Staff
Susan K. Feagin
President
Susan brings many years of fundraising and campaign experience to the John Brown Limited firm, which has included leadership roles at Columbia University. Harvard University and the University of Michigan.
She served as Executive Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Columbia University from 2002 through 2010, overseeing a $4 billion campaign that raised over $6 billion. She was Vice President for Development at the University of Michigan from 1998 to 2002. At Harvard University in the l990's she was Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences for Development and Director of University Development.
Susan received a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Columbia University's School of General Studies, where she currently serves as a member of the School's Board of Visitors. In 2011 she received the Columbia Alumni Medal for distinguished Service.
Susan's current clients include small liberal arts colleges and large private and public universities.
Douglas Smith
Senior Consultant
Doug's development expertise includes feasibility studies, staff and leadership training, the planning and implementation of capital and endowment campaigns, annual fundraising efforts, development resource evaluations, and the facilitation of long-range planning with Board members, Presidents, Executive Directors, and Development staff. Having been with John Brown Limited for over 20 years, Doug has counseled hundreds of non-profit organizations on how to reach their development goals and expectations. Most recently Doug provided leadership by serving as Principal Gifts Officer and campaign consultant to Allegheny College's President, and the Alumni & Advancement team, as the organization surpassed its $200,000,000 campaign goal.
Prior to joining the JBL team, he served as the President of a University Foundation, Vice President for Development and Finance with a telecommunications firm, Vice President for Development at a major symphony orchestra, and Campaign Director for a health and human services organization. Doug received his MBA from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA with an emphasis in finance.
Craig H. Smith
Senior Consultant
Craig is best known for his leadership, donor engagement skills, and gift planning know-how. His work with John Brown Limited, Inc., spans more than 25 years. He has directed client relations in higher education, the arts, healthcare, and cultural organizations nationwide, including the National Geographic Society; the University of Michigan; all the campuses of the University of North Carolina; the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston; as well as the Jane Goodall Institute. He helped to develop and manage campaigns from as small at $6 million to as large as $4.2 billion.
Craig is co-founder of High Probability Fundraising, an interactive training program proven successful at Columbia, Princeton, and Cornell, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union, The Smithsonian Institution, Feeding America, and Earthjustice.
The training enables frontline fundraisers to engage in uniquely productive gift conversations using a wholistic approach embodied in The Four Decisions and the Two-Part Conversation. The training is a collaboration between Craig and Dan Shephard of The Shephard Group, who created The Four Decisions and Interactive Case Studies, key teaching tools used in the training program.
During his career, Craig served as Associate Vice President for Development at Rochester Institute of Technology, and at the University of Rochester Medical Center. In these roles, he managed large teams of field officers focused on major gifts, as well as corporate and foundation relations, and development communications.
Craig is dedicated to creatively bringing together philanthropists and worthy charitable causes to assure maximum tax advantage for donors while assisting development officers in reaching their important goals.
Tamara Elliott Rogers
Senior Consultant
Tamara Rogers assumed the position of Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development at Harvard University in 2007 and held that position until November 2018. In her time as VP, the University successfully launched and completed The Harvard Campaign, a $6.5B University-wide drive that raised over $9.5B. Her previous roles at Harvard included Associate Dean for Advancement and Planning at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Associate Director of University Development and Director of University Capital Projects in the University Development Office, and Director of Major Gifts for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Rogers began her career in the Harvard College Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, ultimately becoming director of International Admissions. She has also been an executive search consultant in the firm of Heidrick and Struggles in the education and not-for-profit practice.
Rogers is a Charter Trustee of Phillips Academy, where she chairs the Resources Committee, past president of the Phillips Academy Alumni Council, and past president of the Abbot Academy Association. As an Andover trustee, she chaired a task force to look at the Addison Gallery of American Art. She serves as member of Boston Museum of Fine Arts Advisory Board, Harvard Graduate School of Education Dean's Advisory board, and as a board member for the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. Rogers has also served on the American Selection Committee of the United World Colleges. She has been a faculty member at the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education Winter Institute, a keynote speaker for Women in Development of Greater Boston, and a speaker and facilitator in executive education and Masters courses at Harvard's Graduate School of Education.
Michael Margitich
Senior Consultant
Mike would like to share his forty plus years of development and leadership experience with you in a series of one on one, discrete, private brainstorming/coaching sessions.
These sessions are specifically designed for experienced advancement leaders who are responsible for planning campaigns, working directly with trustees and chief executive officers, providing leadership to a development team, and planning and executing major gift solicitation strategies.
You set the agenda and we will cover subjects and challenges that are common to many organizations and also tailor our conversations around specific opportunities and challenges you may be facing.
Mike's advancement career includes working in leadership positions and planning multi-million dollar campaigns for the Museum of Modern Art, the New York Philharmonic, Harvard University and Columbia University.
In his consulting work, Mike's clients have included MoMA, Columbia University, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York City Center, the New York Public Library, WNET, NJPAC and the then Prince Charles Royal Trust.
Mike has a bachelor's degree from Columbia University.
Jennifer J.B. McDonald
Advisory Director
Jennifer is the liaison between Susan Feagin, JBL senior consultants and the JBL office. She also oversees all financial aspects of the firm in conjunction with the Director of Finance, Donna Menard.
Jennifer has worked for John Brown Limited since its inception in 1978. She has worked for several non-profit organizations, including the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and a variety of private schools, with a focus on preschool education.
She describes her work at JBL and the many fascinating organizations it serves as "a wonderful and very rewarding experience." Jennifer graduated from the University of Vermont with a BS in Small Business and Early Childhood Education.
Donna Menard
Director of Finance
Donna serves as the director of finance at JBL overseeing all aspects of the day-to-day operations. In addition she works with consultants in the development and implementation of contracts and helping to make the consultancy run smoothly. Donna assists with seminars as well as a wide variety of projects at JBL. In her community, she has served as a town trustee and has worked as a board member with various local organizations. She has been with John Brown Limited for more than 20 years.