Associate Vice President for Advancement, and Executive Director of The Ferris Foundation

Jennifer A. Shaw, MPNL, CFRM

Associate Vice President for Advancement,
Executive Director of The Ferris Foundation

Prakken 101A
(231) 591-2850
[email protected]

Jennifer A. Shaw supports students and enhances educational opportunities as Associate Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the Ferris Foundation at Ferris State University.

Appointed to the role in 2023, Shaw provides the vision, leadership, and management for the university’s fundraising program and for increasing private support.

With more than 25 years of fundraising experience, Shaw has proven history of increasing results. During her lifetime, she has been a part of raising over $320 million.

Shaw previously served as the Assistant Vice President for Development at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. She provided leadership to all areas of the division, including development services, prospect research, stewardship, scholarships, planned giving, major gifts and annual giving.

She was a leader in planning, coordinating, and oversight of all fundraising campaigns and special gifts. That included the $135 million Laker Effect Comprehensive Campaign, which exceeded its goal by $50 million. She led and directed GVSU’s Major Gift Team focusing on university priorities.

Shaw joined GVSU in 2010 as the Director of Corporate Giving and set in place a comprehensive program to support the university’s strategic goals and priorities.

Prior to Grand Valley, Shaw has held fundraising positions primarily in the healthcare field, including Spectrum Health/Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and American Heart Association.

Shaw earned a Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from Grand Valley State University, Certificate of Fundraising Management from Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in Indianapolis, and Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich.