Sean D. Hammerle, CFRE is the Founder and President of PLAID Consulting, LLC a Houston-based firm focused on philanthropic leadership and institutional development. With over 20 years’experience in non-profit
fundraising, Sean has raised over $100 million for organizations of all sizes and missions throughout his career, ranging from the arts to social services and education. Sean believes that small and medium-sized organizations are the grassroots foundation of the non-profit community, and through PLAID Consulting,
provides them with capacity development assistance, leadership training and fundraising.
Sean has been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) since 1996. He has served on the AFP Greater Houston Chapter Board of Directors since 2007 and served as the 2011 President. Sean serves on the AFP International Board of Directors and chaired the 2011 International Leadership Academy in Montreal, Canada. A graduate of the AFP Faculty Training Academy, Sean is an AFP Master Teacher and has presented across the country and internationally, including countries such as Canada, China, Egypt and United Kingdom. Sean is a Subject Master Expert for CFRE International (Certified Fundraising Executive) serving as an exam test question writer and mentor.
Sean brings with him a distinct experience from both sides of the fence as Sean has led on the volunteer governance side: serving on dozens of non-profit boards including serving as the Board Chair of many (current Chair of the Leadership Houston Board) and founding two non-profits, including an emergency assistance fund for people living with debilitating disease and an educational scholarship fund; all while balancing that experience with his service on the staff side as an advanced development professional for organizations ranging from budgets with less than $1 million to over $250 million. Sean was awarded the “2009 Five Outstanding Young Houstonian Award” recognizing his work in non-profit leadership, and he was honored as one of the “2010 Five Outstanding Young Texans” joining previous recipients such as President George H. W. Bush, CBS Anchor Dan Rather, and Rev. Joel Osteen. Sean was named by the Houston Business Journal as the only non-profit honoree for the 2010 “40 Under 40 Award.” Sean is diehard LSU alum which he claims to be the core of why he brings such a confident presence and motivating energy to any project or speaking engagement.
fundraising, Sean has raised over $100 million for organizations of all sizes and missions throughout his career, ranging from the arts to social services and education. Sean believes that small and medium-sized organizations are the grassroots foundation of the non-profit community, and through PLAID Consulting,
provides them with capacity development assistance, leadership training and fundraising.
Sean has been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) since 1996. He has served on the AFP Greater Houston Chapter Board of Directors since 2007 and served as the 2011 President. Sean serves on the AFP International Board of Directors and chaired the 2011 International Leadership Academy in Montreal, Canada. A graduate of the AFP Faculty Training Academy, Sean is an AFP Master Teacher and has presented across the country and internationally, including countries such as Canada, China, Egypt and United Kingdom. Sean is a Subject Master Expert for CFRE International (Certified Fundraising Executive) serving as an exam test question writer and mentor.
Sean brings with him a distinct experience from both sides of the fence as Sean has led on the volunteer governance side: serving on dozens of non-profit boards including serving as the Board Chair of many (current Chair of the Leadership Houston Board) and founding two non-profits, including an emergency assistance fund for people living with debilitating disease and an educational scholarship fund; all while balancing that experience with his service on the staff side as an advanced development professional for organizations ranging from budgets with less than $1 million to over $250 million. Sean was awarded the “2009 Five Outstanding Young Houstonian Award” recognizing his work in non-profit leadership, and he was honored as one of the “2010 Five Outstanding Young Texans” joining previous recipients such as President George H. W. Bush, CBS Anchor Dan Rather, and Rev. Joel Osteen. Sean was named by the Houston Business Journal as the only non-profit honoree for the 2010 “40 Under 40 Award.” Sean is diehard LSU alum which he claims to be the core of why he brings such a confident presence and motivating energy to any project or speaking engagement.