Our People

Laura J. MacDonald, CFRE

Founder & Principal

The team has grown, from an informal, creative collective to a firm of 25 individuals with diverse talents. The location has changed, from a small office above Stauf’s Coffee to team members across the country. But throughout it all, we have been driven by a few constants. A strong sense of values. A commitment to do good work for impactful organizations. And an understanding of the importance of a team approach.“ 

Laura J. MacDonald, CFRE

Laura MacDonald has worked professionally in fundraising and philanthropy for more than 40 years. When she joined a fundraising consulting firm in the 1980s, she drew on skills learned in television production and corporate communications to tell stories for hundreds of nonprofit clients. Her fundraising acumen was sharpened in the late 1990s when she served alongside a remarkable corps of dedicated professionals during The Ohio State University’s first billion-dollar fundraising campaign.

Building on these experiences, she established Benefactor Group in 2000; a firm that has applied its founding principle of “serving those who serve the common good” by helping hundreds of organizations fuel their cause with powerful fundraising, people, and systems. As founder and principal of the firm, her counsel is sought by leaders in arts and culture, higher education, healthcare, human services, and other nonprofit causes.

Laura is constantly curious about trends in fundraising and philanthropy and an astute storyteller. She is a frequent speaker at local, regional, and national conferences (AFP, AAM, AMDA, League of American Orchestras, etc.) and has addressed hundreds of nonprofit boards. Her articles related to advancement and philanthropy have appeared in Advancing Philanthropy, Nonprofit Quarterly, Forbes.com, and other professional publications, and she is consulted widely by publications such as The New York Times, Ms. Magazine, Penta Barron’s, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and was named her chapter’s “Fundraising Professional of the Year” in 2007. Laura is the author of The Endowment Handbook (Wiley, 2024).

Laura serves on the on the board of United World Colleges International. She is also an executive committee member for 71/70 Angels, a fund of Rev1 Ventures. She has served the sector through involvement in the Association of Fundraising Professionals, American Alliance of Museums, The Generosity Commission, and especially her service on the boards of the Giving Institute and the Giving USA Foundation. She chaired the latter from 2020 to 2022, helping to steer the organization through a period of extraordinary disruption, while advancing the understanding of philanthropy’s role in society. She is frequently called upon as a strategist, speaker, writer, panelist, commentator, and facilitator.

Read more about Laura and why she serves the common good here.

 

Client Partners

Publications

  • The Endowment Handbook. Link. 
  • Giving USA Special Report Generations and Giving: A Literature Review on Philanthropic Trends Across Generations. Link. 
  • Chronicle of Philanthropy, “The Tax Bill Will Upend Corporate Giving. Here’s How to Prepare.” Link. 
  • Forbes.com, “From Asking to Advising: Fundraisers Must Embrace Change” Link. 

Featured Insights

Laura MacDonald Named a 2025 Columbus Business First Woman of Influence

Laura MacDonald Named a 2025 Woman of Influence

We always knew she was a woman of influence—now it’s official. Columbus Business First has honored our Founder & Principal, Laura MacDonald, CFRE, as a 2025 Women of Influence Award recipient.

The Moles Always Win: How to Demonstrate Resilience in Times of Uncertainty

The Moles Always Win

In the arcade game, the moles always win. They continue to pop their heads up faster and faster no matter how many times they are knocked down. They are the very definition of resilience. How can nonprofit leaders demonstrate resilience and turn these legislative whacks into winning advances? Read on to see actionable insights for nonprofits on how to navigate proposed legislation.

Have we been here before? How Fundraisers Can Push Forward in Times of Uncertainty.

Have we been here before?

Since January 20, many in the nonprofit sector, including their funders and beneficiaries, have grown increasingly anxious. Executive orders imperil programs and endowments while threats to funding put some organizations’ very existence at risk. Polarization has resulted in a messaging minefield. Threatened tariffs and other economic shocks have spooked investors as the equity markets stagger.  The past has shown us that anxiety is the enemy of philanthropy. Read on to discover actionable insights to help you navigate the current climate.

The 4 Ws: Building A Better Board

Effective boards are comprised of diverse members who bring a balance of work, wisdom and wealth. To these responsibilities add “wit” because a board that enjoys working together is more likely to be fruitful. On a high-functioning board, each board member brings one or two of these traits (plus “wit,” which is a proxy for cultural fit). The board as a whole is comprised of a balance of these traits because an imbalance in any one area weakens the board’s ability to ensure an effective organization. What does each mean?

25 Stories of Impact: Reflecting on 25 Years

25 Stories of Impact: Reflecting on 25 Years

Check out this interview with Founder & Principal Laura MacDonald, CFRE, conducted by Senior Consultant Megan Simmons, and hear what she's learned over Benefactor Group's 25 years of fueling nonprofit organizations with powerful fundraising, people, and systems.

Charitable Giving is Resilient

Despite headwinds and disruptions, it tends to grow—especially when measured in current dollars.Yet recession, the stock market, inflation, and other factors may influence whether it grows a lot, a little, or declines. Click on the tabs below to see how charitable giving has behaved historically given different economic and social conditions.

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Columbus, OH 43215
614-437-3000

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