Paula J. Peter, President, The Solstice Group, Inc.

Paula Peter founded The Solstice Group in July 2002 to utilize decades of experience with a wide range of not-for-profit organizations.  She has particular strengths in board development, campaign readiness and management, strategic planning, major gift fundraising and training.  She designs and facilitates board retreats and 360 performance reviews for senior leaders and provides one-on-one coaching services.

Paula began her consulting career in 1991 with Carol O’Brien Associates. As senior associate she conducted feasibility studies and/or development assessments for dozens of clients, including Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Harvard University, The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, University of Vermont, University of Pennsylvania and WGBH Educational Foundation (in Boston, MA). Prior to consulting, Paula held several positions with Cornell University’s division of Public Affairs. Paula is also co-founder of the Ithaca Institute, an organization dedicated to the professional and personal development of advancement officers and not-for-profit leaders.

Paula graduated from Cornell University in 1977 with a degree in history. She is a lifelong learner, having completed:  Napier and Associates’ Group Leadership Intensive, a facilitation internship program; The Temagami Experience, a program on developing community and leadership skills conducted on a remote island in Northern Ontario; the Hoffman Institute Quadrinity Process, an internationally known program for personal growth; an adult leadership course with Outward Bound in Baja, Mexico; and a course on Leading Nonprofit Organizations conducted by the Gestalt International Study Center in South Wellfleet, MA. She has lectured and presented workshops on board development, campaign planning, starting major gift programs, and how to be a good board member for many groups including the Association for Fundraising Professionals, CASE, SUNY CUAD, Leadership Tompkins (Ithaca, NY) and Duke University’s continuing education program (Durham, NC).

She resides near Ithaca, NY, with her husband, Michael Ward. Between them, they have four grown children and eight grandchildren.