Kristin Steele

Kristin’s journey to fundraising began in an unlikely place: behind a typewriter, crafting stories for the stage. As a writer of fiction and theatrical works—with productions staged in both Los Angeles and New York—she spent years learning the alchemy of narrative. Her quest was how the right words at the right moment could move an audience from indifference to investment, from watching to caring deeply.

When she helped launch Swaim Strategies in 2004, Kristin brought something rare to the fundraising world: a writer’s understanding that every great event is essentially a story being told live, with real stakes and real hearts on the line. Her background in musical theatre taught her about pacing and emotional crescendos, while her experience with dramatic works showed her how vulnerability creates the deepest connections.

But Kristin’s secret lies in her dual identity as both writer and teacher. She doesn’t just craft compelling narratives for nonprofits, she teaches organizations how to find and tell their own stories with authenticity and power. Whether working one-on-one with leadership teams or speaking to packed conference rooms, she helps people discover that their mission isn’t just something they do, it’s a story worth telling and retelling until it moves the world.

As co-author of “Planning a Successful Major Donor Event,” co-host of The Fundraising Elevator podcast, and a nationally sought-after speaker, Kristin remains passionate about one truth she learned in those early theatre days: when you help people see themselves as part of a larger story, they don’t just give. They become champions of the change they want to see in their communities.

When not working on events you can find Kristin on her bike or cooking a feast for friends.