Why we started Opus Advisors

Anne brings over 25 years of experience in nonprofit development and management, specializing in strategic planning, assessments, feasibility studies, campaign counsel and major gift work.  She has provided her clients with strategic direction in governance, management, fund development, communications and long range planning.

After serving as VP of Development for California Pacific Medical Center Foundation for ten years, Anne returned to New England in 2000 and joined Phillips Exeter Academy as part of the Major Gift team to launch the largest campaign in the history of secondary education.  Anne then worked for Dartmouth College to establish the major gift program in support of the campaign for the Medical School and Medical Center.

Annie made the establishment of a new middle school possible… The school credits its financial viability to Annie’s advice…

- Richard Davis, Heronfield Academy Board

During Anne’s career she has worked with numerous community-based organizations in conservation and human services, and has extensive experience working with the different constituencies involved in fundraising, from campaign volunteers and nonprofit boards and leadership to administrative staffs.  Anne has led numerous organizations through strategic planning, focusing on best practices in fundraising, board/committee development, governance and brought clarity, innovation and progressive thinking to the work.

Anne serves on the Board of Trustees of the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire and the Board of Advisors at University of New Hampshire’s Museum of Art.  Anne received her B.A. in Communications from Simmons College.

A former founding partner of Opus, Jamie now leads Forbes Legacy Advisors.  Jamie uses his natural ability to connect with people, his inquisitive nature and creativity to assess clients’ needs and identify opportunities and solutions. With a background in building brands like Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, Jamie is an intuitive, strategic thinker.

In addition to his work with Fortune 500 companies, he has extensive experience applying his private sector skills and acumen to consulting with nonprofits.  Jamie launched our Philanthropy Advising group, called Opus Philanthropy Advisors (or “OPA”), working with both individuals and companies to get the greatest satisfaction and maximize the impact of their giving.   Click here for more info on Jamie’s work at Forbes Legacy Advsiors.

Jamie helped us focus our efforts and created a clear course of action.  We credit a great deal of our recent progress to the work we have done with Jamie, and we consider his input invaluable.

- Richard Corbin, MD - Board President of Oasis Free Clinics

Jamie is Board President of PDP, an organization that develops and showcases the region’s talented musical theater performers.  He is also a former member of the Board of Trustees for The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH and is a Trustee for a fund focused on creating art opportunities for adolescents in under-served communities.

Together with his wife and two daughters, Jamie created a grass roots program that provides books and school supplies to schools on the Caribbean island of Dominica. Jamie received a B.A. in Economics from Connecticut College, is a member of the Association of Philanthropic Counsel and is a Charter Advisor of Philanthropy (CAP®).

To send Jamie an email, click here.

Prior to joining Opus, Alexandra Urbanowski served as Vice President for Development and Marketing at New Hampshire Public Radio for more than 5 years.  At NHPR she managed annual revenues of over $5 million and helped complete NHPR’s $6.5 million capital campaign for a new broadcast facility and tower expansion.  She was also instrumental in leading NHPR’s expansion onto digital platforms.  Alexandra helped guide NHPR’s successful fund raising and marketing during the challenging volatile time of economic uncertainty and new media expansion.

Alexandra is a strategic thinker with a wide range of skills and extensive experience in the nonprofit sector. She was a critical partner to me in expanding ALFSV’s programs and impact.

- Ann Skeet, American Leadership Forum - Silicon Valley

Before returning to her native state of New Hampshire, Alexandra spent twenty years in San Jose, California where she did fundraising and nonprofit management for a number of arts and community organizations including managing the capital campaign for the $25 million Hammer Theater Center project, serving as chief executive for San Jose Repertory Theater, helping to launch American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley’s Common Good Collaborative Campaign and serving as Chair of the San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau Board.  She currently splits her time between homes in Monterey, CA and Manchester, NH.  She sits on the board of 7 Stages Shakespeare and has presented at conferences for CONFR, AFP and other professional organizations.

Alexandra is an alumna of Smith College and has participated in the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program.

 

Rebecca brings 14 years of professional experience to her clients.  Her expertise lies in public communications strategies, donor relations, solicitation training, constructing long-range development plans, and designing creative marketing efforts.  Prior to Opus, the majority of her work has been with CCS Fund Raising, aiding unique and diverse nonprofit organizations to launch capital and endowment campaigns to raise funds beyond annual needs.

During Rebecca’s career she has acted as a Campaign Director for organizations running campaigns with goals between $1 million and $50 million, has carried-out numerous Feasibility Studies testing goals between $750,000 and $50 million, has conducted several Development Assessments, and served as an interim Director of Major Gifts.  Experiences range from working with organizations in the following sectors: arts and culture, religious entities, secondary and higher education, and international aid. 

[Becca’s] can-do attitude, combined with all her experience make her a terrific asset for any organization…

- David Kelley, Oxfam America

Rebecca is a member of the NH Chapter of Surfrider Foundation’s Rise Above Plastics Committee, has been a member of the Community Campus Child Care (CCCC) Parents Committee, the Portsmouth Zero Waste Committee and is a past Board member of the Portsmouth Historical Society and a member of their Development Committee.

Rebecca is also a competitive runner and triathlete and incorporates her three young daughters in all aspects of her training.  She received a M.A. Honors and B.A. in International Relations from the University of St.  Andrews, Scotland, UK.

Lisa joins Opus with 14 years of professional experience in event planning and management, donor stewardship and management, and sales. Lisa has worked in Development Offices at the Friends of the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. and the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York. With a friendly and focused drive, Lisa has experience planning and executing donor events of all sizes – from 50 people to 500 people – that convened top business executives and philanthropists.  Her approach is creative and personal.  With previous experience working at Christie’s, Lisa also has deep experience in research and sales, and uses her strong communication skills to connect with clients.  In volunteer capacity, Lisa is on the Board of the Fuller Foundation, and through this experience has gained insight into the work of a wide range of nonprofit organizations throughout the Northeast.  She is also a current Board member of Camp Mayhew, in Bristol, NH.

Lisa attended the Brooks School in Andover, MA, and earned a B.A. in Art History from Trinity College.

Caitlin brings 6 years of experience working in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors.  Prior to joining Opus, Caitlin spent two years working in operations for the William J. Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative.  In these roles, Caitlin relied on her good nature, and project management skills to execute and maintain the smooth operations of a fast-growing, entrepreneurial organization.  Caitlin’s most recent experience was as an Analyst and Instructional Systems Developer at Dare Mighty Things (DMT).  Here Caitlin led the design and development of dozens of learning products, including classroom-based and e-learning lessons, webinars, and developmental toolkits to support nonprofit clients in the areas of training and development.  Caitlin also contributed to program design efforts, including research and development, prototyping, and training for an international child sponsorship program.  Caitlin is a strong writer and editor and has taken lead on benchmarking studies, white papers, and quarterly and annual reports.  Caitlin also has experience with data management and analysis to support performance and outcome measurement projects.

Caitlin earned a Master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University, where she focused on nonprofit management, leadership, and quantitative analysis, and has a B.A. in Political Science and Religious Studies from the University of New Hampshire.