Assistant Vice President for Major Gifts and Planned Giving Named at Concordia University Chicago

Submitted by Concordia University Chicago.

Concordia University Chicago recently named Sandra Nelson, of River Forest, Illinois, as Assistant Vice President for Major Gifts and Planned Giving. In this role, she will be responsible for providing pivotal leadership and support to new and existing strategic fundraising initiatives in the University’s Foundation office.

“Philanthropy has changed so much in the last five to ten years. We must ensure that we are meeting the needs and expectations of our donors and the community around us,” Nelson says. “I’m looking forward to conversations with the campus community and beyond to help develop tactics for a bright and successful future.”

Nelson served for more than nine years as the President of the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation. In that role, she was responsible for securing the first seven and eight figure gifts and led a successful capital campaign to finance the construction of a new hospital. Prior to that she served as the Vice President of the Foundation, Corporate and Government Relations at Advocate Charitable Foundation, Director of Donor Services for the Chicago Community Trust, and Director of Development and Communication for the Presbyterian Church of the United States.

“Sandra’s extensive experience in capital campaigns as well as her strong relationships in the Chicago region will benefit the university significantly,” says Jim Miller, President of the Concordia University Chicago Foundation. “Her success as a strategic planner will also help us strengthen CUC’s long term financial strategy.”

Nelson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Education from Northwestern University and is also a Certified Fund Raising Executive.

To make a gift to Concordia University Chicago or to learn more about current fundraising initiatives, visit CUChicago.edu/give.

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