Dean Thompson is a marketing, fundraising, and business development professional whose work spans both the private and nonprofit sectors. Early in her career, she worked with consumer and luxury home furnishings brands - including a company owned by Martha Stewart and high-end manufacturers such as Drexel Heritage and Henredon - helping strengthen their stories and open new paths for growth.

Overtime, Dean felt drawn to work that connected people and organizations to a deeper sense of purpose. That pull led her into nonprofit leadership, where she has spent more than fifteen years partnering with organizations to build capacity, strengthen Boards, shape strategy, grow fundraising efforts, and deepen civic engagement. Her past roles include Vice President of Advancement for Communities In Schools, Director at The Lee Institute, and Executive Director of Project Life Movement.  Dean’s consulting work focuses on helping organizations and leaders understand their opportunities, unite around a clear purpose, and collaborate effectively.

Dean has long believed in showing up for her community, and she has done so through extensive board and volunteer service. She has served as Board Chair of Leadership Charlotte and Women Executives, spent six years on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and seven years with Women Executives for Community Service. Dean is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a member of the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership’s inaugural Leadership Gift School cohort, and an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow. When she’s not working, she enjoys travel, reading, hiking, and never passes up an opportunity to enjoy live music.