Daily News

Women’s Fund Names Liz Feeley Director of Philanthropy

EASTHAMPTON — The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts announced that Liz Feeley was named director of philanthropy. She brings a wealth of blended experience in education and philanthropy to the organization.

Feeley received her bachelor’s degree in English from Lehigh University. After spending 21 years coaching intercollegiate women’s basketball at institutions such as Smith College, Princeton University, the University of Notre Dame, and Holy Cross College, Feeley took her penchant for building relationships into the field of philanthropy. She brings a background in strategic planning, team building, volunteer management, and designing sustainable programs to the Women’s Fund.

Feeley’s work at both Smith College and Stoneleigh-Burnham School, a day-boarding school for girls in Greenfield, brought to the forefront of her consciousness issues that girls and women face each day. She looks forward to building relationships around the Women’s Fund’s mission of creating economic and social equality for women and girls in Western Mass. through philanthropy.

Prior to arriving at the Women’s Fund, Feeley served as director of Development at Amherst Montessori School. Previously, as director of Development and Alumnae Relations at Stoneleigh-Burnham, she led a team that increased fund-raising by 133% and alumni participation in the annual fund by 50% in three years. As director of Development, she also launched an initiative that increased the number of major-gift donors by 35% in two years. In five years, her team took fund-raising at the school to an unprecedented level by implementing a strategy based on stewardship, cultivating relationships, brand identity, creating sustainable programs, social media, and in-person visits across the country and in Asia.

While at Stoneleigh-Burnham, Feeley was instrumental in the planning and implementation of a $1.2 million two-year campaign. Her team coordinated and hosted a Leadership Symposium and Gala to launch the campaign that successfully raised money for a new student-center complex. She partnered with volunteer groups of parents, alumni, faculty, students, trustees, and others in an effort to advance the mission of the institution.