Kristen Tierney

The Tierney Development Group

263 Putting Green Road , Fairfield, CT 06825 | (203) 395-9410 | kristen@tierneydevelopmentgroup.com
Works in: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont

Last updated:
Sunday, Jan 18, 2026

I partner with nonprofit executives, development staff, and boards to design and implement sustainable funding strategies. My work includes overall funding strategy, major donor development (including DAFs), capital campaigns, strategic list activation and expansion, sponsorship, board training, and comprehensive grant strategy. With 30+ years of experience in nonprofit funding, donor engagement, and development, I help clients move from fragmented fundraising to disciplined, right-sized, predictable pipelines that are achievable. I am known for Development on Demand™, providing flexible development support aligned with clients’ organizational capacity. My proprietary Nonprofit Funding Made Easy™ and 80/20 Funding Framework™ provide the system to achieve client funding goals.

Areas of Expertise:

Communications / marketing planning and strategy, Direct mail, Donor communications, Social media

Organizational evaluation

Budgeting, Financial analysis and planning

Fundraising / fund development planning, Individual giving / major gifts, Sponsorships and corporate partnerships

Strategic planning, Business / financial models, Managing change, Organizational assessments

Deep expertise in these issue areas: Economic Development, Foundations / Grantmakers, Hunger, Food Security, Social Services / Human Services

Past Clients:

  • Organization: AFCAMP
    Name: Ann Smith
    Description of services provided: Grant research identification and cultivation, graphic design, comprehensive development plan, board development, and development strategy support.
    Year services provided: 2017-Present
  • Organization: Woofgang & Co.
    Name: Kris Burbank
    Description of services provided: Strategic planning, board development, grant research, development planning and strategy, and partnership identification.
    Year services provided: 2018-2020
  • Organization: Saint Francis Hospital-Trinity Health System
    Description of services provided: Community Health Needs Assessment Report: Designed, edited, created graphics and identified writer.
    Year services provided: 2016
  • Organization: Safe Schools for Alex
    Description of services provided: Strategic Planning and Organization Development
    Year services provided: 2018-2019
  • Organization: The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport
    Name: Tom Larson
    Description of services provided: Social Enterprise business planning, comprehensive development planning and implementation, grant research, writing, and budget creation, graphic design, ad creation, and coaching.
    Year services provided: 2019-2022
    Contact Info: (203) 334-1121
  • Organization: Leadership Greater Hartford
    Name: Larisa Kottke
    Description of services provided: Development Planning, Corp Sponsorship, Event Planning Support, Coaching
    Year services provided: 2022-Present
    Contact Info: | larisa.kottke@lgh.org
  • Organization: NSLS
    Name: Red Akasha
    Description of services provided: Executive Coaching + Development Planning + Support
    Year services provided: 2024- Present
    Contact Info: | rakasha@nsls.org
  • Organization: Push to Walk
    Name: Cynthia Templeton
    Description of services provided: Comprehensive Development: Major Donor plan development, event creation, and coaching.
    Year services provided: 2025
    Contact Info: | ctempleton@pushtowalknj.org
  • Organization: Operation Hope, Fairfield
    Name: Carla Miklos
    Description of services provided: Capital Campaign + Major Donor Lead
    Year services provided: 2025- Present
    Contact Info: | cmiklos@operationct.org


Training & Workshops:

  • Name: Speaker: Nonprofit Sustainability, Grant Writing, LOI's and Logic Models
    Duration: 2hrs
    Fees Negotiable: Yes
    Minimum Audience Size:
    Maximum Audience Size:
    Reference: Doug Shipman, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
  • Name: Speaker: Nonprofit Sustainability
    Duration: 2hrs
    Fees Negotiable: Yes
    Minimum Audience Size:
    Maximum Audience Size:
    Reference: Madhu Gupta, New London Public Library
  • Name: Board Fundraising
    Duration: 1-2hrs
    Fees Negotiable:
    Minimum Audience Size:
    Maximum Audience Size:
    Reference: Nicole Sherer, NY Public Library System, Rebecca, Institute of Trustees [Essex County Community Center, Western New England Institute of Philanthropy
  • Name: Annual Appeal Planning [Cohorts, Workshops, Webinars
    Duration: 1.5hrs to 4 months
    Fee: $125 per hour
    Fees Negotiable:
    Minimum Audience Size: 0
    Maximum Audience Size: 100
    Reference: Self, Links: https://linktr.ee/tierneydevelopmentgroup
  • Name: Nonprofit Funding Made Easy Webinars + Workshops: Our Proprietary Funding Model
    Duration: 1.5hrs ea
    Fees Negotiable:
    Minimum Audience Size:
    Maximum Audience Size:
    Reference: Self, Links: https://linktr.ee/tierneydevelopmentgroup
  • Name: LIVE FREE: Nonprofit Funding Made Easy: Monthly Workshop
    Duration: 1.5hrs
    Fee: $0 per hour
    Fees Negotiable:
    Minimum Audience Size:
    Maximum Audience Size:
    Reference: Register via Linktree

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