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Susan McManus is co-chair of the Fundraising Committee for NCWA and will work to establish a deeper working relationship with Florida Gulf Coast University.

She has enjoyed a successful fundraising career as a founding board member and CEO of Champions for Learning, recently establishing her social impact strategy company. She was the CEO/President of Champions for Learning, the local education foundation in Collier County and led the foundation since its infancy, serving on the founding Board of Directors, and becoming the executive director in 1993.

She grew the foundation from a $300,000 annual budget to over $4 million with strategies for major gifts and planned giving. She grew the assets to $10 million with office space and endowment support. She is an expert in individual giving and fundraising, developing strategies for growth. She currently teaches a a Social Entrepreneurship class at Florida Gulf Coast University and encourages students to consider the social change they can make with their companies.

She has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Education from Mount Saint Vincent University, both in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She also earned a Master of Education degree from University of South Florida. Susan taught elementary school at Saint Ann School when she moved to Naples in 1976.

Susan is married to Steve McManus and has three sons. She also is the proud grandmother of two amazing grandchildren and is thankful that they all work and live in Naples.

She is a passionate advocate for teachers and students and values the community’s collective voice for education. She is a graduate of Leadership Collier, Greater Naples Leadership and Leadership Florida. She has worked to lead the collective work of many organizations with common aspirations for the success of our students in Collier County and across the state.