Elizabeth Cahill

Chief Development Officer
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About
She/Her/Hers/Herself

Elizabeth "Liz" Cahill is an accomplished advancement executive with more than 30 years of experience leading fundraising, alumni engagement, campaign strategy, and philanthropic partnerships for higher education and nonprofit organizations.

Prior to joining the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), Cahill served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Moore College of Art & Design, where she led all fundraising, alumni relations, stewardship, and advancement operations. During her tenure, she directed the College's most ambitious comprehensive campaign, helping secure more than $24.5 million in gifts and commitments as part of the ImagineMoore Campaign—exceeding the campaign goal by 63 percent and years ahead of schedule. She also helped strengthen major and planned giving, expand donor engagement, and build a culture of philanthropy across the institution.

Before Moore, Cahill served as Director of Development for the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware, where she provided leadership in securing nearly $33 million in new gifts and pledges. Among her accomplishments was helping launch what would become the nationally recognized Horn Entrepreneurship program, a transformational initiative that has since attracted tens of millions of dollars in philanthropic support and established the University as a leader in entrepreneurship education.

From 2004 to 2010, Cahill worked in the University of Pennsylvania's Office of Development and Alumni Relations, first as Director of Special Projects in the School of Arts and Sciences and later as Senior Associate Director of Major Gifts at the Wharton School. There she contributed to the University's landmark Making History Campaign, which raised more than $3.5 billion.

Cahill began her fundraising career with Operation Smile International and has also held development leadership roles with mission-driven nonprofit organizations, balancing her commitment to higher education with a passion for advancing organizations that create meaningful social impact. Throughout her career, she has built a reputation for strategic leadership, relationship building, campaign planning, and securing transformational philanthropic investments that advance institutional priorities.

Outside of her professional work, Cahill enjoys traveling, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.  


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About PAFA

Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the United States’ first school and museum of fine arts. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, PAFA offers a world-class collection of American art, innovative exhibitions of historic and contemporary American art, and educational opportunities in the fine arts. The PAFA Museum aims to tell America's diverse story through art, expanding who has been included in the canon of art history through its collections, exhibitions, and public programs, while classes educate artists and appreciators with a deep understanding of traditions and the ability to challenge conventions. PAFA’s esteemed alumni include Mary Cassatt, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, William Glackens, Barkley L. Hendricks, Violet Oakley, Louis Kahn, David Lynch, and Henry Ossawa Tanner.