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Search Success! Courtney Spellacy Joins Sandy Hook Promise as Chief Development Officer!

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Sandy Hook Promise and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are excited to announce that, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, Courtney Spellacy has joined as Chief Development Officer.

Reporting to Sandy Hook Promise’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Nicole Hockley, Courtney will set strategy for and execute fundraising strategies across giving channels including individual major giving, corporate, foundations, events and government funding, driving efforts to grow all giving channels nationally and develop strategies to expand into new giving channels while maintaining and strengthening relationships with all existing supporters. A member of the executive leadership team, she will have a vital role in driving Sandy Hook Promise’s mission and ensure support for the organization’s strategic growth to expand program reach and effectiveness.

Courtney brings over 20 years of fundraising experience with expertise in strategic planning, relationship management, and optimizing development processes. Most recently, Courtney served as the Vice President of Development with Lawyers’​ Committee for Civil Rights, where she was a member of the Executive Team, spearheaded a significant campaign, drove record-breaking annual results, and diversified revenue across all fundraising categories. Prior, Courtney was with the ACLU, where she was the Deputy Director and Chief Development Officer of ACLU of Massachusetts, Director of Philanthropy with ACLU of Southern California, and Director of Philanthropy with ACLU of Arizona.

Courtney earned her master’s degree in international peace and conflict resolution from American University, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree in international affairs. 

Courtney shared, “I am deeply honored to join Sandy Hook Promise in its mission to prevent gun violence and create safer communities. I look forward to working with supporters who want to help fuel program and policy efforts across this country. I look forward to working with supporters who want to help fuel program and policy efforts across the country. Gun violence is not inevitable, it is preventable. I am eager to work with all who want to be part of Sandy Hook’s Promise.  

About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise is a nonpartisan organization that was founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012. Sandy Hook Promise is dedicated to preventing gun violence and creating a culture of inclusivity, safety, respect, and kindness in schools and communities across the United States.

Sandy Hook Promise Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that offers a range of evidence-informed programs and initiatives designed to empower youth, educators, and community members to recognize the signs preceding violence and to take steps to prevent it. Their programs include educational resources for schools, youth leadership programs, and community-based campaigns to raise awareness of the impacts of gun violence.

Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) that champions a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization.

Through its work, Sandy Hook Promise aims to build a movement of individuals and organizations committed to promoting gun safety, mental health awareness, and social and emotional learning. The organization has received widespread support from educators, parents, and lawmakers, as well as celebrities and public figures, and continues to play a vital role in the national conversation around gun violence prevention.

Learn more about Sandy Hook Promise here.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

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Search Success: Griet Dehandschutter Joins Treehouse Foundation as Director of Development!

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Treehouse Foundation and Pillar Search are thrilled to announce the appointment of Griet Dehandschutter to the position of Director of Development.

As the Director of Development, Griet will be a key member of the Treehouse Leadership Team, overseeing the organization’s fundraising and expanding its community of support across Massachusetts and nationwide. Griet will be responsible for setting fundraising strategy, managing the fundraising team, growing Treehouse’s resources by deepening engagement with individuals, corporations and foundations and raising the organization’s visibility in support of its big and bold vision. She will report to Treehouse Foundation’s Founder and Executive Director Judy Cockerton.

Most recently, Griet was the Executive Director of Acton-Boxborough United Way where she doubled the revenue in two years and engaged multi-stakeholder coalitions to address vital community needs. Prior to that, Griet was an international fundraising consultant, where she pioneered innovative and sustainable international major giving, corporate and foundation giving strategies with large and small nonprofits, museums, and universities across 15 countries and 4 continents. Earlier in her career, as East Coast Director for Flanders Investment and Trade, Griet partnered with Fortune 500 executives to locate their pan-European business operations in Belgium. Griet also co-founded the European-American Chamber of Commerce in the United States, today known as the Transatlantic Business Council (TABC).

Griet earned her Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and her Master of Law from Belgium’s University of Antwerp.

In addition, Griet has served on several boards, including the American Fund for Charities, SilverAqua, and iScale. As a volunteer, Griet co-chaired the Capital Campaign for the United Church of Christ in Boxborough, MA.

About the Treehouse Foundation: The Treehouse Foundation is an award-winning Massachusetts-based nonprofit that is working diligently to inspire a Re-Envisioning of Foster Care in America.

Since its launch in 2002, Treehouse has been investing in foster care, vital aging, and affordable housing innovation. Its mission: To inspire, implement, and support innovative child welfare practices that ensure our children who experience foster care find permanent families and supportive communities, allowing them to develop, heal and thrive. Its vision: Every child rooted in family and community. 

Nationally recognized social entrepreneur, Judy Cockerton, has provided her visionary leadership to the Treehouse Foundation since its inception. Cockerton, known as a highly collaborative leader, developed the award-winning intergenerational Treehouse Community model and leads the Re-Envisioning Foster Care in America (REFCA) movement. In 2006, the first intergenerational Treehouse Community opened in western Massachusetts, where the largest percentage of children and youth experiencing foster care in the Commonwealth reside. The Treehouse Foundation partnered with Beacon Communities LLC to design, build and operate the first Treehouse Community in Easthampton, MA. Treehouse is now partnering with 2Life Communities to bring the successful intergenerational Treehouse Community model to the site of the former Boston State Hospital in Mattapan.

On November 3-4, the Treehouse Foundation will host its 9th national Re-Envisioning Foster Care in America (REFCA) conference in Boston. REFCA2023 will feature the wisdom, award winning ideas, and lived expertise of REFCA Champions – stellar changemakers who are using their firsthand experience and professional acumen to create new visions for child welfare.

To learn more about this visionary organization, please visit https://www.treehousefoundation.net.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

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Search Success: Rob Jacobs Joins Sandy Hook Promise as Vice President of Technology!

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Sandy Hook Promise and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Rob Jacobs to the position of Vice President of Technology. Rob joined the organization on January 30, 2023.

As Vice President of Technology, Rob will lead technology strategy, objectives goals vision, priorities, and technology decisions. He will define and bring to life the best technology solutions that meet the needs of the organization today and establish the right foundation for future growth and ability to scale, while also leading a team of IT professionals, building on a best-in-class culture with big-picture thinking that is adaptable and able to respond to the needs and goals of the organization effectively and efficiently. Rob will develop, implement, and evaluate technology projects and new processes and systems in line with organizational objectives, and build Project Management expertise to manage these initiatives.

Most recently, Rob was Director of IT with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Prior, he was the Chief Information Officer of the Capital Good Fund. Earlier in his career, he was the Chief Information Officer of Kappa Alpha Theta and Senior Director of IT with Herff Jones, as well as a consultant with The Integrity Practice.

Rob earned his master’s degree in organizational management & development from the Fielding Graduate School and his bachelor’s degree in computer science from Morehouse College.

About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to end school shootings and create a culture change that prevents violence and other harmful acts that hurt children. Through its lifesaving, evidence informed Know the Signs prevention programs, Sandy Hook Promise educates and empowers youth and adults to recognize, intervene, and get help for individuals who may be socially isolated and/or at risk of hurting themselves or others. Sandy Hook Promise is a moderate, bipartisan organization that supports sensible policy solutions that address the human side of gun violence and make schools safer. Sandy Hook Promise is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. For more information about Sandy Hook Promise, please visit https://www.sandyhookpromise.org.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

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Pillar Search Named to Non-Profit Top 60 Rankings

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Pillar Search Named to Non-Profit Top 60 Rankings! I am proud to announce that Pillar Search & HR Consulting has been named to the Hunt Scanlon list of the Top 60 ranking of executive search firms partnering with nonprofits. Learn more here.  A woman-owned business founded in Boston in 2015, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations. Pillar works with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. To learn more, please contact Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com.