Valerie Michalik

Valerie Michalik is a seasoned advancement and nonprofit leader with more than three decades of experience across the nonprofit and higher education sectors. Her career has centered on fundraising, marketing, and building strategic partnerships that advance mission, strengthen institutions, and drive meaningful community impact. She is known for her ability to connect vision to strategy and to cultivate authentic, long-term relationships with donors and stakeholders. Throughout her career, Valerie has served in senior leadership roles overseeing comprehensive advancement operations, including major and principal gifts, institutional and individual giving, marketing and communications, and team development. She brings a strong track record of leading high-performing teams, guiding successful fundraising initiatives, and growing sustainable revenue streams in complex, mission-driven organizations.

Valerie holds an MBA and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), reflecting her commitment to professional excellence and ethical leadership in the field. A Tennessee native, Valerie has called the Chicago area home for more than a decade. She and her husband live in Oak Park, with five adult children spread across the country and one sweet grandbaby girl who brings great joy to the family. Outside of work, Valerie enjoys cheering on the White Sox and traveling to different ballparks, cooking, practicing yoga, and is newly learning the game of golf.