Erin Phillips

Erin joined Gonser Gerber in 2021 as a Senior Consultant and became a Partner in 2024. She provides advancement consulting services to independent schools and higher education institutions, healthcare systems, cultural, social service, and other non-profit organizations. Her areas of focus include advancement; board and staff development; annual, capital, major, and planned gift programs; campaign planning and execution; volunteer utilization and engagement strategies; partnership development; nonprofit management and net revenue generation strategies; integrated marketing and public relations; strategic planning and visioning, and other aspects of institutional advancement.

Erin brings more than 20 years of experience in a variety of advancement and executive leadership positions. Most recently, Erin served as Senior Vice President of Enterprise Development for National Community Renaissance, assessing and implementing profitable enterprises and partnerships that will help provide more affordable housing to those in need.

Prior to her time at National Community Renaissance, Erin worked in the public sector as Executive Director of the Riverside University Health System Foundation, where she led teams responsible for fundraising, marketing and communications, and governmental relations for Riverside County’s safety net public healthcare system. While at RUHS Foundation, the team significantly grew annual and major giving and received the largest gifts in the Foundation’s history while completing a successful campaign. Erin and the team also positioned the Foundation to partner with the hospital more effectively, resulting in mobilizing more money for equipment and program support than previously seen in the history of the Foundation.

Previously, Erin served as President & CEO of Children’s Fund, where she and the team redesigned operations, program delivery, and branding as well as doubled annual income and received the largest gift in the history of the organization. Erin also served as Assistant Vice President for University Advancement at California Baptist University, where she worked closely with deans and administrators to build donor-centered annual and major giving programs and supported the Advancement team. Erin began her advancement career in Alumni & Constituent Relations at University of California, Riverside, where she focused on constituent relations with the Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Parents and Emeriti Associations. Erin also previously owned her own consulting practice, focusing on higher education and nonprofit organizations.

Education & Achievements

Education

• B.A., Sociology, University of California, Riverside

Personal

Residence: Riverside, California

Family: Married to Mark, 2 children