Benefactor Group is thrilled to announce the promotion of Summers Hammel—Senior Consultant and trusted partner to countless clients—as our new Capacity Building Leader.
Since joining Benefactor Group in 2021, Summers has excelled at every stage of her journey. Her growth has been rapid and intentional: from Project Manager, to Consultant, to Senior Consultant, and now to leading one of the firm’s most essential services. The trajectory reflects not only her talent, but her work ethic, her curiosity, and her deep commitment to strengthening our clients’ fundraising infrastructure and the nonprofit sector.
In her time at Benefactor Group, Summers has touched nearly every aspect of our work—campaigns, development projects, strategic planning, interim engagements, and the occasional “brain surgery” project where organizations need strategic, precise, thoughtful leadership. She is known internally for her clarity and calm, and externally for her ability to help clients see the path forward.
Effective fundraising creates opportunities for people to find joy by supporting worthy causes and enables nonprofits to further their missions in the communities they serve. I’m grateful for the opportunity to think about fundraising through a different lens and energized by what comes next,” Summers shared. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside our clients at pivotal moments in their trajectories—whether they’re shaping their strategic vision or embarking on a major fundraising initiative. Stepping into this role feels like a natural continuation of that work, and I’m excited to help shape the future of our Capacity Building practice.”
Capacity Building is where transformation begins—where leadership, systems, and strategy come together to fuel an organization’s mission. When a nonprofit builds capacity, they create a fundraising foundation and advancement systems that are achievable and sustainable.
Summers will build upon the strong foundation established by Former Capacity Building Service Lead and current Executive Vice President, Client Services, Abby Shue, ensuring continuity, innovation, and continued momentum for our clients. Abby Shue has moved into a position leading all consulting teams and ensuring exceptional service to nonprofits across fundraising, strategy, systems and technology, and talent initiatives.
Summers brings a blend of analytical rigor and deep empathy—qualities that shine brightly in her client relationships. When asked about a favorite moment from her time with clients, she pointed to the joy that comes from witnessing organizations reach a breakthrough.
All of our clients are phenomenal and unique. A memorable client experience was working with Kenyon College to rethink their approach to alumni engagement. Facing daunting nationwide trends of decreasing alumni engagement rates, the Benefactor Group and Kenyon teams came together to develop a creative, optimistic, and strategic plan to meaningfully engage alumni and raise funds for the school.”
As she takes on this new role, Summers will guide the continued evolution of Capacity Building at Benefactor Group—helping organizations strengthen their internal structure, deepen their effectiveness, and build toward a more resilient future.
We’re grateful for all that Summers brings to our team, and we’re excited to see the impact she will make in this next chapter.
