Jessie Brooks, MBA, CFRE

Jessie Brooks is a nationally recognized advancement executive and strategic advisor with more than 26 years of experience leading transformational fundraising and organizational growth at some of the nation’s most respected higher education institutions. In 2024, he joined Marts&Lundy, where he partners with colleges and universities to design and execute bold advancement strategies, strengthen philanthropic performance, and build high-impact programs that fuel institutional ambition and long-term success.

Previously, Jessie served as Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Spelman College and as a key member of the College’s senior leadership team. He provided vision and executive leadership for the College’s entire advancement enterprise, aligning fundraising, alumnae engagement, and donor strategy with institutional priorities. During his seven-year tenure, he led the advancement team through the most ambitious comprehensive campaign in Spelman’s history, surpassing its $250 million goal and raising an extraordinary $339 million. This historic achievement elevated Spelman’s national philanthropic profile and significantly enhanced its capacity to support students, faculty, and strategic initiatives.

Prior to Spelman, Jessie served as Senior Director of Development for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, for five years where he secured major and principal gifts to advance globally significant research addressing climate change, environmental sustainability, and ocean science. His work helped connect visionary donors with groundbreaking scientific discovery and impact.