Matt McKillop brings more than two decades of experience in strategic communications, development and advancement. He has deep experience in campaign planning and communications, major gifts strategy, donor acquisition, board development and stewardship.

Matt works with clients to help them define their cases for philanthropic support, develop compelling messaging to deepen and broaden their donor relationships, and produce engaging materials that support their fundraising objectives. Matt helps teams and organizations develop and act on long-range vision plans, working from initial mission clarification and goal-setting to fully articulated, workable plans. He works closely with senior management, boards and volunteer leaders to set specific short-term and long-term goals, develop broad and focused strategies for major and principal gifts, build and engage high-potential prospective donor pools, and create clear solicitation plans for staff and volunteers.

Matt began his career in the Bay Area working at the early intersection of journalism and high tech. In 2006, he joined the University Advancement team at the University of Southern California. Matt later worked at UCLA to develop the strategic plan for the Anderson 2016 campaign at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

More recently, as a campaign director and major-gift officer for Young Life, Matt secured the first-ever seven-figure gift in Greater Los Angeles Young Life history, as well as numerous six-figure gifts supporting minintries and campaigns across the southwestern division.

Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and a master’s degree in professional writing from USC. He is an active member of the Parish of St. Matthew in Pacific Palisades, where he serves as an usher and vice president of the board of St. Matthew’s Day Camp, a key outreach program.

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