Laurie Kovens

Laurie Kovens

Laurie comes to Martignetti Planned Giving Advisors with twenty years of experience in non-profit resource development, program planning, volunteer management and clinical social work. Her current work focuses on Mission Based Grantsmanship: she works with each client to ensure that every aspect of the grant seeking process-from identifying funders to stewardship of gifts-reflects its mission and vision. She strives to make grantsmanship an integral part of our clients’ overall approach to fundraising. Laurie helps each client tell the stories of the organization and the people it serves in a clear and compelling way that resonates with funders’ priorities.

Laurie has helped dozens of organizations to:

• establish first-time foundation initiatives
• expand existing foundation fundraising efforts
• increase and diversify foundation, corporate and government revenue (totaling over $4 million)
• acquire or strengthen grantsmanship skills, through training and mentoring of staff and board members
• develop and shepherd strategic relationships with local, regional and national funders

She also serves as coach, teacher and mentor in the areas of grantsmanship, organizational development and board development. These activities bring her into contact with hundreds of professionals and volunteers from across the philanthropic community each year, keeping her abreast of trends, best practices and emerging issues.

Laurie’s approach is well suited to organizations involved in active board development, strategic planning or new development initiatives. She believes grants tell the story of an organization and the people it serves. If an organization knows itself, its story will come through to the funder loud and clear.

Prior to joining MPGA, Laurie worked with a number of social service and faith-based organizations, where she established strong, effective volunteer leadership that resulted in increased annual giving and successful events. She is an alumna of Goucher College, University of Maryland School of Social Work, and the Tri-State Institute for Jewish Communal Service. She has been an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) since 2001 and has served on several committees as well as the faculty for the Essentials of Fundraising program. In November 2006, she received designation as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), the internationally-recognized professional credential for philanthropic fundraising executives.