Jeff Snell, Ph.D.
jeff.snell@marquette.edu
Jeff Snell is the special advisor to the president at Marquette University, where he works with the university’s leadership on strategies, national partnerships and institutional initiatives, such as social innovation and social entrepreneurship.
Prior to joining Marquette, Jeff served as chief operating officer for the Argosy Foundation, a private foundation with assets projected at $1 billion. His duties included designing and implementing the full scope of all operations and grant-making in support of the Foundation’s board of trustees, awarding $15-$20 million annually. Jeff’s advisors during the Foundation’s start-up included several large, well-known private foundations.
Prior to joining Argosy, Jeff served for eight years at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. His tenure and presidency at the Clubs coincided with the largest member and resource development expansion in the Clubs’ 118-year history, placing the Milwaukee organization among the top Clubs nationally. Key professional accomplishments as a social service leader include:
- The development of a nationally replicated outcomes study (funded at more than $1 million and involving more than 30 Clubs nationally);
- Significant collaborations with public and private entities to enhance the Club’s service to more than 25,000 members (four new school-club partnerships and 20 community learning centers); and
- Completing the largest endowment bequest campaign for a social service agency in the history of Wisconsin ($59 million), resulting in combined fundraising totaling approximately $100 million.
Jeff serves as a volunteer board member for six non-profit agencies in Wisconsin.
Education
- Marquette University, Ph.D., Education Administration (1996)
- Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, M.A., Social Ethics (1990)
- Harvard Divinity, M.A., Human Rights (1989 - visiting student via Boston Theological Consortium)
- North Central University, B.S., Theology (1986)
Courses Taught
- NPSE 6931 Special Topics in Fundraising
- NPSE 6931 Special Topics in Social Entrepreneurship
Research Interests
- Social innovation / Social entrepreneurship
- Non-Profit management / fund raising
- Private foundations
Professional Experience
- Marquette University, Special Advisor to the President (2007-Present)
- Argosy Foundation, Chief Operating Officer (2004-2007)
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, President & CEO (2001-2004; VP Development 1997-2001)
- Marquette University, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations (1995-1997)
Awards
