ABOUT

A native New Yorker, Nancy Donner has spent the better part of her career working to promote education, the fine and performing arts, and mission-driven organizations. More recently, she has applied her considerable branding and communications skills to help individuals who are seeking to improve careers or change professions.

Through DCCS, Nancy Donner has contributed her unique talents in integrated marketing to organizations, large and small, devoted to education, arts, and the social good—including the Central Park Conservancy; Bennington College; The Century Foundation, a think tank; Oberland, a purpose-driven advertising and marketing agency; Services for the Underserved, a social services agency; Performing Arts Readiness, a national non-profit that aids performing arts organizations through emergencies; City Parks Foundation, offering free programs in all of New York City’s parks; Reading Reform Foundation, a K-12 educational resource; Siegelvision, a branding firm; and notably, the Ford Foundation, a global support agency for organizations on the front lines of social change. 

In the summer of 2013, Nancy’s consulting work for the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) morphed into a full-time position, where for five years, she worked from the inside to improve issues of identity, management, and reputation as Vice President for Communications and Marketing. For a year, she also acted as Interim Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs. In May of 2018, her work at NYIT concluded, and she resumed her consulting practice.

Nancy is now a pro in academia, as well as cultural, entertainment and mission-driven organizations.  But higher ed was an industry new to her when, in 2005, she became VP for Communications and External Affairs at The New School, where she remained until 2012. She was brought there by President Bob Kerrey during a time of major transition, as the university prepared to announce the change of its name, begin an academic restructuring that required internal and external communications, launch a campaign, and refine the campus footprint.  

This was a newly created executive position underscoring the university's commitment to institutional branding and visibility, media relations, and promotional outreach. Nancy was also responsible for reevaluating and restructuring the processes by which her staff of 45 served the university and supported its five-year plan of building enrollment, attracting new faculty, and creating increased cross-disciplinary academic opportunities for students. 

Nancy Donner came to The New School from The New York Public Library (NYPL) where she was Vice President for Communications and Marketing. In that capacity, it was her responsibility to oversee all public and media relations, internal and external communications, graphic design, and promotional aspects of one of the world's largest not-for-profit institutions.

During her 12 years at the Library, she successfully developed the Library's brand and messaging platform; marketed the Library to targeted stakeholders; and created comprehensive promotion strategies to increase earned income opportunities, visitor attendance, and public awareness of exhibitions, programs, and services. She also directed the overarching visual identity of the Library. 

Prior to her tenure at the Library, Nancy Donner was Director of Public Relations at the nation's oldest museum and library, The New-York Historical Society - known for its superior collections of Tiffany lamps, Hudson River School paintings, the complete works of John James Audubon, and original historical documents, including Napoleon Bonaparte's signed authorization for the Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence, and the architectural drawings of McKim, Mead & White, among others. 

In this capacity, she oversaw the promotion of exhibitions, special events, lectures, concerts, films, and education programs. Nancy also worked closely with the Director and Board of Trustees to see this oft-troubled institution through many crisis situations.

Nancy spent the early years of her career working as an Assistant Unit Manager for ABC-TV, as a Story Editor for an international theatrical producer, and as a publicist for a small literary PR firm. She is a graduate of Brown University and lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her husband, Gary Martin, an interactive multimedia artist.