Rochelle M. Jerry, CFRM
Rochelle M. Jerry, CFRM is a seasoned nonprofit executive and nationally recognized fundraising strategist with more than 29 years of experience in strategic planning, institutional advancement, governance, and organizational leadership. She has successfully raised more than $18.5 million in new operating revenue and is known for building sustainable funding ecosystems that strengthen mission-driven organizations and the communities they serve.
Throughout her distinguished career, Rochelle has held senior development leadership roles at respected national and regional organizations, including the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians (AADEP), Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), Society of Surgical Oncology and The SSO Foundation (SSO/SSOF), American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Plastic Surgery Foundation (ASPS/PSF), Indiana Black Expo (IBE), and the Indy Arts Council (IAC). In these roles, she led multi-million-dollar fundraising portfolios, strengthened board governance systems, expanded corporate and foundation partnerships, and implemented high-impact annual and major gift campaigns.
As CEO & Co-Founder of Jerry Consulting Group (JCG), Rochelle partners with nonprofits across the United States and globally to build sustainable revenue strategies, modernize fundraising operations, strengthen board engagement, and align mission with measurable community impact. Under her leadership, JCG operates as a strategic ecosystem to organizations seeking long-term growth, governance excellence, and equity-centered development strategy.
Rochelle serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s Fund Raising School and contributes to philanthropy education through professional development and sector leadership. She is also a regular contributor to Nonprofit Quarterly’s “Ask an Expert” column, where she provides candid, practical guidance to nonprofit leaders navigating fundraising challenges, governance complexities, and sector-wide shifts.
A recognized national voice in philanthropy, Rochelle speaks on nonprofit leadership, AI in fundraising, governance, volunteer engagement, equity-centered development, and sustainable funding models. She is the creator of the LinkedIn newsletter “Dear Nonprofit CEOs: Get Off the Struggle Bus—Sustainable Funding Awaits” and host of the YouTube podcast “Fundraising Confessions: The Truth Behind the Profession.” Through these platforms, she champions transparency, ethical professional standards, and long-term sustainability within the nonprofit sector.
Rochelle is a Global Board Member and IDEA Committee Chair of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). She is a 2025 graduate of the Executive Women Leaders Program: Building Legacies and Leaders (Women’s Fund of Central Indiana) and a member of the 2026 Indiana Philanthropy Alliance John M. Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute. She also serves as a Senior Advisor with Aperio Philanthropy, further extending her influence in equity-centered philanthropic strategy.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from DePaul University, completed graduate studies in Nonprofit Management, and holds the Certificate in Fundraising Management (CFRM) from Indiana University’s Fund Raising School. Rochelle also holds a Digital Marketing Science Certification from Indiana Wesleyan University, including credentials in Google Analytics, Google Ads Search, and HubSpot Email Strategic Marketing.
Rochelle’s mission is clear: to equip nonprofit leaders with the clarity, confidence, and strategy required to build resilient organizations, mobilize communities, and create lasting impact.