About Betsy Rubinstein
Betsy Rubinstein, CFRE
Betsy Rubinstein is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and the Senior Director of Development at the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). Her expertise spans nonprofit organizations in the housing, human services, legal, and healthcare sectors.
Betsy excels in fundraising leadership, major gifts, institutional giving, campaigns, board relations, development planning, and project management. Before her role at DBSA, Betsy was the Development & Communications Director at Habitat for Humanity Chicago, and before that, the Major Gifts Officer of the Midwest Region at Lambda Legal, a national LGBTQ+ legal organization. She was also an Associate Director at CCS Fundraising, a strategic fundraising and consulting firm, and a Development Project Manager at Heartland Alliance, one of the world’s leading anti-poverty organizations.
Betsy served as Board Chair for Chicago Women’s Health Center and was the Co-Chair of the LBTQ Giving Council of Chicago Foundation for Women. She was a 2020 Fundraising for Good Leadership Network participant, a 2018 Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Chicago Chapter Chamberlain Scholar, and a 2017 AFP Chicago Fellow. Betsy was also recognized by the Windy City Times as a “30 Under 30” awardee in 2013.
Betsy holds an MA in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago and a BA in Philosophy from Washington University in St. Louis. Betsy lives with her wife and three kids in Skokie, Illinois, where she enjoys playing pickleball and softball.
Why invest in a fundraising consultant?
The 2024 Giving USA Annual Report on Philanthropy reported that $557.2 billion was donated to U.S. charities in 2023. This includes giving by individuals, bequests, foundations, and corporations. Despite common belief, the vast majority of that giving came from individuals (67%), and if coupled with bequest giving (8%), donations from individuals made up 75% of philanthropic giving. However, many nonprofit organizations report having underdeveloped major gifts programs, often relying on a less abundant resource — grant revenue.
What’s more, the turnover rate for fundraising professionals is significant, leaving many development departments having to rebuild their teams and internal skill sets every couple of years. Without solid development leadership and retention, it is also difficult to adequately manage and coach the organization’s Board of Directors to reach their critical give/get goals.
Though the opportunity is vast to tap into your constituents’ generosity, these fundraising barriers often get in the way. This is where I can help.
The lift is lighter with a little support. Let’s reach your fundraising goals together.