HACKENSACK, N.J. – FDU is partnering with ion Philanthropy in an effort to drive fundraising and development efforts. Through this partnership, FDU announced the hiring of Christine Coffey as the Director of Development for Athletics on Wednesday, April 1.

ion Philanthropy is a nonprofit consulting and fundraising firm that helps organizations grow donor engagement using data, analytics, and targeted communication strategies. They partner with nonprofits to develop customized solutions—ranging from strategy and marketing to managed services—that improve annual giving, major gifts, and overall fundraising performance.

"This partnership will be a tremendous asset to our University and Athletic Department," said Senior Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Bradford Hurlbut. "ion Philanthropy has a proven track record of success in nonprofit fundraising, and we are confident that will transfer to FDU."

Coffey, a graduate of George Mason University, brings a wealth of experience in the realm of development and advancement. Most recently, she served as the Chief Development Officer at Norwescap in Phillipsburg, N.J. In this role, she led a $27.5M diversified fundraising portfolio, while managing the development and marketing teams.  Before Norwescap, Coffey held Director level positions at New York Cares, Hunterdon County YMCA, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Easter Seals UCP and the American Heart Foundation. She was also the Community Development Manager of the Northeast Region at the National Psoriasis Foundation.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Christine as our Director of Development," continued Hurlbut. "Her experience speaks for itself, and we look forward to introducing Christine to the Knights' faithful, alums and growing fanbase."

Coffey will oversee FDU's fundraising efforts, development, and future capital planning.

"I am thrilled to join the FDU family at such a transformative time for the Knights," said Coffey. "By blending ion Philanthropy's innovative strategies with the incredible momentum of our athletic department, we have a unique opportunity to reach new heights in our fundraising and development goals. I look forward to championing our university's mission and ensuring our student-athletes have every resource they need to succeed both on and off the field."

ABOUT ION PHILANTRHOPY
ion Philanthropy is a boutique fundraising consulting firm founded on the principle of driving innovation and transformational impact across the nonprofit sector. We move beyond traditional fundraising methods to forge meaningful connections between organizations and their audiences, ultimately fueling sustainable growth and mission fulfillment. We believe that nonprofits are the catalysts for positive change in our world and that's why we partner with aspirational organizations to develop tailored solutions. We don't just raise funds; we cultivate lasting relationships, build engaged communities, and empower our partners to achieve their most ambitious goals.

ABOUT FDU ATHLETICS
FDU is home to 23 NCAA Division I teams. A member of the NEC, the Knights have had tremendous success in the classroom, in athletic competition as well as giving back to the Bergen County community. FDU became the first school in Northeast Conference (NEC) history to win championships in women's volleyball, women's soccer, and men's soccer in the same season (2022). In 2023, the Burgundy and Blue also became the first NEC school to win two games as a 16-seed in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, including an upset over top-seeded Purdue. As a result of its incredible 2022-23 season, FDU placed 92nd in the Learfield Director's Cup, the first NEC program to finish in the Top 100. In 2024 Salif Mane captured the Triple jump title at the 2024 NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, went on to win the gold medal at the Team USA Olympic Trials, and compete at the Paris Olympics. In 2025, FDU won four conference championships in the span of 35 days in women's basketball, women's bowling, women's golf, and women's tennis. Off the field, FDU student-athletes were recognized for their efforts in the community by winning the NEC Building Communities Award in 2020, 2024 and 2025. In addition to recent championships, FDU holds five additional national championships, three in sport of women's fencing and two in women's bowling.