It’s a best practice for organizations to hire outside counsel to gain an objective perspective on how ready the community is to support a proposed capital or endowment projects, expansion or scaling campaigns, and to set realistic fundraising goals. We guide organizations to develop the tools and tactical plans to raise funds for viable projects.
Fundraising success is the result of putting the strategy into action, and maintaining momentum to the finish line. Beacon’s experienced campaign professionals become an extension of your staff, helping to manage the implementation of the strategy, support volunteers with coaching and training, bring creative problem solving, and provide accountability to accelerate fundraising progress.
Is your development operation where it needs to be to maximize fundraising success? Is your greater organization helping or hindering the efforts of your development staff? Beacon will assess current operations, identify challenges, and recommend an actionable plan to improve your fundraising effectiveness.
Whether you’ve identified a specific area for improvement or seek to broadly grow fundraising competency, Beacon will create a personalized learning experience to empower staff and volunteer leaders with strengthened fundraising knowledge and skills.
Facilitated strategic planning and provided ongoing campaign readiness coaching
Feasibility, planning and management of a $19 million campaign alongside new CEO coaching
Managed $17.7 million capital campaign through grand opening
Feasibility study, planning and management of $14 million campaign
Led $6 million campaign for Republic Square, a unique public private partnership
Feasibility, planning and management of $13 million campaign
We empower nonprofits to raise capital that betters our community by enabling them to cultivate the generosity of our neighbors.
© 2025 Beacon Nonprofit Consulting, LLC
Mollie O’Hara Leach offers over 25 years of hands-on experience in successful development programs, both as a consultant and professional fundraiser. She has worked with organizations of all kinds, from small, social service groups to major universities. With a desire to provide high-quality capital campaign consulting to the Austin nonprofit community, Mollie founded the company in December 2010 and continues to be recognized by her peers as an expert in fundraising. A member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals since 1996, Mollie was named Outstanding Fundraising Professional in 2004 and served as president of the Greater Austin Chapter in 2012. Additionally, Mollie earned the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) distinction in 2001 and a Certificate in Fund Raising Management and Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from Indiana University. Connect on LinkedIn
Lisa Lee brings more than 20 years of development experience in Austin’s nonprofit sector to Beacon, including deep knowledge and skill in the areas of capital campaign management, major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, event fundraising, annual giving, membership and more. Prior to joining Beacon in 2014, Lisa worked in development officer roles with large and mid-sized nonprofits, most recently completing a $17 million campaign to build the new Austin Children’s Museum, the Thinkery. Lisa earned her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential in 2004, and was named Outstanding Fundraising Professional by AFP in 2012. She served as president of the AFP Greater Austin Chapter in 2007. Connect on LinkedIn
Carmine brings 30 years of experience in fundraising, capital campaigns, and executive management across both the nonprofit and university sectors. His expertise spans individual, corporate, foundation, and public fundraising strategy, as well as major gifts, estate planning, and strategic development. Before joining Communities In Schools (CIS) Central Texas as Chief Development Officer in 2016, Carmine led development efforts at organizations such as the SAFE Foundation (a merger of Austin Children’s Shelter and SafePlace) and Children’s Bureau in Los Angeles. Earlier in his career, Carmine spent a decade in higher education fundraising, holding leadership roles at Stanford and Northwestern Universities, where he became recognized for his work in principal and major gifts, capital campaigns, and strategic planning. Carmine earned his bachelor’s degree from The College of the Holy Cross, an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University and his CFRE in 2025. Connect on LinkedIn
