JENNIFER CHERNEY: BOARD MEMBER

Jennifer Cherney is a nonprofit fundraising executive with over two decades of experience in the independent school sector and social services. She has played a central role in securing more than $250 million in contributions, grants, and bequests, making a lasting impact on the organizations she serves.

As Chief Advancement Officer at The Gateway School, Jennifer has led multi-million-dollar capital campaigns and expanded opportunities for students with learning disabilities. She forged a groundbreaking partnership with the national nonprofit Horizons to create an innovative summer program for inner-city children with learning differences. Developed in collaboration with the New York City Mayor’s Office, Assembly members, and City Council members, this initiative is positioned as a national model for Horizons programs.

Beyond Gateway, Jennifer has consulted on the $20 million Housing Works Capital Campaign and crafted a strategic fundraising plan for the Parsonage Hill Education Foundation. Her work helped advance a peer-to-peer mentorship program for children with learning disabilities—an initiative endorsed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. A recognized leader in philanthropy, Jennifer is a frequent speaker at national conferences and a featured expert on platforms including The Nonprofit Show and Responsive Fundraising.

Jennifer holds a B.A. and M.A. in English from Long Island University and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School. She is an ambassador for Every.org and mentors young women through the Global Give Back Circle. With a strategic vision and unwavering commitment to children's education and social services, she continues to drive transformational change in philanthropy.

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