The DLC Announces the Class of 2020-21 Annual Fellows

CHICAGO, Ill. – The first meeting of the Development Leadership Consortium’s 2020-21 class of Annual Fellows was held on September 24^th, 2020 with The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation. The Annual Fellows is an intermediate professional development program that prepares development officers in the early and intermediate stages of their career in advancement for success in ongoing service to the non-profit community.

The 2020-21 class of 18 Annual Fellows – one of the largest classes in the consortium’s 20-year history—was selected from a highly competitive candidate pool of young nonprofit professionals in development or related fields.

During the first meeting of the year, the Fellows met virtually with Fry Foundation President Unmi Song. The Fellows will engage in a 9-month program where they will meet with industry leaders in the field and be immersed in many facets of philanthropy, including foundation giving, corporate giving, nonprofit recruitment, board membership, and social media marketing. The program also explores the future of the nonprofit sector, particularly around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Overseeing the 2020-21 class of Annual Fellows is Amy Funk, Senior Vice President of Ter Molen Watkins & Brandt. “It’s an honor to work with nonprofit industry leaders, and to see each group of Fellows bring their own unique energy and backgrounds to the table,” Funk said. Melissa Anson, Development and Communications Manager at All Chicago Making Homelessness History and Sonia Jones, Director of Development at LEARN Charter School Network will join the cohort as DLC Board Liaisons.

The 2020-21 DLC fellows are:

• Bahati Aimee - Navy Pier, Resource Development Associate
• Marie Akerman - Civic Consulting Alliance, Associate, Development and Communications
• Lauren Belpedio - Barack Obama Foundation; Regional Development Analyst
• Justin Berkowitz - The Executives' Club of Chicago - Events Manager
• Dani Castonzo - Christopher House, Development Communications Associate
• Bethany Collins - The Night Ministry, Individual Stewardship Coordinator
• Thalia Gossi - LEARN Charter School Network, Development Associate
• Max Guy - Hyde Park Art Center, Manager of Institutional Giving
• Jack Halliwell - After School Matters, Individual Giving Coordinator
• Tyler Hough - Chicago House; Director of Annual Giving and Development Operations
• Mauricio Huertas - Latino Union of Chicago; Development DIrector
• Julie Lanham - Chicago Literacy Alliance, Assistant Director of Development
• Emily Lien - Community Organizing & Family Issues, Development and Communications Associate
• Karen Loda - Development Coordinator, Illinois Humanities
• Meghan Pioli - Ravinia Festival, Manager, Major Gifts
• Carolyn Rudinsky - Greater Chicago Food Depository, Cultivation and Stewardship Manager
• Kimberly Schulte - Jewish United Fund, Senior Planning Associate
• Daniela E. Villalvazo - Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, Manager of Special Events and Stewardship

About the Development Leadership Consortium

The mission of the Development Leadership Consortium (DLC) is to mentor fundraising professionals who are new to the field and to engage them throughout their careers, encouraging their growth into committed, connected leaders of the philanthropic community in Chicago and beyond. Since its establishment, the DLC has grown from a small series with a focus on Chicago-based foundations to a volunteer-run 501c3 organization that offers two unique and highly competitive fellowship programs and offers a number of professional development events throughout the year. For more information, please visit https://www.chicagodlc.org.