Video: Why I'm in Fundraising

Inzencity Consulting

Fundraising built on strategy, relationships, and real partnership.

For 15 years, I've worked alongside nonprofit executives and development teams to connect missions with the donors who believe in them. The approach is grounded in data, industry best practices, and a genuine belief that organizations doing meaningful work should have the resources to keep doing it.

Meet Jessica See our services

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$60M+

raised in philanthropic dollars across a 20-year career

About Jessica

Jessica Harris

Executive Fundraiser & Founder, Inzencity Consulting

I became a fundraiser because I believe that organizations doing meaningful work in the world deserve the resources to keep doing it. Over 15 years as an executive fundraiser, I've learned that sustainable fundraising isn't about chasing donors — it's about building the right strategy, maintaining genuine relationships, and matching people to missions they actually believe in.

My career began at one of Chicago's first integrative wellness clinics. From there, I spent years at the American Thoracic Society and the David Lynch Foundation, where I raised nearly $60 million in philanthropic contributions and executive produced major benefit events at some of the country's most recognized venues. I founded Inzencity to bring that same data-informed, relationship-driven approach to organizations at every stage.

The organizations I work best with are the ones leading with intention — clear on their mission, committed to doing things right, and ready to build something that lasts. That's the kind of partnership I find most meaningful, and it's the standard I hold my own work to.

Started career at

Integrative Wellness Clinic, Chicago

Former roles

American Thoracic Society · David Lynch Foundation

Raised

Nearly $60M in philanthropic dollars

Specialties

Major Gifts · Events · Strategy · High-Profile Relations

Selected Productions & Impact

Work that moves people and missions forward.

Founder & Executive Producer

David Lynch's Festival of Disruption

A two-day arts, music, and consciousness festival produced in partnership with the David Lynch Foundation at the Ace Hotel, Los Angeles.

Created & Executive Producer

Ringo Starr Peace & Love

A globally celebrated annual benefit event honoring Ringo Starr, uniting artists, musicians, and philanthropists to raise funds for the David Lynch Foundation.

Created & Executive Producer

Music of David Lynch

A live musical tribute event showcasing composers and artists who contributed to David Lynch's iconic film and television catalog.

Co-created & Executive Producer

Change Begins Within

A star-studded benefit concert at Carnegie Hall featuring performances by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Katy Perry to benefit the David Lynch Foundation.

Co-created & Executive Producer

Night of Comedy & Night of Laughter and Song

High-profile annual benefit events blending comedy, music, and philanthropy — raising significant funds through celebrity engagement and major donor cultivation.

Co-created & Executive Producer

Silence the Violence & Meditate America

Advocacy-driven benefit events at iconic national venues focused on the intersection of meditation, mental health, and social impact.

What We Do

Full-spectrum fundraising built around your mission.

We don't hand you a playbook and leave. We become an extension of your team — bringing strategy, relationships, and execution to every engagement, from day one through your biggest campaign milestones.

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Strategic Planning

We build plans that your whole team can execute — grounded in your organization's unique strengths, donor landscape, and growth trajectory.

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Major Gift Fundraising

Personalized strategies for identifying, cultivating, and closing transformative gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

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Event Planning & Management

End-to-end management of fundraising events — from intimate donor dinners to large-scale benefit galas at iconic venues.

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Board & Committee Relations

We optimize governance dynamics, turning your board into active advocates and strategic contributors to your fundraising success.

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High-Profile Relationship Cultivation

Leveraging 20 years of relationships with executives, philanthropists, and celebrities to open doors that move your mission forward.

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HR, Operations & Finance

From interim controller services to operational assessments, we help your organization build the internal infrastructure to grow sustainably.

Why Inzencity

How we approach the work.

We bring relevant relationships. 15 years of work across the nonprofit and philanthropy sectors has built real industry connections. When there's a genuine fit, we can facilitate an introduction — thoughtfully, and only when it makes sense for everyone involved.
We work alongside you. We're not here to hand off a plan and walk away. We work with your team directly — building pipelines, preparing materials, and moving campaigns forward with you.
We build for sustainability. Our goal is to leave your organization with stronger systems, clearer strategy, and better donor relationships than when we started — something that lasts beyond our engagement.
We partner with organizations doing it right. We do our best work alongside leaders who are running their organizations with clarity, integrity, and purpose. That foundation is what makes meaningful fundraising possible.

The best fundraising happens when donor values and organizational mission genuinely align. Our job is to find that alignment — and build from it.

— Jessica Harris, Founder

Our Team

The people behind your results.

Jessica Harris

Founder & Principal

Executive fundraiser with 15+ years of experience. Raised nearly $60M in philanthropic contributions. Founder of Inzencity Consulting. Former fundraising leader at the David Lynch Foundation and the American Thoracic Society.

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Marta Schneider

Project Director

14 years leading high-performing teams in education and consulting. Ensures every project runs on time, on strategy, and with the care it deserves.

Let's talk about what you're building.

Whether you're preparing for a major campaign, strengthening your development infrastructure, or looking for a strategic partner who will work alongside your team — we'd like to hear about your organization and what you're working toward.

Start a conversation
jessicaharris@inzencityconsulting.com