Sue Merrilees

Sue Merrilees is the Senior Advisor with the Science Philanthropy Alliance. She works with members and advisees on customized science philanthropy strategies and implementation.  She has more than 25 years of progressive, innovative development experience in institutions across the U.S. and abroad, including participation in successful billion- and multi-million-dollar campaigns at Barnard College, Stanford University, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the University of Sydney, Australia.

At UCSF, she led teams focused on fundraising initiatives for the neurosciences, cardiovascular research, global health and infectious diseases, and quantitative biosciences, as well as numerous capital projects that comprise the Mission Bay campus.

Just prior to joining the Alliance, Sue led strategic planning and fundraising at the University of Sydney’s Medical School where she played an instrumental role in the success of the largest fundraising campaign in Australia ($1B+).

Sue received a B.Phil. from Miami University of Ohio and a certificate in fundraising management from New York University.  She is a member of the 21/64 certified advisor collective, and has counseled numerous individual donors and family foundations on their giving, helping them find joy, meaning and satisfaction in their philanthropy.