Biographies

Karen E. Osborne

Karen Osborne provides broad and significant experience and expertise in management, strategic and long-range planning, audits and feasibility studies, campaign planning, and implementation, major gift, annual and capital fund raising, marketing, public relations, public speaking, staff mentoring and training, volunteer and board training, board development and volunteer management.

As a principal of The Osborne Group, Karen brings 30 years of fund raising, management, and marketing experience to her clients' needs and aspirations. Prior to joining the firm, Karen served as Vice President for College Advancement at Trinity College (Hartford, CT). There she was responsible for planning and implementing a comprehensive advancement program including all aspects of development, alumni relations, marketing and public relations. During her five years at Trinity, Karen significantly increased annual, major and planned giving. She also designed, and implemented Trinity's successful $100,000,000 campaign.

Karen planned and helped execute Trinity's college-wide strategic planning process. Under Karen's direction, a college-wide marketing program resulted in increased admissions' applications, increased visibility in targeted markets, and a strengthening of internal and external communications.

Prior to going to Trinity, Karen served as Director of Development at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. During her eight years at RPI, Karen substantially increased major, corporate, foundation, and annual gifts. Karen helped develop and implement Rensselaer's successful $200,000,000 campaign.

Karen's clients include public and private institutions of higher education, independent schools, hospitals, large national not-for-profits as well as small organizations. Currently her portfolio consists of campaigns ranging from $25,000 to $180,000,000. Past clients include successful campaigns as large as $500,000,000.

Nationally and internationally recognized as an excellent presenter and workshop leader, Karen has taught a wide variety of fund raising and marketing topics at hundreds of conferences and private sessions. Awarded the Crystal Apple for Outstanding Teaching and Public Speaking by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), she teaches and consults throughout the US, Europe and Canada, Australia and South Africa. Karen teaches in-person and online as well as via video and audio CDs. Often quoted in professional journals, Karen is published as well.