Mike Stefanski
President
Favorite inspirational quote:
Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
— Mark Twain
Mike Stefanski is President at Aperio Philanthropy, where he leads Aperio’s partnerships with nonprofit organizations and business operations. In his consulting work, he specializes in developing and implementing fundraising strategies, donor engagement, and corporate partnerships. Mike has led partnerships with organizations such as: United Way of Rhode Island, Meals on Wheels America, National 4-H Council, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and YMCA of Greater New York.
Prior to joining Aperio, Mike was Director of Fundraising Programs and Operations at the national headquarters of the American Red Cross. In that capacity, he managed a team who collaborated with various business units to develop compelling cases for support. His team developed the fundraising materials, trained frontline fundraisers, and tracked the success of the programs. Mike served as a subject matter expert and internal strategist for regional teams. He helped launch the fundraising efforts for blood services, growing revenue by more than 300% in three years. He also managed a portfolio of institutional donors, shepherding six- and seven-figure annual contributions from corporate donors.
Previously, Mike worked for America’s Promise Alliance, helping to institute fundraising best practices and develop the structure of a $30 million campaign. He also worked at Conservation International, managing the Business & Biodiversity Council, a group of companies committed to sustainability that met twice a year to delve into the intersection of their businesses and pressing environmental issues.
Mike holds an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and an MA in Environmental Policy and BA in International Studies from American University. He lives outside of Philadelphia with his wife, son, and daughter and enjoys coaching his children’s teams in his free time.
Areas of expertise: annual planning, program development and implementation, change management, team development, trends analysis, corporate fundraising and in-kind donations
Causes I’m most passionate about: education, environment, health equity, socio-economic development, international development
My fundraising story: I started fundraising somewhat accidentally when I first began my career in the CEO & Chairman’s Office of Conservation International. I quickly realized the critical role that fundraising plays within any non-profit organization. Without funding, there can be no service or mission delivery. During my tenure at America’s Promise Alliance and the American Red Cross, I held development operations roles and managed a portfolio. When I transitioned to a programs management role—developing centralized case statements and materials for fundraisers—I realized that I had the capability of helping so many colleagues achieve success in providing this strategic support, which has continued during my time at Aperio.
Why I care about helping nonprofits grow: There are so many worthwhile causes, and I have witnessed firsthand how an organization can grow its revenue (and therefore mission) with discipline and strong strategic planning. Nonprofits play an important role in building civil society and are critical to our progress. Ensuring the financial success of the non-profit sector promises a better tomorrow.
Hobbies: playing basketball and volleyball; coaching my kids’ teams; attending live sporting events; reading; strategy games
Unusual talent: Back in the days when we commuted, I could fall asleep on the bus or metro and never miss my stop!
