Meet the Wingspan Philanthropy Team
Sterrin Bird, CFRE, Founder & Principal
Change Champion & Purpose-Driven Global C-Suite Executive
A global fundraising leader with a proven track record, Sterrin is a transformative figure in the nonprofit community, universally recognized for her nearly three decades of exceptional dedication to philanthropy. Her expertise spans the future of fundraising, building robust teams, and mastering the art of relational fundraising. With a keen focus on breaking down silos and fostering human-centered change, Sterrin excels in leveraging technology in support of mission outcomes and is an advocate for utilizing AI for fundraising innovation.
Prior to her tenure as a development officer, Sterrin catalyzed growth as a development consultant for three notable international consulting firms, where she blossomed into a cross-functional leader. In 2010, she founded her own consulting practice, orienting her approach around uncommon coaching and leadership mentoring. Throughout her multifaceted career, Sterrin has orchestrated over three dozen capital campaigns across the globe, cumulatively raising more than $5.5 billion, securing her reputation as a global fundraising leader.
In her professional journey, she has held pivotal leadership roles at prestigious nonprofit giants such as Duke Medicine, the University of California, the American Red Cross, the March of Dimes, and United Way. Sterrin also spent four years as the in-house nonprofit expert with the global team at Salesforce.
Sterrin holds an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School. She is also a True North Leadership Fellow and was named to the Advisory Council of Rogare, a fundraising think tank in the UK at the University of Plymouth.
Her extensive experience with C-suite executives, nonprofit directors, and leadership across complex organizations speaks to her ability to exceed funding objectives while leading teams and managing the ever-changing nonprofit industry. A distinguished cross-functional leader, Sterrin navigates the intersection of fundraising, marketing, brand positioning, and program advancement with ease.
Originally from Short Hills, New Jersey, Sterrin now calls the Bay Area home, living with her two children, Thomas and Mary. She is a prolific public speaker and is also deeply invested in her community, she sits on the board of Maimoni Valley Preserve, One Life Counseling, and the Young Men’s Service League, embodying the spirit of engaged and impactful citizenship.
Lesley M. Loftis, SVP
Building Revenue Engines through Campaign Strategy and Major Gift Cultivation
Lesley M. Loftis is a seasoned fundraising and development professional with more than two decades of experience advancing the missions of leading national nonprofits and academic institutions. Her career spans senior roles at the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, March of Dimes, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the American Heart Association, where she has built a track record of designing high-performing peer-to-peer campaigns, cultivating major donors, and driving consistent year-over-year revenue growth across multi-state regions.
Most recently as Manager of National Fundraising Campaigns and Volunteer Engagement at the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, Lesley led P2P strategy across 14 states. Earlier, as Associate Athletic Director and Regional Director of Development at Tennessee Tech University, she stewarded more than $1 million in major gifts and shaped a $20 million strategy for a new football stadium. At March of Dimes, she trained staff and volunteers across a 12-state region with a combined budget of $14.5 million, served as interim leader in multiple markets, and helped lead a national initiative that increased top walker revenue by $500,000.
Known for building strong cross-functional partnerships and mentoring teams to exceed ambitious goals, Lesley has also championed diversity and women’s leadership initiatives throughout her career. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
buzz
“Sterrin was a talented fundraiser and built lasting relationships with major donors. She was creative, forthright, focused, and understood strategic cultivation. She always found ways to cut through organizational barriers and focus on the key donors.”
– Kathleen L
Interim Senior Vice President, Development, American National Red Cross