People CSR – The Munshine Group

people-sl

Our People

With deep roots in New Jersey and the Northeast corridor, The Munshine Group has extensive nonprofit sector experience and an executive team with a broad understanding of effective community engagement and high-impact philanthropic strategies. The Munshine Group’s consulting process combines positive community results along with building goodwill with clients and key stakeholders.

David Munshine

President & CEO

Julia Kathan

Chief Communications Officer

Megan Leitheiser

Executive Vice President

Shay Laderbush

Senior Vice President

Cindi Altieri

Director of Operations

The Power of CSR

“The entrepreneurs and business leaders of today and tomorrow have an extraordinary opportunity: to prove that through upholding values we can create value-for the company, for the customer, and for the community.”

— Arthur M. Blank, author, “Good Company”

“By taking a broader, more complete view of corporate purpose, boards can focus on creating long-term value, better serving everyone – investors, employees, communities, suppliers and customers.”

— Bill McNabb, former CEO, Vanguard

,

Stay Connected

STAY UP TO DATE ON OUR NEWS AND EVENTS.

David Munshine

President & CEO

David Munshine is a no-nonsense strategist and leader in transformational fundraising, communications and nonprofit management. After noteworthy achievement as a development, associate and executive director in the education and health sectors, David has been consulting since 2001. He has worked with some 200 charities spanning every nonprofit sector, ranging from new initiatives to large, complex health systems and universities. David’s energy is matched only by his passion for creating positive change.

He founded The Munshine Group in 2013 to bring a fresh perspective to consulting in order to help nonprofits thrive in a rapidly-changing digitally connected world. Key issues include fierce competition for major gifts and donor loyalty; building strong staff and volunteer teams; and breaking through the noise to deliver messages that move people to take action.

David is a member of the Forbes Business Council and a noted speaker and trainer. Recent media appearances include WCBS News Radio, WCBS Small Business Spotlight, nj.com, NJ Spotlight and Advancing Philanthropy magazine.

David received his bachelor’s degree in public administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is an active member of the community, having served as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Camp Nejeda Foundation, and also as a trustee of the New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, where he chaired the 2021 Conference on Philanthropy. David is a current trustee of the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Julia Kathan

Chief Communications Officer

Julia Kathan is a communications, public relations and media executive with deep experience in the worlds of nonprofits and network news, helping to make sure clients of The Munshine Group solve their challenges and meet — and exceed — their goals. She brings the writing, editing and creative skills needed to craft and deliver compelling, spot-on messaging.

She joined The Munshine Group after serving as Director of Public Relations and Communications for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the state’s largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization, where she greatly expanded awareness of the issues and the organization. Julia is dedicated to giving back and to supporting a variety of causes.

For more than 20 years, she was an award-winning writer and producer for ABC News, where her credits include head writer of the flagship World News with Diane Sawyer, as well as senior staff member of World News Tonight with Charles Gibson. She is the recipient of more than a dozen major broadcasting awards, including multiple Edward R. Murrow, Writers Guild, Gracie and National Headliner Awards.

Julia, who studied Rhetoric and Communication at The State University of New York at Albany, is a contributing writer for The Huffington Post.

Megan Leitheiser

Executive Vice President

Megan brings creativity, versatility and a spirit of collaboration to every project she undertakes. Megan has extensive experience working in corporate and nonprofit administration, fundraising, marketing, and communications. Her skills consistently deliver positive results for clients. She is noted for her ability to connect with people, and is committed to serving organizations that are doing good work in the world.

After earning degrees in marketing and management, Megan established a career in marketing for a Fortune 500 company before transitioning to the nonprofit sector more than a decade ago. She joined The Munshine Group with nonprofit experience including serving faith-based organizations, and a nonprofit dedicated to the eradication of human trafficking.

Megan’s knowledge of nonprofit communications, with an emphasis on digital and print design and strategy, consistently results in what clients say is exactly what they were looking for and needed. She is up-to-the-minute on best practices, and at The Munshine Group, Megan is involved with nearly every client engagement, producing customized, compelling deliverables, including Case for Support materials for campaigns and planning studies, annual reports, appeal letters, brochures, stationery packages, infographics, social media graphics – and more – that result in increased awareness and donations.

Working with local and national organizations in nearly every sector, Megan has managed numerous successful digital campaigns, including a multi-platform effort for Safe+Sound Somerset, which supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence. By utilizing a unique crowdfunding campaign and compelling video messaging, S+SS raised money to address the issue of a much-needed new safe house. With Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education & Experience, based in Naples, Florida, Megan used her creative talents to tell the stories of abused and neglected animals, and the healing and connections that gave them a second chance. In response to Hurricane Ian, Megan, with members of the Munshine communications team, launched a crowdfunding effort to raise funds to jumpstart the construction of a much-needed CAT 5 hurricane shelter to benefit Shy Wolf and the wider community. The initiative succeeded in completing the campaign, a first of its kind in the organization’s history, exceeding its fundraising goal by 70%.

Shay Laderbush

Senior Vice President

Shay brings extensive nonprofit management experience and a wide variety of skills to our clients. Her strong background in higher education and health care includes specialization in prospect research, data analysis, major gifts, campaigns and annual giving.

Shay joined the team from her position at the University of New Hampshire, where she was Prospect Research and Management Analyst. She was involved in all aspects of advancement goals and results, as well as major gift proposals. In her role, she was also responsible for implementation and training for new database and technical services.

Prior to UNH, Shay was Major Gifts Officer for the New Hampshire SPCA, creating and fostering key donor relationships. Those stewardship skills were also crucial earlier in her career, when Shay was Development Officer for Annual Giving at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Shay is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Health Management and Policy. Shay is a member of NEDRA (New England Development Research Association), Apra (Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement), and Women in Development New Jersey.

She is active in supporting organizations and causes including health, education, children, the environment, and animal welfare.

Cindi Altieri

Director of Operations

Cindi has 10 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising administration with targeted expertise in handling multiple tasks for leadership departments and support for a varied client base. She is a consummate juggler of tasks and priorities and creates a baseline for success for others to follow.

Her expertise includes prospect and data management, client relations, corporate organization and implementation of programs. She has the rare ability to anticipate, develop, and implement processes for time and cost benefits. Her strengths include setting priorities, administering projects and managing information collection and dissemination in a conscientious manner.

She established her career in association management and event planning and then brought her experience to both religious and pharmaceutical organizations before landing in the nonprofit fundraising consulting sector. Cindi is committed to both anticipating and responding to the needs of the organizations that we serve.

Cindi earned her associate’s degree from Orange Coast College and studied psychology at San Francisco State University.