Samantha Sukow
Samantha Sukow is a Portfolio Intelligence Analyst at the University of Colorado, where she leverages her expertise in fundraising data management and analytics to support development operations. In her role, she provides data-driven insights that help shape fundraising strategy, strengthen donor relationships, and guide decision-making across development teams. With approximately 10 years of experience in the nonprofit fundraising sector, she has built a strong foundation in both communications and operational data work. Her career began in communications, where she supported public relations and marketing efforts for nonprofit organizations, drawing on her Bachelors of Arts in Journalism and Bachelors of Science in Sociology from the University of Colorado Boulder, as well as a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Colorado Denver. Over time, she transitioned into fundraising operations and data management, specializing in CRM systems, gift processing, financial reconciliation, and data reporting and analytics. Her work has consistently focused on identifying trends and insights within donor data to improve fundraising effectiveness and organizational impact. Previously, Samantha spent eight years at Global Greengrants Fund as Development Database Manager, a role in which she advanced from gift processing to leading the organization’s donor database strategy and operations. She considers this position her most significant professional achievement, as it reflects her growth into leadership and her ability to build systems that support fundraising success. Throughout her career, she has been driven by a commitment to social justice, equity, and environmental causes, and she values collaborative, mission-driven work that contributes to a more just and sustainable world. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys writing, sketching, concerts, outdoor activities in Colorado such as hiking and camping, and spending time with her two children.
• Certification in Strategic Communications
• University of Colorado Denver - MA
• The LAGRANT Foundation Scholar
What do you attribute your success to?
I think I attribute a lot of my success to my mom, honestly. She was a single parent, and I have two sisters, so she was a single parent raising three kids on her own. And just seeing all of the kind of different challenges that she overcame growing up, she put herself through grad school, and then, yeah, she was, she's amazing, and I guess just seeing how everything that she achieved on her own as a single parent really made me feel like I can do anything. So just having that, and I just have a lot of strong women in general in my family, so seeing all of the strong women in my family, like, take leadership of all of the different things they want to do, I think that's really been a big inspiration for me, so yeah.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I think one is just don't limit yourself. Don't, even if you have doubts about what you can do, or yeah, doubts about your ability, don't limit yourself. Always, you know, if you see a job opportunity and you don't quite have all of the requirements, just go for it, apply for it, because you never know what opportunities are gonna come. So, yeah, I think just don't limit yourself, apply and go for as many opportunities as you can, even if you don't feel like you qualify, because that's honestly how you grow. Like, you don't, you don't start in any job or in any field completely qualified, but as you go for it, you grow, and so yeah, just don't limit yourself. Go for any opportunities that you want. I think that's good advice that I've gotten.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just follow your intuition on what feels meaningful for you, and what the right opportunities are for you. And yeah, just at the end of the day, do what feels meaningful for you, and what gives you purpose. Um, you know, like, I think in today's society, it can be tricky to know where you want to go, but I think that if you follow your intuition and really just do what feels meaningful for you at the end of the day, because that's what's gonna drive you. You know, I, like, I've never been driven by titles or anything like that, like, what drives me is, at the end of the day, the organization or the mission that I'm supporting. That's what drives me and gives me purpose.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In my field, one of the biggest challenges and opportunities is the rapid advancement of technology, especially with the rise of AI in data management. I continuously assess how AI can be used to improve efficiency and decision-making while also managing its risks and limitations. Alongside this, I see ongoing challenges in integrating different tools and systems to ensure seamless data flow, since no single platform is fully comprehensive. This makes strong integration strategies essential. Additionally, with the shift toward remote and hybrid work, maintaining effective cross-functional collaboration has become increasingly important to prevent silos and ensure consistent communication across teams.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my work and personal life, the values most important to me are transparency, accountability, and equity. I prioritize honesty and openness in how I communicate and operate, and I believe it’s important to stay true to myself in everything I do. Accountability is also essential—not only taking responsibility for my own commitments, but also supporting and being accountable to the work of others in a team environment. Finally, I place a strong emphasis on equity and inclusivity, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued, and that everyone has meaningful opportunities to contribute and influence decisions, not just those in leadership roles.