J.D. | Principal, López-Calderón Consulting LLC
25+ years building organizations, reversing deficits, and growing revenue for nonprofits that change the world. I specialize in fundraising infrastructure, major gifts, and leadership development.
I'm a seasoned nonprofit executive, fundraiser, and strategist with more than 25 years of impact-driven leadership across advocacy, community organizing, and philanthropy. I've built organizations from the ground up, reversed major financial deficits, and driven multi-million-dollar revenue growth for causes that matter.
My approach is relational and donor-centered — I believe every organization's greatest untapped asset is the relationships it already has. I help you map, cultivate, and unlock those relationships through systems that outlast any single campaign.
As a former National Vice President for Development at Common Cause, I oversaw national development operations, rebuilt direct mail programs, and closed six-figure gifts. As Principal of López-Calderón Consulting, I've partnered with organizations from $300K to multi-million-dollar budgets — meeting them exactly where they are.
I hold a J.D. from DePaul University and a Philosophy degree from the University of Chicago. I'm a trainer, facilitator, and coalition-builder who brings both rigor and heart to every engagement — and I work across the political spectrum, partnering with organizations wherever they stand on the issues.
Start a conversation →End-to-end fundraising consulting — from donor discovery and cultivation strategies to major gift stewardship and a fully functioning development operation. I help you build systems, not just campaigns.
I specialize in recruiting, training, and onboarding boards and executive staff. That includes governance design, role clarity, board-staff partnership, and building a culture of fundraising philanthropy from the top down.
Facilitated strategic planning processes that align mission, resources, and capacity. I help leadership teams clarify priorities, set measurable goals, and build the roadmaps needed to reach them.
With experience turning a $2M direct mail deficit into a $16M surplus, I bring hard-won expertise in acquisition, retention, and list strategy — and how to integrate direct response with major giving.
Culturally responsive training that blends popular education and practical skills. I build development staff capacity through workshops, coaching, and individualized support — delivering teams that sustain results.
From prospect research to compelling narratives and relationship cultivation, I help organizations build the foundation relationships that diversify revenue and reduce dependency on any single source.
All consulting services are available in Spanish — from donor conversations and board training to strategic planning facilitation and staff coaching. Fewer consultants can serve Spanish-speaking organizations at this level of depth and experience.
Todos mis servicios de consultoría están disponibles en español.
Here's a snapshot of the work that defines my practice — organized around what I've actually done, not where I've been.
At Common Cause, I inherited a development operation running a $2 million deficit. I rebuilt the national fundraising infrastructure from the ground up — overhauling the direct mail program, re-engaging lapsed donors, and cultivating a portfolio of 150+ mid-level through six-figure supporters across a membership base of more than 100,000. The result: a $16 million surplus.
Over five years as fundraising and strategic planning consultant to More Equitable Democracy, I helped grow the organization's annual budget from $300,000 to over $6 million — building donor relationships, sharpening the case for support, and putting durable fundraising systems in place that didn't depend on any one person.
I've founded two organizations from scratch. Alliance of the Southeast became a thriving interfaith coalition in Chicago uniting African-American, Latino, and Eastern European communities around jobs, safety, and health equity. Common Cause Illinois grew into a fully operational statewide advocacy organization — with staff, donors, and a legislative presence.
"Developed a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising plan for the California Ranked-Choice Voting Institute, and supported board restructuring and executive director recruitment — helping position the organization for its next phase of growth."
"Grew More Equitable Democracy's annual budget from $300,000 to over $6 million through strategic fundraising counsel and donor development."
"Managed a portfolio of 150+ mid-level through six-figure donors and stewarded a membership base exceeding 100,000 supporters at Common Cause."
"Founded and led two organizations — Alliance of the Southeast in Chicago and Common Cause Illinois (reestablished) — staffing, fundraising, & building them into fully operational civic institutions."
Whether you're building your first development operation, preparing for a major gifts campaign, or working to strengthen your board — I'd love to talk. Let's figure out together what your organization needs to take the next step.