Nonprofit News

At the end of February, Senior Counsel Aggie Sweeney is retiring, capping off a four-decade professional career devoted to advancing the nonprofit sector and strengthening communities throughout the Northwest.

Aggie joined Collins Group in 1999, became President and CEO in 2004, and led the firm as it joined forces with Campbell & Company in 2013. She transitioned to her current Senior Counsel role in 2017, spending more time working with clients, mentoring consultants, and serving as Chair of the Giving USA Foundation Board.

To mark this occasion and celebrate her legacy, we asked Aggie to reflect on her time with our firm and share her perspective on the Northwest nonprofit sector.

In the fall of 2017, our team members Aggie Sweeney and Kate Roosevelt co-authored a list of 10 campaign best practices. These time-tested recommendations represent the wisdom of four decades of service to the Northwest region.

Since then, we’ve recorded a series of six podcasts with leaders from Northwest organizations that exemplified these best practices in their current or recent breakthrough campaigns. Each conversation reveals successes, pain points, and practical advice.

Our last episode in the series features Kate Roosevelt speaking with Erin Culbertson, Director of Development at Seattle Academy. 

In the fall of 2017, our team members Aggie Sweeney and Kate Roosevelt co-authored a list of 10 campaign best practices. These time-tested recommendations represent the wisdom of four decades of service to the Northwest region.

Since then, we’ve recorded a series of six podcasts with leaders from Northwest organizations that exemplified these best practices in their current or recent breakthrough campaigns. Each conversation reveals successes, pain points, and practical advice.

Our fifth episode in the series features Aggie Sweeney speaking with Erin Graham, Chief Operating Officer at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

In the fall of 2017, our team members Aggie Sweeney and Kate Roosevelt co-authored a list of 10 campaign best practices. These time-tested recommendations represent the wisdom of four decades of service to the Northwest region.

Since then, we’ve recorded a series of six podcasts with leaders from Northwest organizations that exemplified these best practices in their current or recent breakthrough campaigns. Each conversation reveals successes, pain points, and practical advice.

Our fourth episode in the series features Vice President James Plourde speaking with Vice President Dori Young of the Foundations of MultiCare and Executive Director Kristin Barsness of the Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation (part of the MultiCare Health System). 

In the fall of 2017, our team members Aggie Sweeney and Kate Roosevelt co-authored a list of 10 campaign best practices. These time-tested recommendations represent the wisdom of four decades of service to the Northwest region.

Since then, we’ve recorded a series of six podcasts with leaders from Northwest organizations that exemplified these best practices in their current or recent breakthrough campaigns. Each conversation reveals successes, pain points, and practical advice.

Our third episode in the series features Kate Roosevelt speaking with Executive Director Jason Paulsen and Associate Director Sarah Brooks of the Methow Conservancy. 

In the fall of 2017, our team members Aggie Sweeney and Kate Roosevelt co-authored a list of 10 campaign best practices. These time-tested recommendations represent the wisdom of four decades of service to the Northwest region.

Since then, we’ve recorded a series of six podcasts with leaders from Northwest organizations that exemplified these best practices in their current or recent breakthrough campaigns. Each conversation reveals successes, pain points, and practical advice.

Our second episode in the series features Kate Roosevelt speaking with Betsy Troutman, Director of Development at KEXP 90.3 FM. Catch up on last week’s episode with Michelle McDaniel of FareStart, and look out for a new podcast each Tuesday at 7am CT.

In the fall of 2017, our team members Aggie Sweeney and Kate Roosevelt co-authored a list of 10 campaign best practices. These time-tested recommendations represent the wisdom of four decades of service to the Northwest region.

Since then, we’ve recorded a series of six podcasts with leaders from Northwest organizations that exemplified these best practices in their current or recent breakthrough campaigns. Each conversation reveals successes, pain points, and practical advice.

Our first podcast in the series features Aggie Sweeney speaking with Michelle McDaniel, Chief Development Officer of FareStart. Look out for a new episode each Tuesday at 7am CT.

Scarce resources for Alaska’s nonprofits. A booming retirement age population in Idaho. A shaky economy in Montana following a year of dramatic growth. Oregonians embracing donor-advised funds. Tech professionals flocking to Washington.

The five states that make up the Northwest each face distinct philanthropic challenges and opportunities. While several major studies are published on U.S. giving each year, regional data is traditionally less accessible. To address this gap and help Northwest nonprofits adapt to the philanthropic landscape in which they operate, we created “Unique Northwest: Distinct Giving Trends and Strategies for Five Distinct States.”

Co-authored by Executive Vice President Kate Roosevelt

Our Northwest team recently celebrated four decades of service to the region and retired the Collins Group name. In the midst of these milestones, we met with our colleagues to discuss what sets wildly successful organizations apart. From these discussions, we distilled our time-tested best practices to help you create and sustain meaningful impact—during your next campaign and beyond.