We are delighted to welcome Christopher (Chris) Crooker to the JGA team as our newest Senior Consultant, based in Ithaca, New York. With nearly three decades of experience in nonprofit fundraising and organizational leadership, Chris brings a powerful blend of strategic insight, relationship-driven practice, and deep sector expertise that will strengthen JGA’s capacity to support mission-driven organizations nationwide. His arrival reflects JGA’s continued commitment to providing clients with seasoned advisors who understand both the opportunities and complexities of today’s philanthropic landscape.
Chris joins JGA following an impressive career leading transformational fundraising initiatives across higher education and global public health. Most recently, he directed principal gifts strategy at Partners In Health, advancing investments that support global health equity. His leadership experience also includes serving as Assistant Dean at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University and as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he oversaw central development functions for the Commonwealth’s flagship university. Earlier in his career, Chris spent 17 years in a variety of advancement roles at Cornell University, his undergraduate and graduate alma mater, where he helped build a foundation of donor-centered work that continues to shape his leadership approach.
Before entering the nonprofit sector, Chris served as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy. His active-duty service included deployments during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm aboard warships homeported in Japan and California. He later served as a Master Training Specialist at the Navy’s Surface Warfare Officers’ School in Newport, Rhode Island, and continued his commitment to service in the Navy Reserve, including a mobilization in 2009 to the U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. This combination of military discipline, instructional experience, and strategic operational leadership informs the steady, thoughtful guidance he brings to clients today.
Colleagues and clients alike appreciate Chris’s ability to bring clarity to complex challenges, build strong donor relationships, and help organizations position themselves for transformative philanthropic success. We are excited for the insight and leadership he brings to JGA and the partners we serve.
Please join us in welcoming Chris to the JGA team. To connect with him or explore how JGA can support your fundraising goals, we invite you to reach out—Chris is eager to partner with organizations ready to advance their mission and amplify their impact.