Ranney School Names Jennifer Collins as Director of Institutional Advancement

Ranney School has named Jennifer Collins as its Director of Institutional Advancement, overseeing the school’s development, admissions, alumni and communications efforts. Ms. Collins currently serves as the Director of Development for Red Bank’s Two River Theater. Since 2011, she has expanded the theater’s annual contributed income by 150% and brought the theater’s fundraising efforts to a new level of sophistication by developing new programs (including Backstage Pass, Two River’s donor affinity program) and an improved strategy for communicating the success of Two River to its funding community. Ms. Collins has overseen all aspects of the theater’s $4 million+ fundraising effort including major gifts, corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants, planned giving, appeals and events. Prior to her work with Two River Theater, Ms. Collins served as a consultant, providing fundraising, strategic planning and program development services for nonprofits in New York and New Jersey. Ms. Collins worked as an independent consultant, and also as a partner with Anderson, Collins, Lyttle and Van Winkle, LLC, in Monmouth Beach.

In addition to her highly commended development work, Ms. Collins is a respected member of the local community, having served as a volunteer with a number of local nonprofit organizations since her family moved to the area in 2004. She currently serves on the Boards of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Central Jersey Chapter in Shrewsbury and the Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth County in Asbury Park. Previously, Ms. Collins served as a Board Member of the Monmouth County Arts Council in Red Bank. She also served as President/Board Chair as well as Community Director of the Junior League of Monmouth County, a 300-member women’s volunteer organization based in Rumson. Her work with the Junior League included guiding capital and annual campaigns and facilitating a new strategic plan that aligned the League’s mission with its organizational goals and priorities.

In her new role, beginning April 1, 2015, Ms. Collins will help to develop and lead in the advancement of Ranney School’s strategic vision, including the building of an endowment, growth of the school’s Alumni Network and a rebranding campaign. These initiatives are part of the school’s ongoing strategic planning process.  Ms. Collins is the parent of two Ranney Lower School children and thus brings a unique perspective to the position.

“Jennifer’s internal knowledge of both the Ranney community and the local community will provide a huge advantage in the school’s advancement efforts going forward,” says Head of School Dr. John W. Griffith. “Polished, articulate, experienced, intelligent, diligent, professional, collaborative and detail-oriented, I have no doubt that Jennifer will provide strong strategic direction for not only our long-term fundraising initiatives but also across our entire advancement model.”

Ms. Collins brings a robust financial background to Ranney School as well, having worked in her early career with Investor Growth Capital, a private equity firm, and as an Investment Banking Associate for Merrill Lynch & Co., both in New York City. Ms. Collins holds a M.S. from the Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy at New School University with a concentration in Nonprofit Management, and a B.A. from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Ms. Collins is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), holds the designation as a Charter Financial Analyst CFA) and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She resides in Brick with her husband, Mr. Tristram Collins, and their two sons (Crosby ’24 and Kieran ’25).