CLaudia Ehrlich, MBA, CAP®

I entered this profession by design

Whereas many nonprofit professionals admittedly "fall into" this work, I intentionally attended a top business school program that would allow me to focus on nonprofit management. I earned my MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, where I conducted collaborative work with the respected IU Lilly School of Philanthropy in Indianapolis at a time when there were few bona fide nonprofit programs in existence.

Three decades of passionate front-line fundraising inform my work

I have led teams, run and attended myriad events, managed and participated in numerous successful campaigns, and have proudly built and sustained longstanding relationships with individual and institutional funders across the country. I maintain a strong and vibrant network of colleagues across the nonprofit sector, philanthropic space, and professional advisory world.

I possess deep expertise from diverse experiences

I have worked in prestigious nonprofit organizations ranging from the arts, healthcare, public policy, higher education, and biological research to community and K-12 STEAM educational foundations. I have worked in grassroots organizations, start-up cultures, and large, complex hierarchical institutions. I understand the philanthropic landscape and make it my business to stay informed about shifts in funding needs and giving trends, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.  I am deeply committed to work around equity in philanthropy.

Relationships are integral to success

Along the way, I have been privileged to partner with, advise, and earn the trust and respect of wealth holders across the spectrum including some of the most sophisticated and savvy philanthropic givers of our time. My career trajectory as an institutional matchmaker, advancing organizational missions through philanthropy, has enriched my life. It is an absolute honor to facilitate the "magic" that happens when a donor identifies and invests in a cause that resonates with their values and passions.

Memberships and Certifications:

International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy (AiP)

• Active member of a robust network of professional advisors 
• Founding President, AiP San Diego Chapter (2021)

Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy - CAP®

• Professional designation through the American College of Financial Services

Adjunct Professor - University of San Diego

• I teach the required Master's course in resource development and integrated marketing in the Nonprofit Leadership and Management Program within the Department of Leadership Studies. My course curriculum is anchored by the application of equity and ethics in philanthropy.

Columnist -Rethinking 65 (https://rethinking65.com/) 

• As of February, 2022, I will be writing a series of articles on philanthropic advising for this well-respected website designed to empower professional advisors on topics of benefit to their firms and their clients.