Ms. Benson has proven her expertise as a Major & Principal Gift fundraiser, Public Relations, Marketing, Issues Advocacy, Campaign Elections Finance and Organizational Development Executive. Lisa is also a Mideast Policy Hawk and accomplished presenter on Mideast affairs and foreign policy.
Lisa has a 25-year proven track record in fundraising and accumulated a vast national security background as a result of her work with policy centers, think tanks and national security advocacy organizations. She is quick to state that she wishes that the national security segment of her career had never found her; she was asked to serve as a central repository of donor resources days after the 9-11 attack. Catapulted to this responsibility, Lisa has served for some of the more notable figures in the national security sector. Her presentation is a compilation of personal stories of her life as New York Jewish Democrat, remembering her father a liberator of concentration camps post WW II, and evolving into a right of center Pro-Israel/National Security Conservative Republican. Lisa Benson is an energetic, compelling speaker of conviction who leaves the room wanting to hear more.
She has raised in excess of $350 million for client organizations worldwide. Her solid track record of results includes recently directing finance operations for Gabriela Saucedo Mercer For Congress, JD Hayworth for Senate, as well as Arizona Congressional candidate, Janet Contreras (whose appearance on Glenn Beck ignited her campaign), Indiana Congressional Candidate, Dr. Marvin Scott and the State of Arizona GOP. Lisa has also managed the fundraising campaigns in opposition to the Ground Zero Mosque and has served as Development Director for several high profile national security figures including Brigitte Gabriel, ACT for America Tom Trento, The United West, Steve Emerson, The Investigative Project and 9-11 Families. Currently, she serves as a consultant for Secure America Now.
Additionally, her career encompasses major gift / principal gift / capital campaign efforts designed and successfully implemented for local, national and international social service agencies, scientific research centers, higher education, the arts, international humanitarianism, and many Israeli based tax-exempt organizations, including Magen David Odam (Israeli Red Cross), The Weizmann Institute of Science, Bar-Ilan University and Alexander Muss High School in Israel. Lisa Benson served as the Director of Finance Resource Development Executive for the Palm Springs Jewish Federation where she elevated their funding by nearly 30% under her stewardship. Ms. Benson’s education includes Masters of Public Administration coursework, Rockefeller Graduate School of Public Policy, State University of New York at Albany and a Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude from State University of New York at Albany.
Lisa Benson, getting involved
Organizational consulting specialties include, but are not limited to: Strategic Visioning and Planning, Fund Development, Major and Principal Gift Strategy and Implementation, Capital Campaigns, Business Development, Corporate Relations, Client Relationship Management, Project & Program Management Branding, Public Relations & Publicity (print/radio/television), Conference Planning & Special Events and Grant Writing, Political Campaign assessment and fundraising, Issue Advocacy Advancement. Lisa’s is a tenacious and talented solicitor for causes and candidates.
Lisa is a Certified Grantsmanship Educator with a trademark lecture series, “Getting to the Core of the Matter.” She is recognized for creating strategic alliances for her clients from her network of national and international collaborations.
Lisa is often referred to as a “rainmaker” and engaging public speaker. Her clients credit her success to a winning combination of talent, tenacity and sense of humor!
