Benefactor Group, a national fundraising and nonprofit management consulting firm, is pleased to
announce the addition of Abby Shue, Senior Consultant, to lead the firm’s General Development
practice. In this role, Abby will guide clients who seek to develop high-performing fundraising
operations, offering counsel for needs ranging from major giving to donor retention to annual
fundraising efforts.
Abby brings fifteen years of leadership experience at various cultural institutions, where she held key
positions in both operations and external relations. She has a track record of leading high-performing
teams, developing data-informed strategies, building mission-driven relationships—and achieving
ambitious revenue goals. In addition to fundraising expertise, Abby has significant experience in board
governance, strategic planning, government relations, marketing, events, and program development.
“As our clients become increasingly reliant on annual fundraising to fuel their missions, Abby’s skills and
experience will bolster our work to help them develop effective fundraising strategies,” observed the
firm’s founder Laura MacDonald.
Abby’s previous leadership roles include Deputy Director of External Relations and Advancement at the
Speed Art Museum, where she increased contributed revenue by more than 50% in three years, while
leading fundraising, membership, marketing, communications, and public programming. Prior to that,
she served as Vice President of Development at Fund for the Arts, as well as Vice President at Kentucky
Performing Arts. She lives in Louisville with her husband and son and is actively involved in the
community, currently serving on the board of Louisville Public Media as Treasurer.
“I first connected with Benefactor Group several years ago as a client at the Speed Art Museum. The
team provided the museum a roadmap for establishing the strong external relations model necessary to
support its ambitions and the increased operating costs of a newly expanded facility,” shared Shue. “I
believe in the power of philanthropy to drive meaningful social change, and I’m honored to work with
Benefactor Group to support our clients and advance the impact they deliver to the communities they
serve.”
Steve Beshuk, principal at Benefactor Group, offered a similar reflection: “We are dedicated to building
the best team to help nonprofits fuel their missions with powerful fundraising, people, and systems,” he
commented, “And Abby’s addition is a key part of achieving that goal.”
Shue earned a B.A. in Ballet Performance and Journalism at Butler University and a Master’s in Business
Administration from Vanderbilt University, where she received the competitive full-tuition scholarship
for a nonprofit executive.
