Our Team

Matthew Easterwood, CAP®, CFRE (he/they), Founder & CEO

Hey there! I’m Matt and welcome to Queer For Hire! I am a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® and Certified Fund Raising Executive with 12 years in nonprofit management, and 8 in professional fundraising. I strive to uplift the LGBTQIA+ community to a level of Queer Extravagance that accomplishes both personal success and shared equity for all through the power of authenticity, uniting diverse people, and maximizing the abundance of philanthropy on all levels. I am an intentional, genuine, and influential individual who utilizes skills of leadership, organization, and listening to set and reach goals that benefit my client organizations’ missions and also reflect my professional aspirations, while remaining accountable, sincere, and authentic.

    1. American College of Financial Services

    Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) – January 2024 (recertified every year)

    1. CFRE International

    Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) – June 2024 (recertified every 3 years)

    1. Lehigh Carbon Community College

    AA in Communications – May 2018

    AA in TV/Film – December 2017

    1. Association of Fundraising Professionals, Global

    Fellow, Leadership Institute (week-long intellectual retreat for fundraisers) – May 2024

    1. Association of Fundraising Professionals, Golden Gate Chapter (AFPGG) 

    President Elect – upcoming,January 2025

    Director, board of directors – January 2023-present (current, 1 year, 7 months)

    Chair, MarComms committee – January 2023-present (current, 1 year, 7 months)

    1. Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Lehigh Valley Chapter (AFPGLV)

    Director, board of directors – January 2020-August 2022(2 years, 7 months)

    Vice President of Communications – January 2021-August 2022 (1 year, 7 months)

  • Individuals & Families

    • General experience asking for and cultivating five and six figure gifts

    • General experience in developing and managing donor communications in alignment with best ethical practices (in accordance with the Association of Fundraising Professionals)

    • General experience in managing donor relationships and portfolios (workload has ranged between 50-75 portfolios during my experience)

    • Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center – Implemented an official planned giving program to promote legacy donations through estates, wills, and insurance policies

    • Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center – Conducted a capital giving campaign of $150,000 while still meeting goals for annual giving (I left the organization before this was finished, but the center did reach the final goal)

    • The Spahr Center, December 2022 – raised $90,000 from individuals in eight weeks through a peer-to-peer multi-channel fundraising campaign

    • The Spahr Center, December 2023 – raised $100,000 from individuals in eight weeks through a peer-to-peer multi-channel fundraising campaign

    • The Spahr Center – Developed and instituted a “Sustaining Donor” program for monthly giving; raising more than $6,000 in annual gifts within the first 6 months

    • The Spahr Center – Developed and instituted stewardship and cultivation procedures and best practices to promote both acquisition and renewal

    • The Spahr Center – Reinvigorated the donor data management system (Salesforce) which had previously been unsupervised and inaccurate

    • The Spahr Center – Implemented and normalized a culture of fundraising within the organization, board, and community (at an organization which had not seen a professional development person on staff for almost three decades)

    • National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network – Raised $10,089 in 30 days during my first campaign as their first ever fundraising professional.

    • National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network – Established the first major giving program, titled “Living Legacy Society” as well as other giving societies for smaller donors, monthly donors, and tribute giving.

    • National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network – Increased the Individuals Revenue Source by 50% in my first 6 months.

    • National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network – Created a Board Fundraising coaching program.

    Corporate Donors

    • General experience in prospecting, acquisitioning, and cultivating corporate sponsors

    • Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center – Doubled the organization’s annual budget in less than three years in part to corporate donor fundraising

    • Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, 2022 – Raised more than $100,000 in corporate sponsorships for the regional Pride festival. (I inherited the festival when it was making approximately $40-$50k in sponsorship)

    • Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, 2020 – Led and supported the efforts to transition the organization’s two major events (Lehigh Valley Pride and the Gala) to virtual settings during the COVID-19 quarantine

      • Virtual Lehigh Valley Pride had more than 11,000 viewers across Facebook and Youtube and raised a surplus net

      • Virtual Gala had more than 1,000 viewers and raised a surplus net

    • The Spahr Center – Developed and instituted the organization’s first corporate giving program, including an annual sponsorship menu and stewardship program

    • The Spahr Center – Developed and instituted the organization’s first two major events (Marin Pride in October 2023, and the Gala & LGBTQ+ Leadership Awards to be hosted May 2024), including a sponsorship program for both events

      • Marin Pride had a budget of $30,000 and came out net zero the first year

    • The Spahr Center, 2023 – Raised more than $100,000 in corporate grants and donations (the previous year was zero)

    Foundation Funders

    • General experience in prospecting, acquisitioning, and cultivating foundation funders (both public and private)

    • Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center – Doubled the organization’s annual budget in less than three years in part to foundation fundraising

    • Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center – Led efforts in securing major foundation funding from sources like the CDC Foundation, Leonard-Litz LGBTQ Foundation, The Andrew Mellon Foundation, Hopelab Foundation, among others

    • The Spahr Center – Led efforts in securing major foundation funding of more than $600k in six months from major sources like Sierra Health Foundation, among others

  • National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network – February 2024-August 2024 (7 months) *Current client

    Director of Development

    • Develop and oversee implementation of first ever fund development plan

    • Cultivate major gifts annually in collaboration with members of the leadership team and board of directors

    • Establish and maintain a culture of philanthropy within the organization, extending to the board and community

    • Create and sustain fundraising strategies to enhance individual, corporate, and foundation contributions and philanthropy

    The Spahr Center (Marin’s LGBTQIA+ Center) – September 2022-February 2024 (1 year, 5 months)

    Chief Development & Communications Officer – January 2023-February 2024 (1 year, 2 months)

    Chief Development Officer – September 2022-January 2023 (3 months)

    • Develop strategy & compliance through annual development plan, annual operating budget projections, and managing donor/funder records

    • Develop, implement, sustain, and grow efforts in individual and family giving, corporate sponsorship, foundation & corporate grants, planned giving, and special event fundraising

    • Develop, implement, sustain, and grow efforts in donor communications, cultivation, stewardship, events, and donor data management

    • Develop, implement, sustain, and grow efforts in newsletter, social media, web-based, and interal communication channels, as well as manage press & media relations

    Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center – December 2019-August 2022 (2 years, 9 months)

    Director of Development – April 2021-August 2022 (1 year, 5 months)

    Development Manager – December 2019-April 2021 (1 year, 4 months)

    • Directly supervise a development team of five: grants manager, major events manager, development associate, and two development assistants

    • Develop strategy & compliance through annual development plan, annual operating budget projections, and managing donor/funder records

    • Develop, implement, sustain, and grow efforts in individual and family giving, corporate sponsorship, foundation & corporate grants, planned giving, and special event fundraising


    Da Vinci Science Center – January 2014-December 2019 (6 years) 

    Philanthropy Coordinator – April 2018-December 2019 (1 year, 8 months)

    • Support fundraising operations through donor database management, donor communications, donor cultivation, and donor events 

    Marketing & Visitor Services Coordinator – March 2016-April 2018 (2 years, 1 months)

    • Co-manage social media, graphic design, video production, and overall marketing efforts Visitor Services Coordinator – April 2015-March 2016 (1 year) 

    • Supervise a team of associates for front desk operations, membership sales, and shop sales

    • I identify as a Summer Boy

    • I'm a Winter (season color analysis)

    • I'm a Pisces

    • I love the outdoors -- hiking, kayaking at sunrise on Richardson Bay, swimming, beaching, exploring the Bay Area, and travel

    • I am passionate about food -- cooking, sharing, eating, dining out, supporting local restaurants, trying new things

    • I've been practicing archery for 14 years, and taught it for 8 years

    • My favorite TV show of all time is Avatar: The Last Airbender

    • I love horror movies

    • My favorite animals are flamingos and octopuses

Laura Martinez (she/ella), Development Manager

Laura Martinez is excited to join Queer For Hire as Development Manager. A queer fundraiser and theater-maker based in New York City, Laura is passionate about social justice, queer history, and the arts. She brings five years of fundraising experience, specializing in institutional support for LGBTQ+ organizations and nonprofit theaters.

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Laura brings both cultural perspective and creative energy to her work. Her development career has centered on helping mission-driven organizations secure the resources they need to thrive, with a strong emphasis on equity, inclusion, and storytelling that honors community history.

Outside of fundraising, Laura is an artist at heart: she finds joy in dancing, creates origami paper cranes by the hundreds, and brings her Scorpio intensity to every project she touches.

What to expect:
• Deep knowledge of institutional fundraising and queer history
• Creative strategies that merge art and advocacy
• A justice-driven, equity-centered approach
• Warmth, humor, and a collaborative spirit

    1. Grant Writing

    2. Grant Prospecting

    3. Grant Management

    4. Foundation Relations

    5. Stewardship & Cultivation

Andrew Mai Osborne (he/him), Senior Consultant

Andrew Mai Osborne (he/him) is a fundraising strategist and creative producer with 10 years of nonprofit leadership. He brings expertise in individual giving, corporate sponsorship, and donor engagement, with a strong record of building donor programs, corporate partnerships, and storytelling-driven campaigns.

Andrew currently manages donor communications and cultivation across multiple initiatives, including a growing sponsorship program and a reimagined annual appeal. His skills include designing sponsor tiers that align mission with marketing, managing complex CRMs, and coaching leadership teams through relationship-based fundraising.

Grounded in his lived experience as a queer artist and advocate, Andrew’s collaborative approach empowers organizations to build a culture of philanthropy rooted in authenticity, equity, and joy.

What to expect:
• Strategic guidance paired with creative execution
• Sponsor and donor strategies that strengthen long-term relationships
• Data-informed systems that actually work for your team
• A values-driven partner who leads with authenticity and equity

    1. Corporate Sponsorship

    2. Donor Communications

    3. Major Gifts

Daa’iyah Rahman (she/her), Senior Consultant

Daa’iyah “YaYa” Rahman is a fundraising and engagement professional with expertise in individual giving, corporate partnerships, and community outreach. As Engagement Manager at Open Doors Academy, she builds relationships that empower youth and strengthen Cleveland’s communities.

A Howard University alumna, YahYah began her career on Capitol Hill with Congressman Juan Vargas and has since advanced equity-driven initiatives across sectors. She serves on the boards of MVMT and the Hunger Network, mentors at Wade Park School, and is active in the arts through Blakk Jakk Dance Company.

Her leadership has been recognized with Crain’s Cleveland 40 Under 40 (2024) and the Movers and Shakers Award (2025).

What to expect:
• Relationship-driven fundraising rooted in equity and impact
• Strategic vision that connects donors, partners, and communities
• Energetic leadership that inspires collaboration
• A values-led approach guided by Maya Angelou’s words: “People will never forget how you made them feel.”

    1. Individual & Annual Fund Giving

    2. Culture of Philanthropy

    3. Board Development

    4. Cash Flow Fundraising

    5. Donor Communication

    6. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Eli Barnard (he/him), Senior Consultant

Eli Barnard joins Queer For Hire with 7 years of experience in nonprofit development and communications, specializing in workflow improvements and ethical, trauma-informed storytelling. He previously supported C-suite leaders and Boards on operations, DEIB initiatives, and government reporting, and helped launch a grassroots nonprofit into its first year of grant-funded programming.

Eli has led communications for complex fundraising campaigns raising up to $1M, managing creative teams across video, photography, web, and donor events. With deep roots in trans and queer organizing, his approach is grounded in community-centric fundraising, restorative justice, and interconnected liberation.

What to expect:
• A strategic partner who balances big-picture vision with hands-on support
• Realistic goal-setting that respects team capacity
• Transparent communication and resourcefulness
• Guidance that walks teams through challenges, not just around them

    1. Cash Flow Fundraising

    2. Event Planning

    3. Foundation Relations

    4. Stewardship & Cultivation

    5. Brand Management

Maggie Schutzler, M.A., M.Ed. (she/her),
Senior Consultant

Maggie Schutzler (she/her) is a development professional and educational leader with expertise in fundraising strategy, program design, and stakeholder engagement. She has doubled donations, launched successful monthly giving programs, and led CRM transitions to strengthen organizational impact.

With master’s degrees in Education and Theatre/Nonprofit Management, and service as Mentorship Program Committee Chair for AFP Greater Lehigh Valley, Maggie brings inclusive, people-centered leadership rooted in integrity and collaboration.

What to expect:
• Strategic fundraising that drives results
• Inclusive, values-based leadership
• Practical solutions for sustainable growth

    1. Event Planning

    2. Donor Data & CRM Management

    3. Donor Communications

    4. Cash Flow Fundraising

    5. Planned Giving

Want to join the Queer For Hire team?
Contact Matthew.