Overview

Rachael Barrett brings more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, partnering with domestic and international organizations to strengthen their fundraising efforts and drive sustainable revenue growth. A strategist with deep expertise across diverse issue areas, including the arts, human services, youth services, public health, community and workforce development, legal services, and advocacy.

Rachael specializes in developing and executing strategies to increase revenues from institutional donors, including foundations, corporations, and government funders. She complements this core expertise with skills in prospect research, proposal writing, case statement development, business planning, event (galas) and conference management. She has served as an interim director of development at several nonprofits and supported the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of full-time fundraising leadership. Rachael has supported and worked closely with nonprofit boards on strategy, business development, and fundraising. An experienced facilitator and presenter, she brings both strategic vision and hands-on execution to every engagement.

Rachael is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, American Association of Grant Professionals, the American Public Health Association, and the American Evaluation Association. Rachael volunteers her time as a board member (Radio Diaries, Global Neuro YCare), advisory committee member (LULAC, Philadelphia), and as a member of the Disaster Action Team with the American Red Cross.

Background

Rachael has worked both on staff and as a consultant in large and small fundraising departments. She has held senior development positions at the Women’s Refugee Commission (an affiliate of the International Rescue Committee) and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York and established and led development departments at the Bronx Defenders, Greenhope Services for Women, and the Energy Coordinating Agency.

As founder of her own consultancy, Rachael has partnered with nonprofits across New York, Connecticut, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Her consulting work spans fundraising strategy, board development, and systems building to enhance development capacity.

Throughout her career, Rachael has built sustainable fundraising infrastructure, strengthened board engagement in philanthropy, and partnered with mission-driven organizations to unlock new sources of institutional support—empowering nonprofits to grow their impact and achieve lasting change.

Nonprofit Experience

• Energy Coordinating Agency
• New York Edge
• Elizabeth Dole Foundation
• Upwardly Global
• BirdsCaribbean
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
• Women’s Refugee Commission / International Rescue Committee

Education

• Master of Business Administration – University of New Haven
• Bachelor of Science in Communication – Emerson College
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, Whitney Museum Independent Studies Program