BOSTON, Mass. – A proven fundraising leader has been named chief development officer at The Trustees of Reservations, the nation’s first and Massachusetts’ largest nonprofit dedicated to preserving natural and historic places, welcoming over two million annual visitors to over 120 properties across the state. Jennifer Pachus, who most recently served as associate vice president for the University Development Office at Harvard, will start with The Trustees on October 19.
“I am thrilled to bring someone of Jennifer’s caliber of experience, leadership, and vision to The Trustees,” said Trustees President and CEO Katie Theoharides. “She built a remarkable track record at Harvard and comes to our organization at a key moment in our strategic plan, For Everyone, Forever, to support our work accelerating land conservation, elevating stewardship, inspiring climate hope, welcoming and connecting more people to nature, and evolving our organization. Jennifer believes that strong relationships help build strong organizations and I know she’s excited to help us expand our reach and impact as we mount our most ambitious strategic plan to date.”
Pachus’s experience is drawn from several decades of fundraising for Harvard University. Most recently, as associate vice president of university development, she led a 60+ person fundraising team responsible for engaging donors centrally, across the breadth of the university, and cultivating transformative, cross-school gift opportunities. Prior to this, as executive director and then assistant vice president of the university development office, she led university-level planning for the launch and execution of The Harvard Campaign, Harvard’s record-setting, university-wide fundraising campaign that raised $9.6B. She began her development career at Harvard as a fundraiser with the Harvard College Fund, later turning to major gifts, then serving as associate dean for development in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
“My family has long been grateful to explore the outdoors in the special places that have been acquired and well-stewarded by the Trustees. I am committed to building on the tradition of philanthropy that has enabled the Trustees to have a lasting impact on the landscapes, people, and wildlife that make Massachusetts home,” Pachus said. “I look forward to expanding the community of donors who are inspired by Katie Theoharides’ visionary leadership and the Trustees’ commitment to land conservation, climate resilience, community engagement, and enhancing access to nature, history, and culture across Massachusetts.”
Pachus earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Yale and has completed coursework in nonprofit management at the Harvard Kennedy School. She lives with her husband, children, and rescue dog in Needham, home of the Charles River Peninsula, a Trustees property.
About The Trustees
The Trustees is Massachusetts’ largest—and the nation’s first—land conservation and preservation nonprofit. Today, through the support of Members, donors, and partners, The Trustees helps conserve nearly 52,000 acres and welcomes the public to more than 120 inspiring locations across the state to experience landscapes where nature, wildlife, and people all thrive.