Exceptional partnerships are grounded in trust, skill, and insightful collaboration. Our team brings deep expertise in philanthropic fundraising strategies, from nuts and bolts infrastructure to strategic and creative vision. And we always roll up our sleeves to make your dreams a reality.
Lainey Gorman
Generosity Concierge
Lainey serves as the Generosity Concierge at Generosity Experts, where she plays a vital role in creating seamless operations and exceptional client experiences. As both an operational anchor and a welcoming front-facing presence, she ensures every detail is thoughtfully managed, allowing clients and colleagues to focus on meaningful, generosity-centered work.
With a background as a registered dietitian, Lainey brings a people-centered perspective and a passion for helping others reach their goals. She carries this into FBC by supporting clients and team members with clarity and intentionality. Known for anticipating needs and fostering strong relationships, she is an essential part of the team’s success.
Outside of work, she is involved in her church community and values connection and service. Lainey believes in the power of generosity, thoughtful stewardship, and authentic relationships to create lasting impact.
Catherine (Cat) Bird
Chief Strategy & Communications Officer
Catherine “Cat” Bird is a communications strategist, fundraising advisor, educator, and author known for listening deeply, translating vision into language that moves people to give, and helping leaders build cultures where generosity grows. As Chief Strategy & Communications Officer for Generosity Experts, Cat helps mission-driven organizations clarify vision, strengthen donor relationships, and build capacity for generosity to thrive. Long recognized for her communications expertise and strategic instinct, she has contributed to initiatives that have raised more than $300 million across healthcare, education, social services, faith-based organizations, and the arts.
Cat’s path into philanthropy began as grant writer for the Seton Family of Hospitals, supporting eight hospitals, three community clinics, and the future Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas during its $175 million campaign. Teaching has shaped her career: she led grant-writing seminars through Mission Capital, built a consulting practice strengthening nonprofits, and now advises boards and executives on campaign readiness, donor engagement, and generosity-centered leadership.
As co-architect of Generosity Experts’ proprietary Generosity Optimizer framework, Cat’s work is expanding from the practice of fundraising into the study of generosity itself. Through philanthropic psychology, she is exploring why people give, how generosity shapes identity and belonging, and what communities can learn when generosity is studied not only through the lens of funders and institutions, but also through the wisdom of those who give, serve, receive, and belong.
With a heart for teaching generosity as both a discipline and a way of life, Cat believes in the science of generosity (and the joy of living it).
Ellen Buckmaster
Creative Director
Ellen Buckmaster, a seasoned Creative Director with over 40 years of experience, specializes in fostering connections between nonprofits and donors. As a former fundraiser and marketing professional turned writer, designer, and art director, Ellen seamlessly integrates diverse skills to craft compelling narratives. She serves as an integral part of the Generosity Experts team and collaborates closely to align words and visual into compelling narratives. Her skillset encompasses a diverse range of creative strategies and concepts, art direction, messaging analysis, copywriting, project management, design, and grant writing.
Throughout her career, Ellen has worked with prestigious clients such as Whole Foods Market, Dell, IBM, H-E-B, and the University of Texas. Her portfolio spans healthcare, education, arts, culture, and social services, leaving an indelible mark on a number of successful fundraising campaigns. Ellen’s commitment to storytelling is evident in her work, where she collaborates with clients to create impactful messages. Her strategic approach and dedication make her a trusted partner for organizations aiming to make a meaningful impact, as seen in her contributions to Dell Children’s Medical Center, Ballet Austin, and Girl Scouts-Lone Star Council, among many others. Through her creativity and dedication to advancing the missions of nonprofits across diverse sectors, Ellen believes in innovative storytelling (and encouraging generosity).
Kathryn McDaniel
Director of Project Management
Kathryn McDaniel is a trusted communications and fundraising leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing communities through both professional and volunteer service. Her expertise spans fundraising, development, volunteer management, event strategy, content creation, and public relations. As Director of Project Management with Generosity Experts, Kathryn serves as a strategic partner to clients and internal teams, helping organizations raise more than $25 million throughout her career.
Kathryn began her professional journey at Texas A&M University before intentionally transitioning into the nonprofit sector. As a development professional, she led efforts to generate $1 million annually through annual giving programs, major events, galas, community partnerships, and major gifts. Alongside these achievements, she managed budgets and operations for multiple volunteer boards, a retail operation, and more than 200 community volunteers.
Today, Kathryn leads the planning and execution of complex initiatives for a broad portfolio of nonprofit clients, bringing strategy, organization, and relationship-centered leadership to every engagement. Beyond her professional work, she has remained deeply committed to service through volunteer leadership, mentoring youth, and supporting nonprofit causes across Central Texas.Top of Form
With a genuine desire to build authentic connections, Kathryn believes in fostering community (and purposeful engagement)
Melissa Sela
Project Manager
Melissa Sela is a warm, steady presence and trusted partner with more than 25 years of experience spanning telecommunications, healthcare, and philanthropy. Known for bringing clarity, compassion, and execution to complex initiatives, she helps organizations translate vision into actionable plans that advance mission, impact, and the transformative work our clients are called to do. As a Generosity Expert, Melissa partners with mission-driven organizations across civic-private partnerships, child advocacy, community-based youth sports, urban placemaking, and other sectors to strengthen cultures of generosity, guide campaign readiness, and support successful execution. Her career contributions include product and strategy initiatives that generated more than $50 million in revenue across the private sector.
Beyond her professional work, Melissa is deeply rooted in the Austin philanthropic community, serving as a Development Committee Member at Wonders & Worries, a Grade Level Advisor with the National Charity League, and former Board Member and Development Committee Chair at Rawson Saunders School. Her background spans healthcare consulting, on-the-ground operational leadership including work to help right-size and rebuild healthcare infrastructure following Hurricane Katrina, and years of volunteer service in her children’s schools. Her commitment to service is as wide as it is deep.
Melissa believes in the power of genuine relationships and intentional stewardship. She walks alongside mission-driven organizations throughout their generosity journey, helping them achieve more than they imagined possible.
Rowan Youngs
Creative Media Designer
Rowan Youngs has been creating and writing her whole life—through photography, watercolor, short stories, ceramics, embroidery, and more. Born and raised in Austin, TX, she now blends her skills in motion graphics, illustration, and photography to craft stories for the Generosity Experts’ social media ecosystem. With each post she pulls from a big creative toolbox to weave compelling visual messages.
In the past few years, Rowan has worked closely with the Dell Children’s Hospital to create over 10 dynamic, large-scale murals for their lobby, break rooms, and exam rooms. She’s currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, and hopes to connect people to the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to thrive. Rowan believes generosity is a fundamentally important form of human expression and loves using her skillset to amplify this message through her work at Generosity Experts.
She believes in personal expression, self-reflection, and community care.
Rhonda Warren
Director of Operations
Rhonda Warren is a seasoned business leader and operational strategist who brings more than 25 years of experience across HR, business development, marketing, and entrepreneurial ventures to her role as Director of Operations at Generosity Experts. A former franchise owner and HR executive at Dell, Rhonda is known for her sharp systems thinking, creative problem-solving, and ability to build high-performing teams.
At Generosity Experts, Rhonda ensures that the internal engine of the firm runs smoothly—streamlining systems, improving workflows, and fostering an environment where team members and clients can thrive. Her leadership has shaped fast-growing companies, including Piranha Pools (a five-time “Best of the Best” award winner) and Maui Wowi, where she opened eight locations in five years and trained hundreds of franchisees nationwide.
Whether managing operations or mentoring youth through soccer and service, Rhonda leads with clarity, care, and a results-driven mindset. She believes that effective systems are a foundation for generous, purpose-driven work.
Rhonda believes in operational clarity (and leading with heart and hustle).
Malek Ben-Musa
Office Manager
Malek Ben-Musa brings more than three decades of leadership experience as a coach, mentor, educator, and community advocate to his role as Office Manager at Generosity Experts. A former professional soccer player and nationally licensed coach, Malek earned a specialized master’s degree in Soccer Coaching through Ohio University and United Soccer Coaches, where he further refined his expertise in leadership, teaching, and organizational development. Throughout his career, he has been known for his steady leadership, commitment to lifelong learning, and passion for helping individuals and teams reach their full potential.
At Generosity Experts, Malek supports operational excellence across internal systems and client service, ensuring the team has what it needs to deliver thoughtful, mission-aligned work. His background includes leading collegiate and professional teams, directing youth development programs, implementing strategic systems, and mentoring coaches and athletes at every level.
Malek is also deeply invested in serving his community. He has served on nonprofit boards including Soccer Assist and the Austin Soccer Foundation and currently serves as Vice President of Mentorship for 100 Black Men of Austin. Whether coordinating internal operations or mentoring the next generation of leaders, Malek believes in empowering others through service, integrity, and genuine relationships. His philosophy centers on developing the whole person with patience, compassion, and excellence. He resides in Lakeway with his wife, Fayruz Benyousef, and their daughter, Yara.
Malek believes in empowering others (and leading through service and integrity).
Fayruz Benyousef, CFRE
Founder & Principal
Fayruz Benyousef, CFRE, is a fundraising strategist, campaign architect, educator, and changemaker who helps organizations transform bold vision into lasting impact. As Founder and Principal of FBC | Generosity Experts, she partners with nonprofit leaders to strengthen donor relationships, build thriving cultures of generosity, and inspire transformational giving. Over more than three decades, she has helped organizations raise hundreds of millions of dollars through campaigns ranging from $10 million to more than $100 million. Her work is grounded in Generosity Performance Science, her research-based approach that applies neuroscience and behavioral economics to strengthen leadership, trust, and philanthropic outcomes.
Born in Tripoli, Libya and raised between cultures, Fayruz developed an early appreciation for generosity, resilience, and the power of community. Her leadership journey has included serving as CEO of an international nonprofit, partner in a national consulting firm, and advancement leader in higher education and the arts. Today, she is a sought-after keynote speaker, coach, and trusted advisor who equips leaders with practical strategies to build sustainable organizations and meaningful donor relationships.
Fayruz’s commitment to generosity extends well beyond her clients. She currently serves as Development Chair of the Board for the 4ATX Foundation, Austin FC’s philanthropic arm, Co-Chair of the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s 30th Anniversary, Co-Chair of the Baylor Scott & White Lakeway Medical Center Board, Board Chair of ConnectHER, and has provided leadership to numerous nonprofit organizations throughout her career.
Her contributions have earned multiple honors, including AFP’s Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year and Communitarian of the Year, the RecognizeGood Ethics in Business and Community Award, and First Tee of Greater Austin’s Robert W. Hughes Leadership Award recognizing her impact on philanthropy and community service.
With a commitment to a life of impact and meaning, Fayruz believes generosity creates possibility (and strategy turns possibility into impact).
