Alexandria, VA– Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) International is pleased to announce the election of Michelle Hamilton, CFRE (Charlotte, NC, USA); Phillip Rothwell, MBA, CFRE (Taunton, United Kingdom); Astrid von Soosten, CFRE, (Munich, Germany); and Judy Zhu, MBA, CFRE (Vancouver, Canada) to three-year terms (2025-2027) on the CFRE International Board of Directors.
CFRE International is governed by a Board of Directors of 11, including 10 CFRE certificants and one public member. The members, who represent three continents, lend their expertise and insight to ensure the CFRE credential continues to grow globally.
“One of CFRE International’s many strengths is its international board of directors, who bring a truly global perspective to fundraising best practices,” said CFRE International President and CEO Eva E. Aldrich, Ph.D., CAE, (CFRE, 2001-2016). Their leadership and breadth of experience ensures that the CFRE certification program remains a trusted resource for the fundraising profession.
This year, the CFRE International Committee on Directorship, chaired by Tom Berekoff, MA, CFRE, had the task of selecting a slate of four candidates.
The slate of Hamilton, Rothwell, von Soosten, and Zhu was elected by a 97.98% majority of current CFRE certificants who cast their ballots in the election closing August 30, 2024. Their terms of service on the CFRE International Board of Directors begins January 1, 2025.
Biographical information for the CFRE International Board of Directors Class of 2027 includes:
Michelle Hamilton, CFRE (Charlotte, NC, USA), has experienced success in all areas of fundraising through leadership roles with the National MS Society, Houston Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, Crisis Assistance Ministry, and Charlotte Symphony. As Managing Director at Carter since 2021, Michelle currently provides counsel on capital campaigns, major gifts, governance, and fundraising strategy. Before joining Carter, Michelle served as VP of Development for the Charlotte Symphony (CSO) and served as Interim CEO. During her tenure with the CSO, she led efforts that grew the endowment by $4M, and individual giving by 25%
Michelle is an AFP Charlotte Board Member and Past President, and was named Outstanding Fundraising Professional in 2013. She also serves on the Board of Tosco Music, and is a founding member of Fair Play Music Equity Initiative, both in Charlotte.
Phillip Rothwell, MBA, CFRE (Taunton, United Kingdom) has worked in fundraising for 18 years: First, in higher education at the University of Warwick and London Business School; then, leading development in independent schools including the Warwick Schools Foundation and King’s College, Taunton. He has served as a trustee of the Institute for Development Professionals in Education (IDPE) and as a Governor at a state academy school.
Phillip gained his CFRE in 2015, has served as UK CFRE Ambassador, and is a regular speaker and contributor about best practice in the UK fundraising sector. Phillip holds a BA in Theology and Religion from the University of Durham and an MBA from Durham University Business School.
Astrid von Soosten, CFRE (Munich, Germany), has worked as a frontline fundraiser on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 25 years, working initially for a private school and later as Senior Development Director for the University of California. For many years, she specialized in major donor fundraising and strategy development.
Currently, Astrid is a partner at Brakeley Fundraising Consultants GmbH in Munich, Germany, as well as a leadership coach at Week53 Executive Leadership Development. Previously, she served as a board member at Deutscher Fundraising Verband and the European Fundraising Association’s board. In addition to her current mandate at CFRE, she is also a board member of the Resource Alliance.
She obtained her initial CFRE certification in 2008, and is trained as a Somatic Coach, offering leadership coaching and training to executives in the for- and non-profit sectors. Her education includes a master’s degree in Chinese studies (sinology) from the Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität München, as well as a certificate in Modern and Classical Literature/Chinese Studies from Fudan University.
Judy Zhu, MBA, CFRE (Vancouver, Canada), is a visionary leader with more than 16 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, specializing in strategic philanthropy and community engagement. In her current role as Executive Director of Strategic Philanthropy at the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, she leads transformative healthcare initiatives and cultivates impactful donor relationships.
With a robust background in senior leadership roles across healthcare and higher education charities, Judy has a proven record of driving significant philanthropic success. As a first-generation immigrant from China, Judy brings a profound commitment to diversity and equity, leveraging her extensive experience and bilingual abilities to navigate and bridge cultural differences effectively.
Certified as CFRE since 2020 and recognized as a CFRE Ambassador in Canada, Judy holds an MBA from the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University. Her expertise was recently highlighted through her presentation at the AHP Convene Canada conference. Judy also serves as Vice-President of Partnership Initiatives on the AFP Greater Vancouver Chapter Board. Her leadership continues to inspire and mobilize donors and community partners to support meaningful causes.
ABOUT CFRE INTERNATIONAL
CFRE International is the credentialing organization that provides the only globally recognized fundraising certification. Since 1981, Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE®) certification has signified professionalism, ethics, and confidence in fundraising. The CFRE® certification program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute. More than 7,900 fundraising professionals in approximately 30 countries hold the CFRE® credential, demonstrating accountability, service, and commitment to making a positive difference in their communities. Visit www.cfre.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and YouTube.
MEDIA CONTACT
Sara Espinosa, Marketing and Communications Director
CFRE International
sespinosa@cfre.org
571.699.0603
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