Alexia Kelley serves as the President and CEO of FADICA, where she manages and oversees the organization’s strategy, staff and programs. In partnership with the Board and members, she developed the organization’s current comprehensive strategic framework which includes a strong focus on member-driven research and initiatives, communications, and the spirituality of Catholic philanthropy. Ms. Kelley served for 10 years at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Most recently, she served as the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, with responsibilities for a diverse engagement and public/private partnership portfolio. She also worked previously for Environmental Resources Trust, a nonprofit that focused on market-based solutions to renewable energy promotion and climate change mitigation. Her first job after college was with the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), the oldest ecumenical advocacy organization in Washington DC. Ms. Kelley co-edited the book Living the Catholic Social Tradition: Cases and Commentary, with Dr. Kathleen Maas Weigert, and co-authored A Nation for All: How the Catholic Vision of the Common Good Can Save America from the Politics of Division. She earned a B.A. in religion from Haverford College and a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. She lives in Washington DC with her husband and enjoys swimming, reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Alicia Bondanella Simon directs FADICA’s services to its most vital asset – the members. Ms. Simon oversees member development and coordinates research, member-driven collaborative initiatives, and FADICA’s Catholic Schools and Church Vitality affinity groups. She began her tenure at FADICA as director of program and member services, in which she developed and coordinated organizational programming. Ms. Simon led FADICA’s cutting-edge research on Catholic schools governance, Breathing New Life into Catholic Schools: An Exploration of Governance Models. Prior to joining FADICA, she co-founded and served as the first executive director of the Don Bosco Cristo Rey Corporate Work Study Program, where she raised nearly $10 million in job contracts with 80 corporations over six years. She also developed and managed diverse programs, including a national intern leadership program for the USCCB Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Ms. Simon serves on the Board of the National Catholic Community Foundation, and holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and the University of San Francisco. Her passions include mentoring youth, riding motorcycles, hiking, traveling, and motherhood. Having moved around the country as an army brat, she has now settled into the Washington, DC area with her husband and daughter.
Margaret Kowalsky is the Director of Program and Impact and is responsible for engaging members and other stakeholders in meaningful education, discernment, and relationship-building activities. She shepherds FADICA’s Impact Platform process, guiding members to “listen/learn, discern/validate, and amplify/act” on specific themes for sustainable influence and change.
Margaret is a creative and mission-centered leader with 20+ years of experience in faith-based global experiential learning. In her most recent work as Director of Study Abroad at King’s College and, prior to that, with Catholic Relief Services, Margaret created curriculum that joined academic theories with perspectives from “the field” to shape learning for the common good. Margaret has taught theology courses at Villanova University and other institutions and cares deeply about intercultural learning, mentoring, and systems change. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Margaret studied at Wellesley College and Harvard Divinity School. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio.
Lauren Traskey serves as FADICA’s Administrative Director. Rejoining the team, Lauren previously served as FADICA’s Communications Director in 2015 and 2016. In her new role, Lauren focuses on the organization’s general operations, human resource management, finances and stewardship, event logistics coordination, and board of directors.
Prior to her return to FADICA, Lauren ran her own communications consulting business and served as Communications Director on the leadership team of Mercy High School in Baltimore. Her background includes extensive administrative and fundraising work in Catholic schools, as well as ministry and service-learning work at the college level. Lauren holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Marymount University and relishes any opportunity to learn something new. A native of New Jersey, she now lives in the suburbs of Baltimore soaking in time with her family, trying new recipes, and dancing every opportunity she gets.
Lindsay McGregor is the Membership and Outreach Officer responsible for helping to expand FADICA’s membership through engaging external stakeholders in philanthropy who are seeking a Catholic-inspired peer network enhancing impact. Her other key function is to coordinate FADICA’s Catholic education initiative, catalyzing donor impact in Catholic education.
With a background in fundraising and stewardship, Lindsay has spent her career building community and broadening support for Catholic organizations and schools. Most recently she oversaw the development program at Immaculate Heart High School & Middle School and prior to that spent seven years working to advance the mission of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles. Lindsay earned her bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University. As a native of Los Angeles, she now lives in the suburbs of Nashville with her husband and three children and enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with her family.
Jon Jakoblich leads the Catholic Funding Guide, an online platform connecting grant seekers to grant makers. Prior to joining FADICA, Jon spent 10 years building financial and operational excellence in Catholic parishes and schools resulting in offertory growth, debt elimination, and increased school enrollment.
Jon has deep experience developing websites and web applications. Jon has earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree from Boston College. In his leisure time he loves being outdoors and spending time with family.
Colleen Crawford is the Program Manager for FADICA’s Commitment to Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection, a catalytic, member-led initiative devoted to organizational safeguarding and capacity-building for funders and their grantee partners. Having joined the team in fall 2019, Colleen coordinated the launch of the safeguarding initiative and the Funder Safeguarding Pledge at FADICA’s 2020 Annual Meeting.
Previously, Colleen spent seven years in service to the Canon Law Society of America, a professional membership association committed to canonical education in the Catholic Church. In 2017, Colleen was named the first General Secretary of the CLSA, a position which reflected an amendment to the organization’s 78-year old Constitution and By-Laws, and entrusted her with directing the CLSA’s national office. Colleen earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and a minor in Philosophy. A native of Pennsylvania, she has lived in the DC area for 13 years and enjoys the city’s museums and live theater.
FADICA is the leading philanthropic peer network serving as a catalyst for a vital Catholic Church, Catholic ministries, and the common good. We promote the growth and effectiveness of Catholic philanthropy inspired by the joy of the Gospel and the Catholic social tradition. FADICA supports its members through education, exchange, fellowship and faith, research, joint funding opportunities, and interaction with Catholic leadership.
