The Team
Who We Are
Kate R. Schnittman, CFRE
President
Ardent is founded by Kate Schnittman - a Certified Fund Raising Executive with a professional career dedicated to helping nonprofits achieve strategic, operational, and fundraising goals. Kate is proud of her history of creating valuable collaborations between nonprofit organizations, philanthropic individuals, and the business community in order to achieve common objectives.
Deb Howe Allen
Fundraising and Development Consultant
With almost 30 years of experience in development, Deb Howe Allen is well-versed in all aspects of fundraising: direct mail, newsletters, grant writing and reporting, major gifts, planned giving, capital campaigns, donor relations and stewardship. She has raised many millions of dollars for a number of respected non-profits.
Jonathan Meagher-Zayas
Grants Consultant
A fundraiser for over 11 years, Jonathan Meagher-Zayas has raised over $9 million and specializes in grant writing, grant strategy, foundation relations, program development, and government writing. He has researched, submitted, and been awarded dozens of proposals for program support, capital needs, organizational expansions, and operating funds.
Colleen Fox
Marketing & Social Media Specialist
With a passion for marketing, Colleen is an individual who is driven to help marketing strategies come to life to allow organizations to expand. Colleen is experienced with all social media platforms and creating compelling content utilizing photo and video editing skills.
Kathleen S. Smith
Editor
Kathleen S. Smith brings four decades of writing, editing, and proofreading experience to the Ardent Group. She has worked with, among others, Partners and Napier, Flynn, Butler/Till, First American Equipment Finance, McQuaid Jesuit, RIT Press, MagnifiU, The Pinckney Hugo Group, Syneos Health, Born Collective, and Tupperware USA/Europe. She also spent many years as a writer, editor, and manager in the communications office at NTID/RIT.