About Us
How We Work
We fully adopt and immediately align with your mission. Whether it’s a discrete project or a long-term fundraising campaign, we are ready.
We learn and embody the rhythms of your culture, then move them forward with you, helping you reach your goals. Expect tender counsel and daring execution. We are changemakers and deeply committed to your cause.
We seek to operate and advise across the full spectrum of philanthropic support. We engage with the critical questions that animate the future of our sector.
Our team
Richard Russell, Founder
Richard Russell is the Founder of Russell Philanthropies. A leading philanthropy executive and advisor, Richard has more than three decades of planning, participating in, and executing global capital campaigns. He has led major gifts programs, counseled families, foundations, and companies, and partnered with some of the world’s leading philanthropists.
Marcia Lynn Sells, Co-President
Marcia is Co-President at Russell Philanthropies. Her extraordinary and uniquely wide-ranging experience is built around education, public service, belonging, and inclusion. She joined Russell Philanthropies from the Metropolitan Opera, where she was Chief Diversity Officer and Assistant General Manager.
Rebecca Bowen, Co-President
Rebecca Bowen is Co-President at Russell Philanthropies. With more than three decades of experience in philanthropy, Rebecca most recently served as the Chief Advancement Officer for the YMCA of the USA.
Teresa Lane, Partner
Teresa is a Partner at Russell Philanthropies. She has more than 40 years of experience at nonprofits, start-up ventures and established organizations. Her development career spans leadership roles in the environmental and higher education fields.
Robin Powell Mandjes, Partner
Robin Powell Mandjes, a partner at Russell Philanthropies, helps nonprofits and philanthropists plan for the future. She is the Founding Executive Director of EMBRACE BOSTON, Director and Fund Development Committee Chair at The Community Builders, Inc., and a trustee at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Dustin Carpenter, Consultant
Dustin is a Consultant at Russell Philanthropies. He is passionate about driving systems change to create greater impact in fundraising, governance, and leadership.
“We provide customized advisory services to those seeking to make a positive impact on the world through philanthropy.”
Want to work with us?
From time-to-time, we will advertise key roles on our team. If you are passionate about building a more equitable world and the role philanthropy can play in that mission, please apply or reach out to our team. We promise an adventure!