Maureen Nash
Each month RG175 does a "deeper dive" to get to know one of our Independent School colleagues. This month we are spotlighting Maureen Nash. Maureen is an innovative strategist and fundraiser who has led over $75 million in campaigns across the education and cultural sectors. Maureen was appointed as the Assistant Head of School for External Affairs at Viewpoint School in the winter of 2021. At The New York Public Library, Maureen oversaw the major gifts, planned giving, and special events departments. She has also held roles in external affairs, major gifts, development, and grantmaking at the Museum of Arts and Design, Frick Collection, Itzhak Perlman Music Program, Whitney Museum of American Art, and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. As a Board Director of the French Heritage Society, she raises funds and makes grants in support of its mission to preserve, restore, and promote French architectural heritage. Maureen is also a published academic and teaches graduate courses on international philanthropy and challenges in the nonprofit sector.
What’s your connection to RG175?
RG175 led the search for my current role as Assistant Head of School for External Affairs at Viewpoint School in the Santa Monica Mountains just north of Los Angeles.
Can you summarize your experience working with RG175?
Jim Pattison is a caring advancement thought leader and skilled communicator. Throughout the process his industry expertise was invaluable. He clearly understood the short and long-term opportunities at Viewpoint and was able to clearly communicate what makes Viewpoint special. He’s also a lovely and warm individual.
If you had one thing to recommend to other candidates, what would it be?
Focus on finding a school where innovation is highly valued. For example, at Viewpoint, our Head of School, Mark McKee, immediately prioritized creating a growth-oriented faculty culture that led to the creation of a teacher-driven growth model, robust support for professional development, and upgrades to the technology infrastructure—all in the service of supporting teachers and enhancing the student experience. When there is stellar leadership and momentum, fundraising—especially from Millennial parents who value innovation and impact—is straightforward.
What do you enjoy most about your job as it pertains to Independent Schools?
Community life. Like many fundraisers, I cherish building relationships with our patrons, and I thrive in frontward-facing roles where I work closely with engaged families, alumni, and trustees.
What are some of your greatest achievements?
I have had the privilege of working on campaigns at world-class cultural institutions ranging from $1million to $1billion. I am especially proud of closing a multi-million legacy campaign gift to endow the Burke Art Prize at the Museum of Arts and Design and for launching the Langston Hughes Legacy Society at New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Black Culture.
How has Covid-19 affected your job/business and how have you adapted?
The pandemic made the value of teamwork clearer than ever, and there’s nothing like building a talented and collaboratively aligned team of volunteers, trustees, and administrative staff. Viewpoint’s “world ready” promise including a new mission, vision, and values provide a clear and inspiring force for staff recruitment and donor motivation.
Anything you would like to add?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are such an important part of Viewpoint's tradition of building community and RG175 understood this dynamic. These values are woven through everything we do, from our hiring practices to how we build our board, how we solicit funds, how we think about fund raising. And we're not just fund raising from the top of the donor pyramid. Representation matters. Participation matters. Community matters. Traditions matter.