Irina Thompson, CFRE

Irina is a seasoned fundraising strategist and trusted advisor to nonprofit organizations navigating complexity, growth, and change. A Certified Fund Raising Executive, Irina is valued for her ability to step into a wide range of organizational contexts and quickly bring clarity, structure, and forward momentum to advancement efforts. 

Irina partners closely with boards, executives, and senior fundraising leaders to develop and implement advancement strategies that align institutional priorities with practical, results-oriented fundraising approaches. Her work spans organizations at many stages of maturity—from those building or recalibrating development programs to large multisite health systems and sophisticated academic and research institutions. Across engagements, Irina is frequently sought out for initiatives requiring strategic insight, cross-functional coordination, and steady leadership in complex or high-stakes environments.  

Before joining the consulting field, Irina advanced nonprofit missions as a frontline fundraiser and development leader, where she built and expanded fund development programs for organizations including the California Academy of Sciences, Bay Area Discovery Museum, and Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties. This experience grounds her consulting work in a deep understanding of both organizational dynamics and the realities of frontline fundraising. 

Irina is the editor of the biannual Philanthropy in Aging Services Study, and has presented at national conferences on philanthropy and advancement strategy. She is also co-author of a chapter in Fundraising and Strategic Planning (Rowman & Littlefield). Irina serves on the University of Michigan’s William L. Clements Library Associates Board of Governors.