Susan Kane
knows non-profits inside and out - from the perspective of a staff member, in-house counsel, board member, prospect, and funder.
She provides consulting services for non-profit organizations on the basis of this multi-faceted perspective.
About.
A former lawyer and long-time board member for organizations of different sizes and reach, Susan works with non-profit organizations to develop strong boards and facilitate solid partnerships between executive leaders and their boards of directors.
Susan sits on the board of The City, an independent, non-profit newsroom serving New York and New Yorkers. Susan recently served as the Interim General Counsel for Drug Policy Alliance and was a member of the board of Drug Policy Action, the 501(c)(4) sister organization of Drug Policy Alliance.
Previously, Susan sat on the international Board of Directors of Human Rights Watch, and co-chaired HRW’s Policy Committee, its New York Committee and was a member of advisory committees for HRW’s US Program and Women’s Rights Division. Susan was formerly a Board member of The Door, a youth development organization in New York City.
Susan previously worked as a commercial litigation attorney, most recently at Latham & Watkins. In addition, she served as a clerk with the Hon. Richard K. Eaton at the United States Court of International Trade. She received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She lives in New York City with her two daughters.
You can learn more by reading Stakeholders, Susan’s newsletter on governance, idealism and dysfunction on non-profit boards: susankane.substack.com.
Services.
Board Development
Outreach and Engagement
Community Building
Fundraising
Train
staff
board
supporters
how to best advocate for your organization
Develop and support communication and consensus within and among
staff
executive leadership
board
supporters
Clients.
“Susan joined the Legal Resources Centre (LRC - South Africa) team at a time when we were exploring new funding streams. With her vast experience, she was able to engage with different layers of the organisation – quickly understanding the work of the LRC and mapping out a funding strategy. This was tied to crucial fund-raising campaigns which will see the LRC targeting a global audience.
Susan is your person if you are looking for someone who can work with you to build a successful campaign.”
-Nersan Govender,
Executive Director
Legal Resources Centre
“Susan is an exceptional thought partner and incredibly hard worker. She jumped into the deep end of the pool with me as a new ED in the midst of a pandemic. She is clear headed and even keel and makes the problems in front of you digestible and manageable. She has great instincts and is a good communicator. Leadership can be isolating and it was great to have a partner in Susan.”
-Kassandra Frederique
Executive Director
Drug Policy Alliance
“Susan is a true advocate. I had the great fortune to work alongside her for many years at Human Rights Watch – she immerses herself in the work, is a tireless champion for staff, and a remarkable strategic partner. Thanks to her vision and steady guidance, we successfully developed roadmaps for the work of the New York Committee, mapped out strategic fundraising and advocacy plans, and developed events large and small. She is a brilliant thinker and a quick decision-maker; above all, she cares deeply – about the work and the people carrying it out. She’s not only helped Human Rights Watch be more successful, but she also makes any job more fun!”
-Angela Deane
Managing Director, Development and Outreach
Human Rights Watch
Contact us.
susankane1005@gmail.com
773.677.2404
New York City, New York
Stakeholders newsletter: susankane.substack.com