Our Team

As the President and Chief Executive Officer, Sarah O. Hanley brings her broad-based experience and innovative ideas to The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia. With more than 25 years of business development and leadership experience, Sarah is responsible for the growth and strategic oversight of CFGP and leading a team of dedicated staff who support the Foundation’s development.

Sarah has been with CFGP since its founding in 2013. In her previous roles with CFGP, Sarah was responsible for the annual Catholic Charities Appeal and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Appeal, which collectively raise nearly $20M annually. he also led CFGP’s Development Consulting Services team, which continues to help grow the fundraising and development efforts of many Catholic institutions across Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Sarah’s commitment to the mission of CFGP stems from her lifelong dedication to her faith and her hometown. A native Philadelphian, Sarah now gives back to her community and her faith in ways she could have only hoped for. Today, Sarah and her husband, Jim, live in Delaware County. They are proud parents of two adult sons, Dave and Kevin. Sarah is an active member of St. Kevin Parish in Springfield, where she is the Founding Chair of their Stewardship Council and serves on their Women’s Club Board of Directors.

Sarah is a member of the Executive Board of Elementary Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She also has participated in the mentoring program for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Philadelphia Chapter; and recently accepted an appointment to the Steering Committee of the Consortium of Catholic Foundations. Sarah is also a former board member of the National Catholic Development Conference.

Prior to her time with CFGP, Sarah worked in the Office for Stewardship and Development at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as the Director of Appeals. Before transitioning into the nonprofit sector, she had a highly successful career in business development and sales leadership, working for UGI/AmeriGas and National Car Rental. Sarah is a graduate of Drexel University, holding a BS in Marketing and Management

Connor joined the Foundation in May 2019 and works on the MAS team as the Project Manager for the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Appeal. Connor first found his passion for nonprofit work in the year of 2015, during his year of service through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Scranton, PA. Since then, Connor worked in various nonprofit development and project coordination roles.

Connor is a South Jersey native and an avid Philly sports fan. He attended Loyola University Maryland, where he attained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Emerging Media. In his free time, Connor enjoys music, traveling, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and spending time with family and friends.

Shelley joined the CFGP team in February 2023 as a Data Entry Clerk. She has over 17 years of experience working at various nonprofit organizations. Shelley is very excited about being a part of fulfilling the mission of CFGP.

Rebecca joined the CFGP team in February 2023. She attended Cal Poly Pomona, where she graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Studies. In 2020 she shifted her focus from education to nonprofits with a mission to serve the wider community. She moved to sunny Philadelphia from southern California in 2022 to join her new husband and is excited to serve the Church in whatever capacity she needs.

In her spare time, she enjoys perfecting her Mexican culinary repertoire.

Gina has been with CFGP since its founding in 2013. As Chief Marketing Officer, she is responsible for all communication and marketing efforts for CFGP, including our largest partners, the Catholic Charities Appeal of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Appeal. She oversees all marketing strategies, marketing communications, event planning, and digital marketing efforts.

Prior to joining CFGP, Gina worked at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in the Office for Stewardship and Development and at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. She has over 16 years of experience in all facets of marketing and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Temple University in Marketing and Business Administration. 

Megan joined CFGP in 2022. Originally from the Adirondack region in NY, she has lived in South Philadelphia since graduating from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2007. She received an MBA from the Fox School of Business at Temple in 2012 and is grateful for the opportunity to align her personal philanthropic nature with her career.

In her spare time, Megan enjoys exploring the city with her daughter and all the ramen and bubble tea it has to offer.

Milissa joined the CFGP team in August 2022 as a project coordinator. Her passion for working with non-profits began at Good Shepherd Elementary School where her children attended. There she was the lead coordinator and chair of many fundraising appeals. In supporting the mission of this amazing Catholic school, Milissa realized her true vocation. Her heartfelt desire to continue working with nonprofits remained long after the school closed. She is happy to have the opportunity to serve and support the mission of CFGP.

Originally from Northeast Philadelphia, she currently lives in South Jersey with her husband and six children. She is a long-standing member of Christ the King Parish in Haddonfield, NJ. She loves spending time with her family and can be found watching a soccer game, gymnastics meet, or an Irish dance class.

Krissy Freeman joined CFGP as Associate Director, Partner Development in February 2023. Krissy’s entire career has focused on fundraising and nonprofit development. While most of her experience is in education, she is passionate about all nonprofit work and its impact on the community. Krissy was drawn to her current role because of the opportunity to work with multiple CFGP clients and bring new initiatives to further their mission. 

Krissy graduated from Tuskegee University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Originally from Georgia, she now resides in West Philadelphia. Krissy is an avid reader and enjoys traveling as much as possible.  

Kurt Gabbard currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia.  In that role, he serves as an integral member of the Senior Executive Management team. He is responsible for financial strategy and oversight of all accounting, finance, human resources, and risk management/legal/compliance activities.

Previously Kurt served as Vice President for Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Princeton Theological Seminary, a graduate theological school related to the Presbyterian Church (USA) located in Princeton, New Jersey.  In that role, he was responsible for the seminary’s financial affairs, human resources, and information technology services.  Kurt began his career in church-related higher education in 1993 at Mary Holmes College in West Point, Mississippi. He served as Vice President for Business Affairs and later as Vice President for Advancement.  Before coming to Princeton Seminary in 2015, he was Chief Business Officer for Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas. He previously held the same position for McCormick Seminary in Chicago, Illinois.

Kurt is a registered certified public accountant in Illinois and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  He and his wife, Lisa, have three adult children and live in Buckingham Township in central Bucks County, Pennsylvania. 

Emily has been with the Foundation since 2014 and currently oversees CFGP’s many fundraising and development consulting clients. Emily’s love of the nonprofit sector started in college when she served on the Executive Council of Indiana University Dance Marathon. She quickly changed her major from Biology to Nonprofit Management, and hasn’t looked back since! Emily is a proud graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington, IN), and a native of Indianapolis.

Emily loves spending her days helping nonprofits of all sizes overcome their unique challenges and raise the funds they need to fulfill their mission. She is proud to have helped raise nearly $40 million for clients since joining the MAS team.

Deacon Jack was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Bishop Daniel Thomas in June 2012 and is assigned to St. Eleanor Parish in Collegeville. He earned a Certificate in Catholic Bioethics from Catholic Distance University in 2015.  Deacon Jack is a member of the Archbishop’s Commission on Racial Healing and other Archdiocesan Committees and Boards.

Deacon Jack enjoys time with his wife and family, traveling and attending local cultural events in the Philadelphia region.

Stephanie joined The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia in 2022. She attended American University, where she graduated with a degree in International Studies, a minor in Japanese, and a focus on International Communications and Intercultural Theatre.  She then spent the next 5 years studying and performing modern dance in NYC and moved back to the Philadelphia area in 2008. After modeling for a decade at the city's best art schools and hosting hundreds of guests through AirBnB, she now hopes to preserve and support Catholic culture in our community.

Valerie joined the CFGP team in September 2021 as a Project Coordinator. After graduating from Loyola University of Maryland for Global Studies, she enrolled in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Brooklyn, NY. There she served as an immigration counselor at Catholic Migration Services, assisting clients through the naturalization process. Valerie then went on to earn her Master’s degree at NYU for Global Affairs. Valerie enjoys art, theater, and walking around the city in her spare time.

Russell has been with the Foundation since its inception in 2013, and currently co-manages the Data Department, which processes data for the Catholic Charities Appeal, the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Appeal, and other clients.

In his spare time, Russell enjoys reading, football, listening to an eclectic mix of music, and spending time with his family as often as possible. 

James joined the Foundation in August 2022 as a Development Officer. Originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, he is thankful for the opportunity to combine his passion for storytelling and relationship-building in a role that advances causes for the greater good.

James and his partner live in Malvern, where they are tolerated by their cat, Winston. In his spare time, James enjoys playing music, hiking, and traveling to historic sites.

Marlene Mendoza joined CFGP as our Development Coordinator in March of 2023. She has found her passion in helping others and has dedicated herself to making a positive impact through her work. Marlene's experience as a development coordinator and her involvement in volunteering for nonprofit causes has given her valuable insights into the needs of the communities CFGP serves.  Marlene strives to make a real difference in the lives of people who need it most.

Leda joined the staff of CFGP in December 2021 as the Marketing Manager. She brings with her wide-ranging experience in religious communications, marketing, and design. Leda comes to us from the historic center city church, The Church of the Holy Trinity Rittenhouse Square, where she was responsible for all digital and print communications.

Leda is married and in 2019 moved from New York to the greater Philadelphia area. She holds a BS in marketing from SUNY Oswego and a MA in American Studies from Fairfield University. She is thrilled to be in service of CFGP’s mission.

Matthew joined the CFGP team in February 2023. Originally from Wisconsin, he attended University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and graduated with a degree in English Rhetoric and Philosophy, prior to accepting roles within the non-profit realm. He was part of the founding corps for City Year Denver, provided administrative support for three years at Beyond Literacy, as well as analyzed data and compiled campaign results for United Way.

Matthew enjoys gardening, writing, and exploring nature. He is the copy editor for “I See Jesus” written by Diane Nienas, which unfolds the story of his family and faith. Matthew resides in South Jersey where he is happily married to his wife, Valerie.

Kaitlin has been with The Catholic Foundation since 2014 and is a database administrator. She is a Philadelphia-area native and currently resides in South Philadelphia.

Dawn has over 20 years of experience in corporate, non-profit, educational, and volunteer organizations with a focus on community service, event management, and fundraising for worthy causes. She is thrilled to serve as a Development Officer for CFGP to continue her lifelong spiritual journey of serving others as a devoted Catholic.

Originally from South Jersey, she currently lives in Broomall, PA with her husband and two children. She is a member of St. Anastasia Church in Newtown Square, PA where she taught CCD for several years, as well as chaired fundraising events for the parish community. She is an active alumni member of St Joseph’s Prep Mothers Club, Walking with Purpose ministry bible study program.

Dawn is a proud graduate of Cabrini University, holding a BS in Business Marketing.

Mary Jo (MJ) joined CFGP in January 2021. She grew up in Maryland and attended Loyola University in Baltimore. MJ has always worked in the nonprofit sector and is drawn to mission-driven organizations, which led her to CFGP. As the Relationship Manager, she focuses on outreach to organizational-led fundholders, providing them with resources and guidance to help them promote and grow their funds. She also leads the #iGiveCatholic initiative, which takes place on Giving Tuesday each November.

In her free time, MJ enjoys hosting friends, exploring the city, and hanging out with her cat, David.

Amber Spellmeyer joined the CFGP team as a Project Coordinator in July of 2022. Originally from Allentown, PA, she recently graduated from West Chester University with a B.S. in marketing. This is the first non-profit she has worked for and is most excited about doing something that makes a difference in people’s lives.

An adventurous spirit, Amber likes to spend her time learning new skills, trying new things, and exploring new places. She hopes to cultivate her newest found passion at a local culinary school sometime next year, after getting settled into the city.

Peggy comes to CFGP after a 16-year career at the National Liberty Museum (NLM) where she held the position of Chief Development Officer. In this leadership team role, she successfully developed and secured strategic, high-impact funding partnerships with local and national supporters. 

Before her time with NLM, Peggy worked as Program Director at the John Templeton Foundation for six years. Prior to this, she was an Instructor of French at the College of William and Mary. Peggy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University and Master of Arts degree from The Pennsylvania State University. She is a member of the Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia (PGCGP) and resides in Philadelphia.

Jess joined CFGP as a Data Entry Clerk in 2018. Before joining CFGP, Jess worked in both retail and guest services. She grew up in South Jersey but has lived in Philadelphia for years. Jess is passionate about all things Disney including the history of the company and its parks. When she’s not working, she likes spending time with family, crocheting, cooking, and baking.

Kristine is an Associate Director, Partner Development who joined the CFGP team in August 2020.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biobehavioral Health from Penn State and a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership from LaSalle University. Kristine is grateful to put the theories of nonprofit and organizational leadership into practice in her role at CFGP. She loves working with CFGP’s partners and seeing first-hand the incredible individuals and groups that benefit from each Catholic charity. Kristine and her husband live in a suburb of Philadelphia with their golden retriever Bodhi. They enjoy spending time outdoors gardening, golfing, and relaxing on the beach.