the founder

Margaret Perkins-McGuinness is a strategic advisor specializing in fundraising, grants, and capital campaign strategy, public-sector finance, ethical AI integration, and institutional growth and resiliency. With more than two decades of leadership experience across nonprofit, government, and philanthropic systems, she has raised over $40 million in institutional and capital funding and led complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives at scale.

She most recently served as Deputy Executive Director and Deputy Director for Philanthropy at a major urban public library system, where she doubled institutional fundraising and led cross-departmental strategy spanning finance, digital inclusion, facilities, and government relations. Her work integrates financial rigor, systems design, and mission alignment—bridging capital planning, grant management, compliance, and long-term investment thinking.

With degrees in social work and public administration and certifications in conflict resolution, public finance, and AI governance, Margaret’s work and approach remain grounded in policy, equity, and institutional accountability. She brings additional experience in legal environments, foster care systems, data analysis, and community-based program design.

A dual citizen of the United States and Costa Rica, she has lived and worked internationally and brings a global lens. She advises institutions navigating growth, governance complexity, AI adoption, and high-stakes strategic decisions.

Outside of her advisory work, she navigates precision and chaos as a competitive synchronized figure skater, board member and volunteer for multiple nonprofit organizations, and mother of two. Margaret’s leadership philosophy reflects discipline, forward momentum, and collective precision.