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 FBC, 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).
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 FBC 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 an FBC 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 is a lifelong creative and writer with a background in the fine arts. Born and raised in Austin, TX, she blends her skills in motion graphics, illustration, and photography to craft Generosity Experts’ social media ecosystem. With each post, she grows and expands her creative toolbox.
Rowan is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin. Drawn to social work and a desire to serve people in meaningful ways, she is passionate about helping people connect with the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to feel secure and live well. She sees generosity as powerful force and is grateful for the opportunity to help share this message through her work at FBC.
Rowan believes in building community (and personal expression).
Malek Ben-Musa
Office Manager
Malek Ben-Musa brings more than three decades of leadership experience as a coach, mentor, and community advocate to his role as Office Manager at FBC Generosity Experts. A former professional soccer player and nationally licensed coach, Malek is known for his steady leadership and commitment to developing people and systems that thrive.
At FBC, Malek supports operational excellence across internal systems and client service, ensuring the team has what it needs to deliver powerful, mission-aligned work. His background includes leading collegiate and professional teams, directing youth development programs, and serving on nonprofit boards, including Soccer Assist and the Austin Soccer Foundation. He currently serves as Vice President of Mentorship for 100 Black Men of Austin.
Whether coordinating internal systems or mentoring youth, Malek leads with integrity, care, and a steady hand—bringing purpose and hospitality to every corner of his work. 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
With over three decades of experience as a seasoned fundraising professional, Fayruz has become a recognized leader and changemaker in the philanthropic landscape. Leveraging her expertise locally, nationally, and internationally, she has successfully raised over $500 million for her clients, spearheading campaigns ranging from $10 million to over $100 million. Fayruz wholeheartedly embodies the principles she imparts to her clients, tirelessly working to foster a community-wide culture of philanthropy. For more than a decade, she and her team have reimagined philanthropic responsibility and civic engagement, employing solutions-based problem-solving and strategic thinking.
Beyond consultancy, Fayruz actively contributes to a number of organizations, and her dedication to community service is underscored by her current and previous roles as Board Chair for 4ATX Foundation of Austin FC, Board President for AFP – Austin, Chair of the Sustainable Food Center and Con Mi MADRE Boards, Chair of ConnectHER and as a member for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Trinity Episcopal School, and Libyan Hearts boards. Her outstanding contributions were acknowledged when she was named an Ethics in Business and Community Award Winner by Recognize Good and awarded the Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year by AFP.
Fayruz’s story of resilience, service, and commitment to positive change is shared as a sought-after keynote speaker and coach. Her advice, extending beyond fundraising, also emphasizes supporting women in their diverse career and life paths. With a commitment to a life of impact and meaning, Fayruz believes in the transformative impact of generosity (and strategic thinking).
