Robert Stein, CEO, Founder
Robert Stein, CFRE, founded MajorGiving.com in 1994 and has served as its principal since then. He has been an arts executive and development professional for nearly thirty years with such institutions as the Hartford Stage Company, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Ithaca College and Syracuse University. Under his leadership, MajorGiving.com has worked with over one hundred clients in major giving, executive recruitment, as well as capital campaigns and planned giving. Among Stein’s honors: appointment in 2005 by the Governor of Virginia to serve on the state’s public broadcasting commission (reappointed in 2009); recipient of the 2003 Public Radio Association of Development Officer's Pioneer Award for leadership; Management Fellow with the National Endowment for the Arts, 1985; Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, Hartford, 1984. His work in major giving has brought grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to support MajorGiving.com’s work with several dozen public radio and television stations. He has been a presenter at more than 30 conferences within and outside of public broadcasting and most recently served on the board of the Contemporary American Theater Festival.
Lisa Ondak, Senior Consultant, Major Gifts
Lisa Ondak brings more than twenty years of non-profit experience in publicity, marketing and development to MajorGiving.com. As a member of the practice, she has consulted with a variety of public broadcasting stations, helping them identify and expand their major giving opportunities. This includes working with 14 stations through the CPB funded Leadership for Philanthropy, managed by DEI, and the Public Television Major Giving Initiative. Her overall development experience consists of cultivation and stewardship of major gifts, overseeing special events, grant writing, and donor club administration. Through her work with MajorGiving.com, she has added case building, volunteer training, estate giving, capital campaign planning and executive recruitment to her knowledge base. She currently serves on the board of the Public Radio Association of Development Officers. Positions held by her include Marketing and Development Director, Humphreys School of Musical Theatre, Houston; Associate Director of Development, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra; and Associate Director of Development, Theatre Under The Stars, Houston.
Katie Gardella, Consultant, Major Gifts
Katie has dedicated her career to helping non-profit organizations build capacity, train volunteers, and raise resources to fulfill their missions for the betterment of their communities. She has counseled numerous CEOs, board members, and development staff at non-profits of all sizes and gets the highest satisfaction from helping these vital institutions grow and reach their goals. A life-long learner and enthusiastic presenter, Katie has spoken at numerous national conferences. With MajorGiving she has worked with non-profits all over the country, helping them strengthen their development programs and increase their institutional capacity. Her non-profit experience includes work as Major Gifts Director at KPLU Public Radio in Seattle, Washington, where under her leadership the station was awarded the Public Radio Development and Marketing Conference’s Major Giving Award, and Manager of Major Gifts and Planned Giving at the Tacoma Art Museum in Tacoma, Washington.
