Strategic Fundraising.
Lasting Partnership.

Meet Claudia

Claudia Looney is the Founder and current Principal and Managing Partner of Covenant Philanthropic Solutions, a firm she launched in 2008 with her fundraiser husband James Looney. Today, Covenant is a leading fundraising consulting and management firm with partnerships that covers all sectors of the nonprofit industry and major parts of the globe.

Claudia’s passion for the world of nonprofit development and management has inspired her to dedicate nearly 60 years to helping organizations fulfill their missions. Prior to starting Covenant, Claudia served for more than a dozen years as the Senior Vice President at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles where she led and managed all aspects of the fundraising activities and was responsible for overseeing the capital campaign that raised more than $1.3 billion. This was the largest campaign at the time for a freestanding Children’s Hospital.

Prior to her tenure at Children’s Los Angeles, Claudia served as President of Northwestern Memorial Foundation in Chicago and successfully led the organization’s $125 million campaign. As Vice President of Planning and Advancement for the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Claudia initiated and completed two campaigns: a $60 million building and endowment campaign and a $20 million emergency earthquake renewal campaign. As President of Saddleback Medical Center Foundation, Claudia began and completed two campaigns, including a campaign to raise funds to build the Women’s Hospital.

Claudia has been recognized for her dedication and service to the fundraising profession in multiple ways. In 2019, the Southern California Association of Healthcare Development awarded Claudia with the Inaugural Legacy Leader Award. In 2012, Claudia was recognized with the Award for Outstanding Fundraising Professional presented by AFP Global. In 2004, Claudia was awarded YWCA’s Woman of Distinction for Orange County. Claudia was named 1996 Fundraiser of the Year in Los Angeles and 1994 Fundraiser of the Year in Orange County.

Claudia is past Chair of The Woodmark Group’s Board, which oversees the Children’s Circle of Care program for the top 25 children’s hospitals in North America. She is also past chair of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Foundation and was a member of its Global Ethics Committee. Claudia is a past member of the AFP Orange County and Los Angeles boards. She is a Fellow, a past board member, and served as Chair-Elect of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP). Claudia is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and a Fellow in the Association of Healthcare Fundraisers (FAHP). She has published several articles for both AFP and AHP Global Magazines, including Partnering with the CEO, Maximizing Physician Fundraising, Donor Relations Redefined, Engaging Volunteers, and more. Most recently, Claudia collaborated with her fundraiser son on a book entitled, The Five Tool Fundraiser.

Claudia received her BA from California State University in Fullerton and is an alumna of the Charter Class of Pitzer College. Her husband, Jim, was a Principal of Covenant. Together, Chris and daughter-in-law, Anisha, also a fundraiser, have blessed Claudia with three grandchildren, and spending time with them is a particular passion.

Meet Kyle

Building stronger communities and advancing the opportunities of individuals to achieve their fullest potential has been a guidepost for Kyle his entire life. Contributing to the transformation of local communities for good is both a professional and personal commitment for Kyle. For the last 15 years, Kyle has accumulated a diverse set of nonprofit and fundraising leadership experiences, ranging from pioneering a 501c3 startup to serving as the principal fundraiser for a large nonprofit human services organization. Leading and being a part of “small shop” fundraising teams evolved into leading a large development team of more than 20 staff and a dozen contracted agencies and consultants. Since joining Covenant, he and his team have helped over 100 client partners achieve their fundraising goals. His passion in the fundraising and nonprofit leadership space are broad, with particular interest and commitment to advancing the human service, religious, healthcare, education, and arts/civic sectors.

He established a church in 2016 in Downtown Santa Ana, CA, passed the reins to new leaders, and now serves as a pastor of a church in the city of Orange. Kyle is a foster/adoptive parent with his wife, Kelsey, and maintains personal involvement with several nonprofit organizations within his local community. With any spare time, Kyle is an avid reader, marathoner, baseball fan, and recreational woodworker. He lives in Santa Ana with his wife and four children.

Meet Tony

Tony has been in philanthropy and nonprofit work for more than 20 years with leadership positions in several sectors including arts and culture, religious, healthcare, and higher education.

Tony has led development efforts for nonprofits to support and advance their mission and visions. Tony is skilled at strategically guiding and executing fundraising efforts, achieving ambitious results, and leading development teams. He particularly excels at developing talent and orchestrating operations. Tony has worked with the CCS Fundraising consulting team serving in their interim management practice area at several arts and culture clients since 2021. Recently, Tony also worked with Chapman University, as Vice President of Development and Campaign Director. Tony oversaw the university’s $500 million comprehensive campaign and launched a new team of seven gift officers to work with deans to fund key initiatives under the university’s strategic plan. Prior to Chapman, Tony held leadership fundraising positions at Children's Hospital Orange County and the Orange Catholic Foundation. 

Tony earned his BA and MBA from Loyola Marymount University as well as an Executive Master in Leadership from the University of Southern California. Tony and his wife Liz have three children and reside in Newport Beach where he is a volunteer at several local organizations.

Meet Chris

Chris Looney serves as Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director at Covenant Philanthropic Solutions, where he helps guide the firm’s strategic direction, business development efforts, and client partnerships.

With nearly three decades of experience in fundraising consulting and nonprofit leadership, Chris brings deep insight into how organizations grow, raise resources, and lead with clarity and purpose.

Chris spent 25 years as a senior leader at CCS Fundraising, one of the nation’s largest fundraising consulting firms, where he advised hundreds of nonprofit organizations and partnered with thousands of nonprofit executives across the country. Over the course of his tenure, his client partners raised billions of dollars in service of their missions. Chris’s experience spans capital campaigns, major gifts strategy, organizational planning, and executive advisory work.

Nonprofit leadership is deeply rooted in Chris’s life and career. He is the son of two respected nonprofit fundraisers, and his wife, Anisha, also works in fundraising for a leading research hospital. Service, philanthropy, and mission‑driven work have long been central to their family life.

In addition to his consulting work, Chris is the founder of Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership and The Five Tool Fundraiser, initiatives focused on strengthening nonprofit leadership and fundraising practice. He is the author of The Five Tool Fundraiser, 365 Nonprofit Leadership Lessons, and 365 Fundraising Truisms, which reflect his practical, values-driven approach to leadership and organizational effectiveness.

Chris has contributed to the for-purpose community through board and leadership service with organizations including the AFP International Foundation for Philanthropy, The Giving USA Foundation, the Giving Institute, and Mariners Church, where he remains actively engaged. Chris and Anisha live in Irvine, California with their three children, where the family continues to be actively engaged with community service opportunities.

Meet Diana

Diana C. Huynh is the Chief Operating Officer at Covenant Philanthropic Solutions, where she leads the organization's operational functions, ensuring seamless support for nonprofit partners. Her responsibilities span project management, client interface, HR, marketing, data analytics, and technology optimization. Diana’s role is pivotal in creating client deliverables, managing CRM systems, and ensuring operational efficiency across all business applications.

With over a decade of leadership experience, including her previous role as Senior Vice President at CCS Fundraising, Diana excels in strategic planning, organizational management, and fostering collaborative work environments. A graduate of Pepperdine University with a B.S. in International Business and a minor in Applied Mathematics, she brings a global perspective and a data-driven approach to her work. Fluent in various business technologies and a conversational Mandarin speaker, Diana is dedicated to enhancing organizational performance and driving philanthropic impact. Her passion for learning, leadership, and operational excellence defines her approach to creating meaningful change.

Meet Wendy

Wendy’s long career has been laser-focused on the nonprofit sector, capacity building, and cross-sector collaboration. Her impact on Los Angeles has been substantial, from serving as a founding staff member of the childcare agency, Crystal Stairs, as Executive Director of the LA Child Care and Development Council, and finally as CEO of the esteemed Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. Over 36 years with The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, led a team of 15 in distributing more than $300 million to improve the lives of Angelenos. After her retirement in 2023, she entered the consulting space, positioning her to lend her considerable expertise from the impactful funder perspective.

Wendy is an advisory board member for the Center for Philanthropy and Public Policy at the University of Southern California (USC). She is a member of the International Women’s Forum/The Trusteeship, where she has spoken at international conferences. Wendy served for nine years (three as Chair) on the County Commission for Children and Families, as Vice Chair of the LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment, as a board member and Chair of Southern California Grantmakers, and as Governor’s appointee to Volunteer California. Her early support through Parsons was important to the effort to reimagine the LA River, the campaign to rebuild MLK Hospital, and many other significant civic efforts.

Wendy is a founding member of the Non-Profit Sustainability Initiative, the Los Angeles County Center for Strategic Partnerships, and the $42 million Los Angeles County Arts Recovery Fund. Wendy’s expertise is especially strong in cross-sector collaboration, nonprofit governance, board and staff development, strategic planning, capital campaigns, and grantmaking.

Her honors include: Senior Fellow at the UCLA Luskin School, where she received an MS in Urban Planning; the Coro Crystal Eagle Award; the Twice A Citizen Award from the Los Angeles Police Reserve Foundation; and the Lifetime Leadership Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

Meet Lizzi

Lizzi Su is a fundraising leader known for pursuing excellence with integrity and humility. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships, connecting donors to causes that inspire lasting impact, and cultivating a culture of generosity within organizations.

Her experience spans higher education, human services, and corporate philanthropy, bringing both strategic insight and hands-on expertise to her work. Lizzi has led initiatives ranging from running a one-person development shop at Hope Harbor to managing a $50 million fundraising program for the Taco Bell Foundation. She approaches fundraising with intentionality—developing people, creating connections, and driving results that advance organizational mission.

Lizzi holds a BA from Pepperdine University and a Master of Management in Nonprofit Organizations from Biola University. She also earned her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential, demonstrating her commitment to ethical, high-impact fundraising.

Lizzi lives in Artesia, California with her husband, Norman. She enjoys serving at her church in Torrance, working out, watching cooking competition shows, and hosting family and friends in their home.

Meet Angela

Driven by a deep commitment to equity, collaboration, and impact, Angela has dedicated her career to building strong, thriving communities. Whether securing transformational gifts or developing meaningful partnerships, she brings heart, strategy, and a deep sense of purpose to every organization she supports.

With over a decade of experience in the philanthropic sector, Angela has led fundraising efforts across healthcare, education, and human services, supporting initiatives that uplift underrepresented communities and create lasting change. During her time at Hoag Hospital Foundation, she supported a variety of institutes including women's health, cancer care, and community benefit programs, raising significant funds to advance patient programs, research, and community access to care. Angela also worked with the Boys & Girls Club of Central Orange Coast, where she led fundraising efforts for college and career readiness programs that served underserved and underrepresented youth, helping open doors to higher education, scholarships, and future employment opportunities.

From spearheading major gift campaigns to developing corporate sponsorship strategies that support equity and access, Angela thrives at the intersection of mission and strategy. She holds a strong belief in the power of storytelling, authentic relationships, and using every opportunity to elevate the voices and needs of marginalized communities. Her work has not only raised millions in critical funding but has also created spaces for donors, volunteers, and partners to engage more meaningfully in the causes they care about.

Angela holds a Master of Arts degree in Business Management from the University of Redlands. She lives in Costa Mesa with her husband and two young daughters. Outside of her work, she finds joy in spending time with her family, fostering a love of reading and learning with her children, and pursuing her passion for health and wellness. She is committed to making a difference, one relationship and one community at a time.

Meet Amy-Jo

With a relationship-building career spanning more than 20. years, Amy-Jo Jesmer Luna brings her creative, strategic, and ambitious style to her partners in the public, private, and nonprofit environments. Because her passion is providing support for those most in need, she has focused her professional energy on education, the arts, healthcare, and social services.

In increasingly significant roles, Amy-Jo has served as a major giving officer, leadership annual giving director, scholarship fundraising manager, strategic communications officer, and alumni relations director. She has worked with the University of Southern California, Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, The Ohio State University, University of Michigan, and Texas State University. Amy-Jo is appreciated by her colleagues and clients for her energetic enthusiasm and for her systems approach to developing strategic approaches and bottom-line success.

Amy-Jo has helped raise support for Chapman University’s $500M Inspire Campaign, specifically in the arts; USC’s $6B Campaign for USC in the areas of communication, journalism, and healthcare; and LMU’s $380M Right Place, Right Time Campaign as a generalist.

She has earned a Masters of Science in leadership and human performance technology from Texas State University and a Bachelors of Arts in Organizational Communication from Loyola Marymount University. She lives with her husband and three children in Orange County, CA.

Meet Jessica

Jessica is a dynamic fundraising professional with over a decade of experience leading successful development efforts across a range of nonprofit settings—from smaller and mid-sized organizations to large, complex institutions. She has a proven track record of securing large six- and seven-figure gifts, building strong donor pipelines, and executing strategic campaigns that exceed revenue goals.

Her work spans annual giving, major gifts, capital campaigns, grant writing, and donor stewardship. With hands-on experience in both small and large fundraising shops, she brings a unique ability to tailor strategies to meet each organization’s specific needs. She remains actively engaged in the field, continually studying best practices and emerging trends to ensure the organizations she works with benefit from the most current and effective fundraising approaches.

Through collaboration, thoughtful planning, and a deep understanding of mission-driven philanthropy, she helps nonprofits strengthen their fundraising infrastructure, build capacity, and achieve long-term growth.

Meet Carlin

Carlin Kuhlmann is passionate about furthering the impact of mission-driven organizations and the people who lead and support them. Her heart for service led her to the philanthropy sector shortly after earning a degree in Communications and Business from USC. With 20 years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit management, Carlin brings a thoughtful, strategic approach to advancing fundraising programs and crafting messaging that inspires generosity and motivates action.

During her career, Carlin has held fundraising roles at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Hoag Hospital Foundation, where she managed and mentored fundraising teams while working closely with executive leadership, physicians and clinical partners, community members, and volunteers. She has successfully solicited and stewarded major gifts of $1 million and above, partnering with grateful patients and families as well as some of the community’s most influential philanthropists. Her work has helped establish and sustain critical programs across multiple medical specialty areas.

Carlin is known for her ability to articulate compelling cases for support, engage strategic partners in philanthropy, and guide volunteer committees in advancing fundraising and community engagement. She excels at building trusted relationships and connecting donors with visionary leaders, ensuring fundraising is aligned with organizational priorities and long-term impact.

Meet Janet

Janet Yeo is a Senior Consultant at Covenant Philanthropic Solutions, where she partners with mission-driven organizations to strengthen fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and organizational effectiveness. She brings a background in strategic marketing, relationship engagement, and program leadership, with experience spanning both the nonprofit and destination marketing sectors.

Prior to joining Covenant, Janet worked at the Los Angeles Tourism, where she supported high-visibility, revenue-generating initiatives and partnerships. As a program lead for major campaigns and global events, such as Dine LA Restaurant Week and international sporting events, she advised campaign strategy, coordinated cross-functional efforts, and served as a key connector among internal teams, community partners, and industry organizations. Her work contributed to meaningful growth in participation, digital engagement, and program revenue.

Earlier in her career, Janet supported donor engagement, executive operations, and event-based fundraising at Orange County Rescue Mission. She helped coordinate large-scale donor events, steward donor relationships, and manage executive communications in support of the organization’s mission.

Janet is passionate about working with mission-driven organizations, where she can combine her strengths in communication, organization, and relationship-building to support meaningful impact.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Janet enjoys volunteering at her church, baking, and exploring new restaurants and coffee shops in her free time.

Meet Nancy

Nancy M. Young is a philanthropy consultant, author, and acupuncturist-in-training with four decades of experience in public and private funding, strategic planning, and program development across the USA and Australia. Since October 2024, she has been with Covenant, supporting a major gifts campaign with Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area.

With a career centered on the nonprofit sector, Nancy focuses on healthcare, education, and the arts. She was National Director of Development for CureDuchenne, following seven years at UC Irvine Health, Neurology, building advancement strategies for clinical programs, neuroscience research, and endowments. She also raised funds for literacy and education at Long Beach Public Library Foundation and Marymount University.

For thirteen years in Australia, she consulted for state and federal arts funding agencies on policy and planning. Earlier, she held positions at The Walter & Elise Haas Fund and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, serving on numerous funding panels and nonprofit boards.

Nancy holds an MIA from Columbia University, MA in Asian Studies from University of Hawaii, and BA in English from UC Berkeley. She is completing a Doctorate in Chinese Medicine at Pacific College of Health and Science. Her debut novel, Strum (2013), earned six book awards.