CLARE COLLINS GUNTHER

 

Clare Gunther has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and communications. She is a development generalist, skilled in donor engagement, stewardship, and strategic communications.

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Clare began her nonprofit career at the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, managing grants for arts organizations and individual artists. She later served as a grant writer for Heritage Christian Services, which provides housing and supports for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

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After relocating to Boston, Clare managed grant programs at the Essex County Community Foundation and became Development Director for the Greater Lawrence YWCA, where she secured funding for programs supporting housing, childcare, and domestic violence services. Clare also co-designed a program to increase minority inclusion on nonprofit boards and co-chaired the Lawrence nonprofit grants collaborative and successfully co-led the city’s application for a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture Builds Communities award.

In 2015, Clare joined the Lowell Community Health Center as Development Director, later becoming Chief Advancement & Communications Officer. She led a team responsible for fundraising and external relations, and launched a successful $3.5 million capital campaign.

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Clare returned to New York in 2020 and now works part-time for the Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA) in Lowell, MA, coaching staff on grant seeking and fundraising. In 2024, CBA received a $1 million Yield Giving grant from MacKenzie Scott.

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Clare’s background is in journalism, with work published in The New York Times, The Boston Globe Magazine, and others. She serves on the Canisteo Library Board of Trustees, volunteers for the Rockwell Museum in Corning, NY, and is a member of the Hornell Library Writer’s Group. She is a lifelong learner and creative problem-solver A passionate advocate for community development, she brings energy, empathy, and a commitment to making a positive impact in every role she takes on. She is committed to advancing equity and social justice.

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