<p><span class="p-body">Kathleen Murphy brings nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of philanthropy, digital strategy, and movement-building to NYU SPS. With a career rooted in community organizing and fundraising innovation, she has collaborated with organizations ranging from global institutions to grassroots movements, helping them leverage digital tools to drive systemic change. As the former Global Director of Digital Strategy at GivingTuesday, Murphy led worldwide communications campaigns and built movements around generosity, impacting communities in over 100 countries.</span></p>
Storytelling and Relationship-building for Impact
<p><span class="p-body">Murphy’s philosophy goes beyond transactional fundraising. “Fundraising isn’t just about securing donations—it’s about storytelling, relationship-building, and mobilizing people toward a shared vision of change,” she explains. Her course, <i>Social Media and Email Fundraising: Building Resilient Digital Communities</i> in Uncertain Times, equips students with cutting-edge digital strategies that inspire action and build long-term connections. She emphasizes the importance of engaging supporters as part of a community rather than treating them as mere donors.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Murphy’s teaching approach is highly practical. Students don’t just learn theory—they work on projects directly relevant to their careers, designing year-round social media strategies and crafting comprehensive GivingTuesday campaigns. “By the time students complete the course, they don’t just have theoretical knowledge—they have a fully developed, actionable fundraising plan they can implement immediately,” Murphy says. She also invites guest speakers from across the sector, ensuring students gain insights from practitioners who are leading the charge in philanthropy and digital engagement.</span></p>
Preparing for the Future of Fundraising
<p><span class="p-body">Murphy prepares students to be innovative and adaptable as the fundraising world evolves. She emphasizes building genuine, lasting relationships with supporters and staying nimble in response to economic and political changes. </span></p>
The days of transactional fundraising are long gone. To thrive, organizations need to build authentic communities around their mission.”
<p><span class="p-body">By equipping students with a strategic mindset and real-world skills, Kathleen Murphy empowers the next generation of fundraising leaders to create meaningful impact in an ever-changing digital world. Be part of the next cohort of change-makers when you pursue a <a href="/content/sps-nyu/certificates/fundraising.html" target="_blank">Certificate in Fundraising</a> at NYU SPS.</span></p>