Sarah Shrewsbury

Sarah's extensive fundraising skills set run the full gamut of the fundraising process including: identifying, researching, cultivating, entertaining, soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gift donors. She also excels at planning, tracking and prioritizing the major gift and Campaign processes.

The major gifts Sarah raises come in all forms: cash and stock, pledges, planned gifts, bequests, as well as gifts-in-kind.  Some highlights of Sarah's past work include:

• 13 years raising major gifts for Yale University, including 3 years at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies

• In 2023 – 2024 Sarah guided the successful acquisition and renovation campaign for Cape Cod Modern House Trust. We raised $1.6 million in one year. The organization only had an ED and a part time support staff person and a few strong volunteers. In their first-ever, major gift effort, we received gifts from individual donors in 27 states, three foreign countries and multiple foundations. The Marcel Breuer House has been purchased and renovations will be completed spring 2025.

• As a consultant, helped Women and Family Life Center exceed their campaign goal by 16%, 18 months ahead of schedule, and helped New England Forestry Foundation raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, in just one year, from individuals, families and foundations who were previously unfamiliar with the nonprofit and their land conservation project

• In 2008, in less than one year, Sarah identified and cultivated a new donor, then closed the largest single commitment, $2.5 million, in The Nature Conservancy of CT's 50 year history

• In 2013, while at AmeriCares, Sarah created the international connections and nurtured the process of the donation and delivery of 30,000 pairs of Tom's Shoes to orphans in Ukraine. Previously, AmeriCares was not working in Ukraine

• Conceptualized, planned and executed hundreds of major donor cultivation events

Speaking Engagements

• Connecticut Land Conservation Council’s Annual Conference.

• Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition

• Rhode Island Land and Water Conservation Summit

• Shoreline Nonprofit Conference - 2018 & 2019

• Community Foundation of Greater New Haven- Featured dinner speaker 2019

Guest Lecturer

• Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies- Brad Gentry’s Land Conservation class 2008 & 2009

• University of New Haven Business School Non Profit Management certificate program

Based on decades of experience, Sarah understands the importance of carefully balancing resources and attention among all levels of an organization's donors.

At the heart of her work, Sarah has great respect for donors.  She helps her clients get to know philanthropists through active listening, asking key questions and using patience, intelligence and empathy to guide donors to achieve their philanthropic dreams.

Sarah has visited thousands of donors in their homes, offices and private clubs from Maine to Virginia. She has traveled to Ukraine and Guatemala to witness great philanthropy in action.

Sarah Shrewsbury earned her BA in History from Tufts University. She served on the Advisory Council, and is a former board member of the Guilford Land Conservation Trust. With over 3,000 acres preserved and under management, GLCT is among Connecticut's most successful 'single town' land trusts.  Sarah grew up and has lived most of her life in historic Guilford, CT. 

Professional Memberships AFP Association of Fundraising Professionals, CT Land Conservation Council