[GTS] Donna Ashley, vice president for institutional advancement at The General Theological Seminary (GTS) has announced that Jonathan Silver has been named the seminary’s new director of development. Silver brings an in-depth experience of fundraising gained over 25 years of work in the metropolitan development community. He comes to GTS from the Migraine Research Foundation where he planned and implemented all aspects of their fundraising strategy, focused particularly on branding and corporate story-telling aimed at developing institutional support, broadening the scope of the donor base, and establishing a presence within the important new venue of social media.

The son of former journalist and Shubert Organization exec Lee Silver and actress Joy Saunders, Jonathan Silver spent many years in the entertainment industry and business development, before embarking on a career in philanthropy in the wake of 9/11. He joined The Leary Firefighters Foundation, a non-profit founded by actor Denis Leary, dedicated to supporting emergency responders. In his eight years as deputy executive director, he developed and executed fundraising strategies, including building an effective donor base and creating high profile fundraising events. Successful programs under his administration included the design, development, and deployment of a state-of-the-art Mobile Command Center for the New York City Fire Department, the addition of a $4.5 million High-Rise Training Facility at the FDNY’s Randall’s Island Training Academy, and, in New Orleans, the restoration of 11 firehouses destroyed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

“Jonathan has a wonderfully diverse skill set in storytelling, cultural and religious studies, and public policy,” said Ashley. “We are delighted by the passion he has already shown about the future growth of GTS and the Plan to Choose Life, and we are delighted to have him on the institutional advancement team.” Silver’s responsibilities will include acting as liaison for Alumni/ae Affairs.

His office is in the newly renovated Seabury Hall and can be reached at 212-243-5150 ext. 404 or at silver@gts.edu.