Vice President

Michelle has more than six years of experience in marketing, management and fundraising. She worked for Young America’s Foundation at the Reagan Ranch and served on the management team responsible for the construction of the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara, CA. As part of the development team, Taylor focused on raising funds and awareness for the Foundation’s student programs as well as the preservation of the Reagan Ranch. In 2006, she moved to Washington, D.C. and worked at Citizens United as the Director of Development. She oversaw all fundraising and development staff at the organization. Healey also worked on the marketing and distribution of three of Citizens United’s films and productions. She is a member of the Association of Professional Fundraisers.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Senior Researcher and Editor

Maria Shumaker is senior editor and researcher at A.C. Fitzgerald & Associates. In her role, she identifies fundraising prospects and edits donor communications. She is also editor of the Non-Profit Partner.  Shumaker has a master's degree in secondary education from the Catholic University of America and has taught literature and writing at both the elementary and high school levels. She has several years experience in the newspaper industry and has worked as a trainer for Thomson Financial and Chevy Chase Bank.

She was responsible for redesigning the Intranet site for The Technical Operations Group at Thomson Financial, helping to educate end users on what services were available to them and providing updates on emerging technologies.  In 2005 and early 2006, Shumaker was instrumental in creating a new Intranet site for Adventist HealthCare’s Financial Services and contributed to the group’s newsletter.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Research and Marketing Director

Meredith Copley has over seven years experience in fundraising and public policy. Prior to joining AC Fitzgerald & Associates, she was a policy analyst at Civic Enterprises, where she helped corporations, nonprofits and foundations spearhead innovative public policy strategies to strengthen our communities and country. Additionally, Meredith served as an account manager at Geneva Global, Inc, a philanthropic advising firm to individual and institutional donors. She managed the project pipeline, granting strategy and reporting for a 12 million USAID grant for HIV/AIDS prevention and care services in Ethiopia and Cote d'Ivoire. Before joining Geneva, Meredith served as the Development Coordinator for The Heritage Foundation. Copley graduated from the University of Texas, Austin where she majored in political science. Upon graduation, she was accepted into a post-graduate leadership program in Washington, D.C. where she served as a fellow for Senator Don Nickles (R-OK). Meredith also studied at the University of Nanjing in China. 

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Senior Writer

Brian McNicoll has worked his entire adult life – and more – in the information business. He began at age 15 as a sportswriter for the morning daily of his hometown, Shreveport, La. Since then, he’s served as a reporter, political and sports columnist, editor, editorial page editor and managing editor for newspapers in Louisiana, Virginia and Maryland. McNicoll also has written for and edited magazines and newsletters, served as host of his own television program for three years and worked in the highly regarded public relations shop at The Heritage Foundation. He worked as press secretary for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and its prominent chairman/ranking member, U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va. He has produced op-eds, editorials, columns and a series of letters-to-the-editor on health care issues. McNicoll also has written extensively about education policy, energy and the environment, crime and justice and economic policy and has worked on political campaigns. McNicoll coaches, referees and serves on the youth basketball board of directors in McLean, Va.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it