Donor Education Series

Giving with Impact - an educational series for philanthropists and donors

By invitation only

Giving with Impact brings local philanthropists together to learn, connect, and deepen impact. Experienced philanthropic leaders and experts will share practical ideas, new trends, and proven approaches that can help donors give more effectively. Just as important, the series creates space for meaningful conversation. Donors can exchange ideas, learn from one another, and build relationships with peers who care about making a positive impact in their communities.

If you’re interested in underwriting a session of Giving with Impact, please contact molly@goodworkseacoast.org

Attend individual sessions or the full series

Click on the titles below for event speakers, details, and registration.

NOTE: More information COMING SOON for the July, September, and October sessions.

WHEN: 4:00 – 6:30 PM | Mondays, June 1, July 13, September 14, and October 5

WHERE: GoodWork, Carey Cottage, 400 Little Harbor Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801

WHO: For individual donors, foundations, and grantors interested in learning philanthropic best practices. [By invitation only.]

WHY: To deepen understanding of philanthropic trends, best practices, and emerging issues in order to empower greater impact.

Giving with Impact invites philanthropists to learn, connect, and deepen their giving impact.

Meet the Experts

Mike Ambrogi

Senior Technology Fellow Novocure Inc.

Mike Ambrogi

Senior Technology Fellow | Novocure Inc.

Mike Ambrogi is a Senior Technology Fellow at Novocure Inc., a global oncology company. Mike joined Novocure in 2006 as its first US employee and served as Chief Operating Officer until his transition to his current role in 2020. As COO, Mike helped Novocure grow from a startup to an organization serving tens of thousands of cancer patients worldwide. Prior to Novocure, Mike spent 15 years at Deka Research and Development Corporation, inventor Dean Kamen’s private R&D firm, serving as its General Manager. Earlier in his career, Mike was a consultant with McKinsey & Company. Mike serves on the boards of CASA NH, Community College System of NH Foundation, Cross Roads House, Portsmouth Collaborative (Chamber), and NH Life Sciences trade organization. Mike holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Blair Demers

CEO Foundation for Seacoast Health

Blair Demers

CEO | Foundation for Seacoast Health

Blair is the CEO of the Foundation for Seacoast Health, a regional health foundation serving communities in the Seacoast of New Hampshire and Southern Maine. Under her leadership, the Foundation focuses on advancing Mental Health and Healthy Aging—two vital pillars of community wellbeing.

She is also the Founder and Principal of BLD Impact, a strategic advisory firm that supports philanthropists and mission-driven organizations in achieving lasting, meaningful impact. With more than 20 years of experience, Blair is a trusted advisor to social impact leaders, donors, and nonprofits across the U.S. and internationally.

Blair has served as Executive Director of organizations in San Francisco, Nairobi, and Portsmouth, NH. She is a founding member and past Chair of the Seacoast Women’s Giving Circle, which granted over $1 million to local nonprofits in its first 12 years. Her board service includes leadership roles with the NH Charitable Foundation, The Music Hall of Portsmouth, and Heronfield Academy.

She holds a BA from Princeton University, a graduate degree in Nonprofit Management from Johns Hopkins, and an Executive MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business (LEAD Program). Blair is also a 21/64 Certified Philanthropic Advisor, helping donors become more engaged, informed, and aligned in their giving.

Blair lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with her husband, three young-adult daughters, and two golden doodles. She loves to travel, drink coffee, and procrastinate with NY Times word games.

Jack Segel

Assistant Vice President CCS Fundraising

Jack Segel

Assistant Vice President | CCS Fundraising

Jack Segal is an Assistant Vice President at CCS Fundraising, where he partners with nonprofits to design and execute capital campaigns, develop individualized fundraising strategies, and expand organizational capacity. An experienced fundraiser, Jack works across all major areas of development, including major gifts, annual giving, and planned giving.

Before joining CCS, Jack managed fundraising for dozens of political candidates and committees, serving as Finance Director and Campaign Manager. He currently serves on several nonprofit boards, including Port City Makerspace and Meals on Wheels of Rockingham County, and is passionate about advancing mission-driven leadership. Jack lives in Portsmouth and enjoys woodworking and spending time outdoors.

Jennifer Chinburg

VP of Marketing Chinburg Properties

Jennifer Chinburg

VP of Marketing | Chinburg Properties

Jennifer Chinburg is the VP of Marketing for Chinburg Properties, a real estate development, building and management company based in Newmarket. Jen has over 30 years of business experience in marketing, management, strategy, public relations, and economic development. She graduated from Boston College and earned a graduate certificate of special studies in administration and management from Harvard University. She completed her economic development certification for the State of New Hampshire and was appointed to the Economic Development Advisory Council for the Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED). Her prior business experience included financial oversight of a research center at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and as the Chief of Staff at BankBoston Development Company. Jen’s non-profit experience includes 3 years as the economic development manager at the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce and serving on several non-profit boards. Jen is currently the Chair of the Piscataqua Region Advisory Board of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

Kirsten Scobie

Founder Persimmon Consulting Company

Kirsten Scobie

Founder | Persimmon Consulting Company

Kirsten Scobie is the founder of Persimmon Consulting Company, where she partners with donors, foundations, and institutions to design philanthropic strategies rooted in trust, humility, and justice. With over two decades of experience, Kirsten brings a rare blend of strategic rigor, emotional intelligence, and deep listening to help clients move resources in ways that truly build power in under-resourced communities.

Before launching Persimmon, Kirsten spent 15 years at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, including eight years directing the Tillotson Funds—one of the largest rural philanthropies in the U.S.—where she oversaw a $100M+ portfolio spanning four states, Canada, and Guatemala. Her career has taken her from Chicago’s South Side to rural New Hampshire, from ESL classrooms in Chile to public service programs across the U.S. Her work is characterized by a focus on people, place, and possibility.

Kirsten’s life story informs everything she does. Raised in a multigenerational academic family that moved between Argentina, California, and Texas, she grew up attuned to complexity, resilience, and inequity. Deeply committed to racial and economic justice, Kirsten is known for helping people and institutions name the hard, necessary things together — and then act on them.

She brings all of this—life experience, systems thinking, a sharp analysis of race and class, and a lot of heart—to help clients move toward philanthropy that is more just, more effective, and more human. Today, Kirsten lives in northern New Hampshire with her family.

Susan Entz

Chief Advancement Officer Catalyst

Susan Entz

Chief Advancement Officer | Catalyst

Susan Entz brings over two decades of advancement leadership to Catalyst, with deep expertise in fundraising strategy, donor cultivation, and organizational development. Throughout her career, she has built and executed integrated advancement plans that align institutional priorities with fundraising outcomes, consistently exceeding ambitious campaign targets and securing transformational gifts.

Susan’s approach combines strategic relationship building with operational excellence. She has developed high-performing teams, designed major donor cultivation programs, and created engagement strategies that convert prospects into long-term philanthropic partners. Her work spans comprehensive campaign management, alumni relations, and the sophisticated stewardship required to sustain institutional momentum.

Known for orchestrating both intimate donor experiences and large-scale fundraising events, Susan excels at creating the authentic connections that drive philanthropic impact. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes maximizing ROI through disciplined execution, building exceptional teams, and delivering measurable results that advance organizational mission.

Susan holds a B.A. in Communications from Boston College and an MBA from the University of New Hampshire.

Troy Finn

Founder & CEO Catalyst

Troy Finn

Founder & CEO | Catalyst

Troy is a management consultant and fundraising architect with over 24 years of experience in leadership and advisory roles across the nonprofit sector. He has extensive experience in campaign planning and board development, major and planned giving, annual giving, and institutional funding.

Troy’s front-line skills complement his expertise in analytics, systems, philanthropy tech, operations, and fundraising business intelligence. With a keen eye for talent, Troy has built teams of successful gift officers who have achieved unprecedented levels of success.

He has worked with highly regarded institutions, including Harvard, Columbia, Bennington, St. Lawrence, the University of New Hampshire, UMass, Dana-Farber & The Jimmy Fund, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, ALS Association, Pine Street Inn, CancerCare, among others.

Troy excels at growth strategy and leveraging the intersection of passion and talent to drive engagement and fuel missions. His alma mater is the College of the Holy Cross, and he obtained a master’s degree from Harvard University with a concentration in finance and management through the Harvard Extension School.

As founder and CEO of Catalyst Campaign Partners, Troy combines rigorous discipline with innovative thinking across all client engagements, delivering solutions that are strategically sound and backed by extensive experience and thorough analysis.

Escape it all at Carey Cottage events: stunning views, ocean air, and porch time!