MEET OUR TEAM
Mary-Ellen Lavigne
Development Director
Mary-Ellen brings over 20 years of fundraising, marketing, and communications experience to Crafting the Future, along with a passion for building genuine connections and making philanthropy accessible for all. With a background in both theater and mathematics from Wesleyan University, she loves blending creative storytelling with data-driven strategy to help organizations dream bigger and raise smarter—and she's thrilled to be doing so for such an amazing organization!
Before joining CTF, Mary-Ellen led successful annual and capital campaigns and helped nonprofits—especially independent schools—grow their impact and strengthen their communities. She believes fundraising is about people, not just numbers, and is energized by supporting artists and changemakers.
When she’s not championing CTF’s mission, Mary-Ellen can be found solving puzzles, singing karaoke, or diving into a new board game. Based in Los Angeles, she’s always eager to connect and help others go beyond what they thought possible.