The person behind the light.
About Benjamin Weisman
I've spent eighteen years raising money for mission-driven organizations, most of it at Playwrights Horizons, one of the country's most respected nonprofit theaters, where I spent roughly a decade and served most recently as Director of Development. I closed a seven-figure naming gift and led the organization to its first million-dollar-plus gala. Across my career I've built multi-year revenue plans, developed boards into real fundraising partners, and stood up a planned giving program from scratch. I've also served on multiple nonprofit boards myself, chairing both fundraising and governance committees, so I know what actually moves a board from the inside, not just what the staff wishes it would do. I hold an MBA in Public and Nonprofit Management.
What all of that taught me is that the same story plays out at organization after organization: extraordinary mission, dedicated people, and a fundraising operation that hasn't yet caught up with the potential.
Boards that want to help but don't know how. Development plans that live in someone's head. Donor relationships that have plateaued. Major gifts that feel out of reach.
I started Lightkeeper Strategies because I believe small nonprofits deserve the same quality of development thinking that large institutions take for granted, without having to hire a full-time development director to get it.
My approach is direct and practical. I don't come in with a one-size-fits-all framework. I learn your organization, identify what's actually holding you back, and build strategies your team can execute and sustain. Then I step back, and you move forward.
That's the lightkeeper model. Brief, focused, lasting impact.
What I Bring
Deep expertise in nonprofit board development, assessment, and training
Hands-on experience building annual fundraising plans that teams actually use
A track record of helping organizations unlock their major donor potential
Practical knowledge of what smaller nonprofits need — and what they don't
A direct, no-jargon approach that respects your time and your mission
How I Work
Every engagement starts with a genuine discovery conversation. I want to understand your organization, your team, your donors, and your challenges before I ever recommend anything.
From there, I design an engagement that fits your specific situation — whether that's a focused board assessment, a comprehensive fundraising plan, ongoing retainer support, or something in between.
My goal is always the same: to leave you more capable than I found you. Not dependent on me. Not waiting for the next consultant. Ready to go.
A Note on Who I Work With
I work exclusively with small and mid-sized nonprofits. This isn't a limitation — it's a choice. Smaller organizations are where this work matters most, where the right guidance at the right moment can genuinely change a trajectory.
If that sounds like your organization, I'd love to talk.