George C. Ruotolo, Jr. CFRE
Chairman and CEO

George C. Ruotolo, Jr., counselor to non-profit organizations and institutions, has been a professional fund raising and public relations executive since 1973. Prior to establishing Ruotolo Associates, he served as vice president of a major public relations fund raising firm and worked in investment banking. In 1979, sensing the need for a more contemporary approach to the challenges of present day fund raising, Mr. Ruotolo founded the firm that bears his name and his personal hallmark: the commitment to high-level, hands-on professional service.

His expertise encompasses annual development, capital campaigns, planned giving, marketing and public relations programs for dioceses, churches, colleges, schools, hospitals, and social service organizations on local, regional, and national levels. He has worked closely with religious, corporate and civic leadership, administrators, board members, volunteers, and development officers in guiding them through successful fund raising programs.

Mr. Ruotolo has often been designated as a media spokesperson on key philanthropic issues impacting our society and has appeared on CNBC Money Talk to discuss the state of philanthropy and to address questions from call-in viewers. He appeared on Phil Donahue’s show on MSNBC as a panelist discussing the effects of the Catholic Church scandal on religious philanthropy. Recognized as an effective communicator and seminar leader, Mr. Ruotolo has addressed audiences on such timely issues as leadership, fund raising, development, marketing and public relations. His presentations include those made to the International Conference of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the National Catholic Development Conference (NCDC), the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), and the Fund Raising Fundamentals Course held at Seton Hall University. He has also been a guest lecturer at Baruch College and Columbia University.

Ruotolo Associates is a member firm of the Giving Institute Leading Consultants to Non-Profits (formerly the American Association of Fundraising Counsel), the hallmark of ethical fund raising. Mr. Ruotolo currently serves as Chair of the Giving Institute, and is also a member of the board of The Giving USA Foundation, publishers of Giving USA (of which he is a former Chair). In addition, he began his term as a board member for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Foundation in January 2006. Mr. Ruotolo is also the Vice-Chair of the Non-Profit Advisory Council of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). He also served for four years on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross, Bergen-Hudson Chapter, Ridgewood, New Jersey, and was a founding member of the Ridgewood Educational Foundation. Mr. Ruotolo is a member of the New Jersey Chapter of the AFP, and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive. He was awarded the 2005 Robert J. Smythe Outstanding Professional Fundraiser Award by the New Jersey Chapter of the AFP.

His undergraduate degree is in political science and communications, with advance training through professional institutes. He resides in Ramsey, New Jersey, with his wife, Joanne, who is a nurse practitioner. They have three grown children.