For 35 years, Susan Waschler has held fundraising leadership positions for national and global nonprofit organizations in the fields of human services, conservation, higher education.
Prior to joining DBD Group, Susan Waschler’s career includes more than two decades of fundraising and program development for Y branches in Phoenix and Los Angeles, most recently serving as chief development officer for Valley of the Sun YMCA in the Phoenix metropolitan area. She has also held the position of Phoenix metro director and vice president development for American Heart Association and chief advancement officer for Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability. Susan has more than thirteen years experience leading philanthropy programs at the state-wide, national and global levels of The Nature Conservancy. As a global assignee, she lived and worked in Hong Kong and Beijing, advising local Nature Conservancy philanthropy teams on fundraising best practices.
Susan is deeply committed to nurturing effective partnerships with donors and volunteers and mentoring the next generation of fundraising leaders. She provides counsel in several key areas, including:
Susan’s commitment to the field includes membership and former board service with Greater Arizona Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Arizona Charitable Gift Planners (AZCGP), and North American YMCA Development Organization (NAYDO) Council. Susan has held the Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) certification and has received AFP’s Outstanding Fundraising Executive of the Year leadership award.
Susan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University. She resides in Scottsdale with her husband and blended family of four grown children, all living in the Phoenix metro area. Having spent most of her adult life in the Southwest, Susan has fully embraced her “inner cowgirl” and actively competes in local cutting horse competitions.