Valerie Dorian, chief development officer

Valerie Dorian leads a team of talented fundraisers dedicated to advancing Best Friends Animal Society’s lifesaving mission. Valerie oversees major and principal gifts, planned giving, and corporate and foundation partnerships. She also is the architect and leader of the Campaign to Save Them All, Best Friends’ first comprehensive five-year fundraising campaign. Earlier in 2015, when Valerie joined Best Friends, she was the senior strategist for the marketing, communications and development teams.

Valerie is a recognized development leader with a passion for the intersection of worthy causes, global brands and integrated marketing to effect change. She has empowered some of the nation’s most recognized nonprofit organizations to achieve transformational revenue growth and program impact.

In addition, Valerie brings considerable expertise and interest in public-private alliances, and has developed innovative approaches to fundraising and cause marketing in her previous leadership roles at the National Park Foundation and The Nature Conservancy. She has successfully constructed partnerships across several industries with Fortune 500 companies and global brands alike. Valerie’s partnerships — characterized by win-win results grounded in mission and business objectives — have garnered national media recognition and earned multiple Cause Marketing Forum Halo Awards.

Valerie has a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. Valerie hails from Chicago, and currently resides in Boston with her family and beloved dog Cooper.