Shirley Ferguson Jenks

Founder, President

Since 1994, Shirley Ferguson Jenks has headed her own firm and provided fundraising counsel to nonprofit organizations in the fields of culture, education, health, and social services.  She is the President of The Development Consulting Group, LLC (formerly the Jenks Group).  The firm is composed of highly skilled, expert consultants. TDCG works in hand-selected teams that meet each client’s special needs.  Consultants help to design and implement annual and capital fundraising campaigns; to train Boards, volunteers and staff in the art of fundraising; to lead development assessments and strategic planning initiatives; to conduct executive search for fundraising and cultural institution leadership positions; and to assist philanthropic organizations with grant-making assessments and management.    

Shirley has more than 30 years of experience as a development professional.  She began her fundraising career in New York as the first Director of Development for the Landmarks Conservancy where she established and directed the fundraising office.  Subsequently, as Director of Development for the Cultural Council Foundation, she organized the first formal development efforts for this arts service organization.  In addition, Shirley advised dozens of the emerging arts groups served by CCF.

At the American Craft Museum as Manager of the Annual Fund, Shirley devised and implemented a full range of national development programs, including corporate sponsorship and exhibition underwriting, during the construction of a new museum and a $10 million capital drive.  She established and personally directed all of the tours and activities of the Museum's first major donor club, the Collectors Circle.

While a Senior Consultant at Goodale Associates, Shirley served a variety of local, national and international clients as counsel to annual fund drives and capital campaigns. Subsequently, Shirley was Vice President for Development for the American Academy in Rome where she oversaw annual fund raising and a $20 million Centennial campaign for capital needs and endowment.

She was founder of the Development Professionals Roundtable, where she was President for a decade.  She has also taught fundraising courses at Marymount Manhattan College and has lectured at other institutions.  Shirley currently serves on the boards of the American Foundation for the Courtauld Institute of Art, New York Preservation Archive Project, and Women in Development New York.   She is a member of the Trusted Advisors Group. 

Shirley graduated with honors in Political Science from Manhattanville College.  Her Masters degree is from the University of London where she studied Medieval architecture at the Courtauld Institute of Art.