Shirley Ferguson Jenks

Senior Consultant

Shirley Ferguson Jenks has more than 30 years of experience as a development professional. Since 1994, Mrs. Jenks has provided fund-raising counsel to nonprofit organizations in the fields of culture, education, health and social services. At The Kavelman Group, she brings her expertise in development and strategic planning across the cultural sector to help clients realize their institutional long- and short-term goals.

She began her fundraising career in New York as the first Director of Development for the Landmarks Conservancy where she established and directed the fund-raising office. Subsequently, as Director of Development for the Cultural Council Foundation, she organized the first formal development efforts for this arts service organization. In addition, Mrs. Jenks advised dozens of the emerging arts groups served by CCF.

Mrs. Jenks is also a principal of The Development Consulting Group, where she works independently and with other development experts to design and implement annual and capital campaigns; to undertake specific writing, research and strategic planning projects; to conduct executive search; and to serve as interim management to meet short-term institutional needs.

At the American Craft Museum as Manager of the Annual Fund, Mrs. Jenks devised and implemented a full range of national development programs, including corporate sponsorship and exhibition underwriting, during the construction of a new museum and a $10 million capital drive. She established and personally directed all of the tours and activities of the Museum’s first major donor club, the Collectors Circle.

While a Senior Consultant at Goodale Associates, Mrs. Jenks served a variety of local, national and international clients as counsel to annual fund drives and capital campaigns. Subsequently, Mrs. Jenks was Vice President for Development for the American Academy in Rome where she oversaw annual fund raising and a $20 million Centennial campaign for capital needs and endowment.

With offices in New York City and New England, Mrs. Jenks is involved with activities in both locations. She was founder of the Development Professionals Roundtable, where she was President for a decade. She has also taught fund-raising courses at Marymount Manhattan College and has lectured at other institutions. Mrs. Jenks currently serves on the boards of the American Foundation for the Courtauld Institute of Art; the Courtauld Institute of Art Advisory Committee; and the New York Preservation Archives Project.

Mrs. Jenks graduated with honors in Political Science from Manhattanville College. Her Masters degree is from the University of London where she studied Medieval architecture at the Courtauld Institute of Art. She is also the mother of twin girls.