League Names Sarah E. Kelly as VP of Development

The League of American Orchestras has appointed Sarah E. Kelly to the position of vice president for development, League President and CEO Jesse Rosen announced today.

"Sarah Kelly is a fundraising leader with an impressive track record in the cultural and academic sectors and a strong strategic vision," commented Rosen. "She will help the League implement our recently released Strategic Plan, grow our development efforts, and support the critical programs and services we offer our members."

A fundraising professional with more than twenty-five years of experience, Kelly has served as a senior staff member or a consultant to a cross-section of non-profits. She most recently served as the vice president for advancement at Wheeling Jesuit University, which serves 1,500 students and is consistently ranked as a top liberal arts college by US News and World Report. During her tenure, she launched the university's most successful annual fund program, and established the organization's first one-day fundraising campaign, resulting in the largest single-day fundraising in the University's history.

In Ireland, Kelly served as the first professional director of development at National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway), raising more than €20 million in private support and government grants. Upon her return to the United States, she was retained by NUI Galway to serve as the university's stateside fundraising representative and spokesperson. She also provided fundraising counsel to a range of Irish institutions establishing a presence in the United States, including the Druid Theatre Company, All Hallows College, and The Abbey Theatre.

Before establishing her own consultancy, Kelly was director of development at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. She began her career as an account executive at J.C. Geever, Inc., a fundraising consulting firm in New York.

Kelly received a B.A. in Philosophy from Purchase College in New York.