Fundraising Through Change: Strategies for Independent Schools

 An NWAIS workshop series carried out in partnership with CCS Fundraising designed to help advancement teams to explore contemporary independent school development practices and learn how tune-up their school's fundraising strategies.

Series Facilitators

Our workshop leaders bring extensive experience in independent school fundraising:

Katlyn Torgerson, Executive Vice President, CCS Fundraising

Since joining CCS in 2011, Katlyn has partnered with dozens of visionary non-profits to plan and implement the fundraising initiatives essential to their missions.

A Pacific Northwest native, Katlyn leads our office in Seattle and spearheads our PNW partnerships. Her client engagements span all major nonprofit sectors, and her expertise includes campaign planning and management, development planning and assessments, and major and principal giving initiatives. She has planned and advised on campaign goals ranging from $2 million to $600 million.

Katlyn believes that fundraising is about more than just resource development; it can advance all facets of an organization’s mission, and it should be positive, dignified, and inclusive experience for all involved. Katlyn brings a data-driven mindset and CCS’s unparalleled expertise to every project, and she is committed to grounding every engagement in the client’s culture and values.

Katlyn regularly presents on fundraising trends and strategies both locally and nationally. Her passion for mission-based work was sparked as a child when she volunteered at a local homeless shelter.

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Arizona State University, Katlyn began her career as a High School English teacher and is a Teach for America alumna. She is proud to be a founding board member for Mobile Pathways, an organization facilitating justice for immigrants and refugees.

Nicole Stratton, Senior Vice President, CCS Fundraising

Nicole Stratton brings over a decade of experience helping nonprofits achieve transformative results. As Senior Vice President at CCS Fundraising, Nicole leads the firm’s Northwest practice, bringing focus to partnerships with organizations across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Western Canada. She works with nonprofits in arts & culture, education, healthcare, religion, and social and human services to design and implement strategies that build capacity, engage donors, and drive meaningful impact. Her leadership has contributed to campaigns with cumulative goals exceeding $1 billion, with a focus on securing six- to nine-figure gifts.

She is known for her collaborative approach and ability to translate complex challenges into clear, actionable plans that inspire confidence and results. She draws on a deep expertise spanning CCS’s service areas, including campaign planning, major gift programs, volunteer engagement, and data-driven strategy development, ensuring clients are equipped to achieve ambitious goals while building long-term sustainability.

Raised by two educators who demonstrated the power of giving back, Nicole developed a lifelong passion for working with organizations that transform lives and communities. She holds a Master of Public Administration from NYU Wagner School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

Based in Portland, Oregon, Nicole enjoys exploring the Northwest, hosting gatherings, and fostering connections in her community. She also loves traveling the world with her husband, drawing inspiration from new experiences.

Nanci Kauffman, Senior Consultant, CCS Fundraising

Nanci Kauffman brings to CCS 35 years as an educator, a leader, and a fundraiser in independent schools. Nanci’s extensive experience and deep knowledge in the education sector bring invaluable insights to our work in California, throughout the West Coast, and across the country. Over the span of her career, Nanci has been at the helm of innovations in mission-driven programs, strategic planning, fundraising, and stewardship.

During her time as Head of School at Castilleja in Palo Alto, Nanci launched the Innovation Investment Fund to transition the school to 21st Century Learning. In partnership with philanthropic donors, she initiated numerous programmatic enhancements across all areas of the school – positioning Castilleja as a leader in STEM education, community engagement and global entrepreneurship. Nanci spearheaded the vision and the case for support that led to Open Their World – a capital campaign that raised over $95 million to rebuild Castilleja’s campus. As a new member of Team West, Nanci has already provided guidance to support several CCS projects for independent schools, including Brandeis School of San Francisco, Keys School in Palo Alto, and the Center for Early Education in West Hollywood.

Nanci earned her MA in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, and received her BA in Psychology from Vassar College. Nanci is dedicated to developing women as leaders, is actively engaged in the Feminist Majority Foundation, and has spent the majority of career in all-girls schools.  As an advocate for single-gender education, she is a founding trustee of Field Middle School for Boys in Belmont and serves on the Board of Presentation High School in San José. With two married children, Nanci and her husband Scott are happiest on a beach with their two grandchildren. 

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