Colton C. Strawser, Ph.D.

Colton C. Strawser started his philanthropic journey at a young age by becoming the director of marketing/fundraising for a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth and computer literacy at the age of 14. He later became the organization’s executive director and under his leadership the organization expanded from serving one county in Northeast Indiana to serving seven counties in the region in under four years. Today, Dr. Strawser serves as the President of Colton Strawser Consulting, a consulting firm Empowering Organizations to Create Change®.

Strawser has previously served as the vice president of communications for an international auction company, director of development for a nonprofit organization focused on serving the elderly, and several roles within secondary and higher education. In addition, he has worked with numerous foundations and philanthropic service organizations. He has spoken at conferences across the country around the topics of nonprofit communications, strategic grantmaking, foundation management, youth philanthropy, and civic engagement.

Strawser is a Certified Fund Raising Professional and Certified Nonprofit Professional. He has also completed a Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting through BoardSource and is a Master Trainer through the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

In addition to his consulting, Strawser is an accomplished nonprofit management and philanthropic studies scholar. He has taught university-level courses on nonprofit management, philanthropy, fundraising, community development, and program evaluation. Strawser has published a book chapter, reports, papers, and articles and seeks to bridge theory and practice within the context of the nonprofit sector.

Strawser is the recipient of five Presidential Volunteer Service Awards (including a lifetime achievement award for over 4,000 hours of community service), a Daily Point of Light Award, a William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion (IUPUI), and was recognized through the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.