About Us

Ellie Starr : Chief Executive Officer / Founder

Starrs Aligned is a strategic fundraising consultancy composed of experts and problem-solvers who deeply believe in the power of philanthropy to change the world.

We collaborate with nonprofit leaders, teams, and organizations working on essential issues—providing strategic philanthropic, fundraising, and advancement support to enable them to evolve, grow, and attract the resources they need to survive and thrive. 

Starrs Aligned was founded by CEO Ellie Starr in 2020. Driven by a personal north star of “tikkun olam,” or repairing the world, Ellie set out to leverage her 30+ years of experience in fundraising and philanthropy, and bring this to as many organizations and missions as she could. Over the course of her career, Ellie has led - and been an integral part of development teams - that have raised over $2B for mission driven organizations of all sizes, working across a wide range of issue areas. She is an expert at not only raising money, but also building teams and systems that successfully steward gifts and support long-term donor and community engagement, cultivation, and growth. 

A key part of what makes Starrs Aligned unique is our constellation of dozens of trusted, experienced collaborators who contribute their expertise and experience, challenge our thinking, and brainstorm ideas and solutions with us and our clients. 

Together, Ellie and the Starrs Aligned constellation are united in common purpose: To take steps, big and small, every day, to repair the world.

Our Services

We specialize in developing and implementing comprehensive fundraising plans, strategies and initiatives, including:

  • Comprehensive Campaigns

  • Major Gifts Programs

  • Stewardship and Donor Relation Programs

  • Volunteer Engagement Strategies and Programs

  • Leadership Coaching 

  • Organizational Design and Infrastructure

  • Board Development

  • Interim Development Management

  • Custom Diagnostics, Research, and Analytics

  • Facilitation, Team-building, Retreat Planning 

OUR VISION

We see a world in which philanthropic resources are connected to needs and aspirations, fostering abundant opportunities for meaningful impact and progress… 

  • Where each individual, community, and organization that needs support, gets it. 

  • Where those with resources to share are flowing them productively and effectively to create meaningful, lasting, positive change. 

  • And where individuals, teams, and organizations are collaborating, activating networks, overcoming barriers, and accomplishing far more working in community, than alone.

OUR PEOPLE

Ellie Starr, Chief Executive Officer/Founder

Ellie Starr has over 30 years of experience and outstanding achievement in strategic philanthropy, fundraising, and advancement. She has a passion for improving health, education, the environment, and creating equality and opportunities for everyone everywhere.

Ellie has worked with some of the nation’s most generous individual donors to help them shape their philanthropy for lasting impact, partnered with some of the most effective international funders, creating and vetting complex gifts with Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and collaborated with corporate funders like MathWorks and Vertex. She has been a senior leader inside five of Boston’s most respected institutions: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Museum of Science, Perkins School for the Blind, and Brandeis University.

Ellie’s deep involvement in a wide variety of large and small nonprofits provides a galaxy of experiences that she draws on to support her clients. At the same time, she is highly skilled at activating a network of talent, relying on her Starrs Aligned Constellation of trusted, smart people to provide advice and wisdom, challenge conventional thinking, and brainstorm breakthrough ideas and solutions.

Craig Bida, Senior Consultant / Strategy

Craig Bida is a purpose-driven brand-builder with 25+ years’ experience working across sectors, helping organizations like the National Park Service, Procter & Gamble. FedEx, the American Heart Association, and the Sierra Club build their brands and engage stakeholders. 

Hairpin, Senior Consultant / Creative

Hairpin is a creative social change agency that builds brands for world-changers, do-gooders, and hell-raisers. Since 2009, Hairpin has been partnering for change, bringing top talent, skills, and expertise to their work with mission-driven organizations, foundations, and people. Led by Kristen Hughes and Robert Hamilton, the Hairpin team crafts strategies and creates beautifully-designed digital, print, and experiential tools that bring powerful stories to life. Clients include the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Samaritans, Inc., Make-A-Wish, Henry P. Kendall Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts, Boston University, and Barr Foundation.

Sarah Vilnit, Senior Consultant / Events

Sarah Vilnit is an event technology professional with over 20 years of experience in higher education and non-profits in New England. As a member of Harvard Business School’s Corporate Relations team, she was responsible for the operational management and execution of all event logistics for over 30 international and domestic events and webinars involving over 2,500 constituents (annually) while managing and mentoring staff at HBS offices around the world. Sarah earned a BS in Education with a concentration in Web Technology at West Chester University and an MS in Education at Boston University.

OUR CONSTELLATION OF ADVISORS

Karen Emmons, Ph.D.

Karen Emmons is a Professor of Social and Behavioral Science at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She has an extensive track record as a researcher, administrator, and educator. Her work focuses on reduction of preventable disease and eliminating health disparities.

Ralph James

Ralph James retired from Harvard Business School in 2017 and currently spends his time on philanthropic ventures with organizations like the Riverview School, Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Studies, the Joslin Diabetes Center, and Northeast ARC.

Pat Keegan

Pat Keegan is an executive coach, consultant and psychologist with over 20 years experience working with individuals, teams and organizations. Her work is primarily focused on improving leadership, management, communication, and performance.

Cheryl Kiser

Cheryl Kiser is the Executive Director of The Lewis Institute and The Babson Social Innovation Lab and is responsible for promoting broad support for Babson's work in integrating social innovation, social responsibility and social relevance into its curriculum and co-curricular activities. 

David Kiser

David Kiser is the Managing Director of CRK Partners, trusted advisers to CEOs of closely held companies. CRK’s advice comprises value-creating strategy, organizational effectiveness, top team and board development, and getting the right things done. 

Sue Paresky

Sue Paresky is the former Chief Philanthropy Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund. With over 35 years' experience in non-profit management, she currently consults on philanthropic strategy development and best-in-class fundraising design. 

Julie Rafferty

Julie Rafferty has 25+ years of marketing, digital media, PR and fundraising experience, helping organizations expand their brands. Before leading Rafferty Communications Strategies, she was Assoc. Vice Dean for Comms at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Richard Russell

Richard Russell is a Founding Partner of Resilient Philanthropy, Richard has planned and participated in capital campaigns, led major gifts programs, and worked with some of the country’s leading philanthropists. He has degrees from Yale and Episcopal Divinity School.

Julie Shafer Davitz

Julie Shafer Davitz is a social impact advisor specializing in integrating philanthropic and for-profit capital for positive outcomes. For 20+ years, Julie has leveraged her knowledge of grant-making, development and impact investing with global executive leadership experience.