President and Chief Operating Officer
Wendy McGrady has more than 35 years of development and marketing experience. Behind the scenes, Wendy works with each of her clients to develop their fundraising capacity or identify their unique campaign strategy. Her years of experience in relationship building make her a valuable partner to her clients and leader of The Curtis Group team. Wendy’s experience includes donor and volunteer cultivation, major gift solicitation strategy, and coaching of senior staff. Her marketing experience allows her to offer clients unique insight into brand development and effective communication of their fundraising initiatives. She is driven by results and inspired by the relationships she builds.
At The Curtis Group, Wendy leads day-to-day operations, overseeing strategy and implementation of plans for firm growth as well as the care of our team, and our clients’ success.
More visibly, she has become a sought-after presenter, has spoken at numerous philanthropy related conferences and Association of Fundraising chapters, and has served on the faculty of Tidewater Community College’s Academy for Nonprofit Excellence and University of Richmond’s Institute on Philanthropy.
Prior to joining The Curtis Group in 2007, Wendy was chief development officer of Tidewater Community College in southeastern Virginia and she believes strongly in the power of education to enhance lives. She invests in her profession and her community serving as Chair of the Giving USA Foundation. She is a past chair of the Virginia Fundraising Institute and served as a past president of the Hampton Roads chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Wendy is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Hollins University and has served on the University’s Alumnae Board. She has served on the boards of the Elizabeth River Project and ForKids, and is a past vestryperson and senior warden at Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk, Virginia. Wendy was honored as 2024 AFP-Hampton Roads Outstanding Fundraising Professional, is a 2019 recipient of the YWCA Women of Distinction award, a 2001 recipient of Inside Business’ top “40 Under 40” and their Women in Business Achievement Award in 2006.
When she’s not working, Wendy loves sharing her passion for travel with her sons and watching them sail.
