100 leading global corporations and financial institutions.
Before joining Brookings, Mary Ellen was the senior director of science development at Conservation International and held a variety of advancement positions at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. Additionally, she was a senior fundraiser at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and began her career at the National Gallery of Art, where she established its first corporate giving council.
Nonprofit Experience
- Brookings Institution
- Chautauqua Institution
- Central Catholic High School
- Lehigh Valley Community Foundation
- National Conservation Foundation
- Central Asia Institute
- CHILD USA
- Education Leaders of Color
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Art History – Wheaton College
Master’s Degree in Art History – University of Delaware