Our Team

Jennifer M. Tersigni

MA¸CFRE, Founder and Lead Counsel

Certified Fund-Raising Executive. Certified Interim Executive. Lifecycles Capacity Consultant.

Jennifer M. Tersigni is the founder and CEO of Raise the Bar Consulting, specializing in comprehensive fundraising, organizational alignment, transitional leadership, and interim executive solutions. The proud holder of an unanticipated 25-year fundraising career, Jennifer has helped hundreds of clients, successfully completed scores of capital, endowment, and annual fundraising campaigns, and raised hundreds of millions of dollars in her career.

Jennifer enjoys collaborating with leaders to transform organizations, develop new initiatives, build sustainable funding, and make a meaningful impact in the world. Jennifer’s introduction to fundraising began in the Office of the Social Secretary at The White House, where she planned and implemented political and social events for the President and First Lady of the United States. Jennifer is an adjunct instructor at Arizona State University Lodestar Center for Nonprofit Innovation, a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE), a Lifecycle Capacity Consultant, and a graduate of The Third Sector Interim Executives Academy. A first-generation college graduate and holder of bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of Arizona, Jennifer held public office, served as a university regent, represented Southern Arizona as a Rotary Fellow in Thailand, was recognized as a 40 Under 40 leader, and has lived and traveled throughout fifty countries (and counting!). She brings cross-cultural experiences to her work and always looks forward to life’s next great adventure.

Diana Sheldon

Diana Sheldon’s career spans 30 years of experience which includes working for three national organizations: American Cancer Society, Association of Multi-Ethnic Americans, and
Ronald McDonald House Charities. Diana’s range of experience includes Board
recruitment, finance, capital studies and campaigns, hiring Executive staff and succession planning sessions.
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In 2016 Diana launched her non-profit consulting firm with a focus on Interim Executive
Director work. Diana has facilitated successful leadership transitions for National and
Local organizations across the southwest. While also serving on the following boards: St. Luke’s Home, Children’s Clinic, Sister Jose Women’s Center, YWCA, Eastside Neighbors Volunteer Program.

Diana received her BS degree in Business Management, University of Phoenix,
graduate of the Kellogg Business School of Management Executive Education
Program, Chicago, Ill.

Lori Malangone

Lori Malangone has 20 years of nonprofit experience and 9 years of nonprofit executive experience in a statewide prevention organization specializing in rural communities in Arizona. Her experience includes organizational leadership, board leadership, overseeing and writing for local, state and federal grants and including a start up charter school. She has extensive experience in youth programming.  Lori successfully lead two mergers in her time as a nonprofit CEO.  She is currently working as a contracted grant writer and consultant.

Lori is a Tucson native and completed her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Arizona and her Master’s Degree in Education through Northern Arizona University.

Kari Procopio

Kari Procopio is a fundraising executive and communications professional with over 20 years of experience working with human services nonprofits and educational institutions to support fund development, strategic planning, and community relations. Kari specializes in gender-based violence prevention, youth development, education, healthcare, environmental justice, and equity for marginalized communities. She launched a consulting firm in 2021, focusing on the development of small non-profit organizations and women/minority-owned businesses in upstate New York.

Kari has spearheaded public policy initiatives that successfully implemented programs to reduce gender-based violence and has participated in public policy advocacy efforts on behalf of YWCA USA. Throughout her career, she has raised millions of dollars for nonprofits in New York and Arizona. She also has experience in corporate event planning, working with such corporations as Chevrolet and Disney. Kari is committed to helping organizations contribute to lasting social change. Kari earned her BS in Journalism and Political Science from Utica University, Utica, NY.

Kewona Mitchner

Kewona Mitchner is a fundraising executive and program director who works with youth, education, and healthcare nonprofits to develop and implement strategic plans and facilitate cross-sector collaboration. Kewona specializes in working with historically underrepresented communities in areas of concentrated poverty and was instrumental in securing federal funding for Hurricane Harvey relief in Houston.

Kewona also assists nonprofits in recruiting and training staff and building mission-driven teams. Kewona earned her BBA in Business, management, and Marketing from Northwood University and an MBA in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from Walden University.

Mark Zero

Mark Zero is a fundraising executive who specializes in organizational assessment and institutional representation to help nonprofits achieve greater community support, expand fundraising, and refine program goals. Mark has held C-Suite positions with nonprofit arts and educational organizations and has secured multi-year, multi-phase federal grants for communitywide public/private collaborations involving the Pima County Attorney’s Office, the Tucson Police Department, the Tucson Fire Department, and many others.

Mark is also a novelist and nonfiction author whose work has been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Lascaux Prize for Literature and won the M.M. Bennetts Award for Historical Fiction and the Mass Book Award. Mark earned his BA in Media Communications and his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona.

Valarie Bostic

Valarie Bostic is a nonprofit executive with more than 25 years’ experience leading educational and healthcare nonprofits as a CEO and Executive Director. Valarie has led early childhood education centers, clinics, and healthcare coalitions in southwestern Florida, specializing in developing and implementing creative programming and efficient business practices. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals; as a radio presenter, she has hosted programs about community initiatives and solutions on the Armed Forces Radio Network.

Valarie earned her BA from the State University of New York at Oswego and holds professional certificates in Management and Project Management.

Oliver Kammeyer

Oliver Kammeyer, a Tucson native, has a long history of applying his skills as a
development professional and thought leader to give back to his hometown and home state of Arizona. He is inspired by his roots and dedicated to helping those communities flourish.

Oliver received his BA from the University of Arizona and his MFA from Emerson
College, Boston, MA.

Stephanie Papaefthemiou

Stephanie Papaefthemiou has worked in various aspects of fundraising, development, and grants for over 15 years, with experience as a grant manager and writer. She has enjoyed working with nonprofits across many sectors, especially arts and culture, education, and human services, helping organizations become “grant ready” and working in tandem to highlight and develop their unique assets.

She enjoys travel, reading, visiting museums, and exploring beautiful Tucson, Arizona.

Stephanie received her MA in History of Art from University College London and is a member of the Grant Professionals Association.

William Medina

William Medina is a seasoned grant writer and researcher with over 13 years of experience, securing funding for organizations across the U.S. and Latin America. He specializes in serving BIPOC and low-income individuals in areas such as mental health, racial justice, social services, advocacy, and environmental justice.

William has a proven track record with foundations, private companies, and government entities, utilizing search engines like Foundation Directory, Instrumentl, and Grants.gov.

Formerly the executive director of a nonprofit in Nicaragua and a nonprofit board member, William excels in strategic planning, donor engagement, and fundraising. With a degree in political science and a master’s degree in public policy, along with his native Spanish proficiency, he effectively communicates with diverse communities and stakeholders.

William is dedicated to fostering positive change, bringing meticulous attention to detail and a proactive approach to managing multiple projects efficiently.