Richard Russell
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.
With a career in philanthropy that spans decades, Richard Russell first founded the firm 20 years ago. Richard has advised and led campaigns for respected organizations and philanthropists around the world. He serves as adviser to a dozen of the world’s most generous individuals and families, as well as their family offices and foundations. His deep partnerships and strategic counsel have helped them achieve their goals effectively and efficiently.
Richard has planned and participated in hundreds of capital campaigns. He has strategized for and led major gifts and planned giving programs, and has worked with volunteer and executive nonprofit leaders on projects ranging from board governance and recruitment, to strategic planning, CEO evaluation, and coaching.
Richard previously held leadership positions in philanthropy at The Nature Conservancy, San Francisco Opera, The Phillips Collection, Washington National Opera, Yale University, and ACLU, among others. Richard holds degrees from Yale, Cambridge, Harvard, and Episcopal Divinity.