Nancy was the recipient of the Horton Lifetime Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2008. She has achieved advanced fundraising certification (ACFRE) from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and association management certification (CAE) from the American Society of Association Executives. She is the author of Increasing Board Effectiveness, an easy-to-use audio and handbook for nonprofit boards. She has served as adjunct faculty for the University of South Florida (USF) Masters of Public Administration Program and its Non-Profit Certificate Program, for Indiana University Center on Philanthropy's Fund Raising School, and for St. Petersburg College.
Nancy is Past President of the Suncoast Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and a Past President and Founding Member for the Association of Philanthropic Counsel (APC). She is certified to administer Myers Briggs and DiSC personality profiles and has been certified to use human subjects in research. A graduate of Leadership Tampa Bay and Leadership Pinellas, she has prior experience as director of a national health agency where she managed 50 staff, 11 hospital clinics, nine summer camps and 10 telethons, raising almost five million dollars annually.
Designs in Development collaborates with associates in a wide variety of fields to serve clients creatively and effectively. 
Nancy L. Brown, BFA, MBA, ACFRE, CAE, President
Nancy has provided philanthropic counsel to clients across the southeastern United States. Nancy founded the firm more than two decades ago and has provided philanthropic counsel to clients across the southeastern United States. A skilled facilitator, she provides strategic planning and training. Experienced in executive search, marketing and management early in her career, she now guides firm associates in providing a variety of fundraising, executive search and management services to clients. She estimates she has helped raise $200,000,000 throughout her career. Holly Blackburn
Holly is a graphic designer who has worked steadily with a number of long-term clients. She works with the firm to create logos, design elements for case statements, annual reports and brochures. She uses numerous desktop publishing applications including Photoshop and InDesign. Sherry Lynn Smith, B.A.
Sherry provides website management, applications support, and internet resource management for the firm. She is conversant in American Sign Language and is a volunteer ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) tutor through ProLiteracy America. She is Co-Secretary of the Clearwater Branch of the American Association of University Women and the Technology Chair of the Soroptimist International/Holiday Isles chapter.