Our Team

Dedicated experts with a proven record of success.

Lori Smith Britton is a leader who has leveraged critical resources for several of Boston’s most prestigious institutions including MIT, the Boston Latin School Association, and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation as well as a number of grassroots and community-based organizations. In 2002, she founded Community Resource Consulting, Inc. – a boutique-style consulting practice providing charitable organizations with critical fundraising and relationship development strategies and services toward sustainability and growth.  

Community Resource Consulting grows out of Ms. Britton’s passion for advancing the mission of cultural, educational, and social service institutions who aim to improve the human condition by promoting the values of equity and justice. 

Before founding CRC, she was instrumental in the early success of the $35 million Pons Privatus Capital Campaign of the Boston Latin School Association and directed efforts that allowed the Museum of African American History to double its budget during her tenure. While at the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, she worked closely with the executive team to establish and grow the President’s Council – a leadership group of supporters, convened by Caroline Kennedy, whose annual giving is $25,000 to $ 1 million and above. She also supported the launch of the Kennedy Library Foundation’s $9 million fund drive to secure the future of the Profile in Courage Award program. The drive was successfully completed in 2008 having surpassed its goal.

In her consulting practice, Ms. Britton has served as counsel and interim staff providing hands-on support related to program development and prospect research, corporation and foundation relations and proposal development, annual appeals, individual major gifts program development, strategic development, and sustainability planning, capital campaign planning and implementation, and event planning. Additionally, CRC provides board and staff training in the aforementioned areas. She recently helped complete Epiphany School’s $25 million Starting Younger, Growing Stronger Capital Campaign and is continuing to help grow their overall development program, in addition to several other client projects. 

Community Resource Consulting has raised millions of dollars for its clients since 2007 – with the launch of the company’s full-time practice. 

Lori’s service to the community is extended by her volunteer commitments. She has served on the boards of the Freedom House, Inc., Boston Latin School Association and ACCESS, Commonwealth Kitchen, and is currently serving on the board of the Women’s Foundation of Boston. She is also an active member of the Boston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc – an international public service organization with chapters around the globe.  For several years she was also a co-chair of the Multi-Cultural Forum of the Chestnut Hill School – a parent-run organization committed to promoting the ideals of inclusion and diversity. 
An alumna of Syracuse University where she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in English and Broadcast Journalism, Lori also earned a master’s degree in Urban Affairs from Boston University, where she has served as an adjunct professor teaching a course in non-profit fundraising. 

Esinam Quarcoo is an associate with Community Resource Consulting. In this capacity, she provides high-quality prospect research, grant writing, copywriting, and editorial services in support of CRC’s client relationships. In addition, she supports CRC’s business development activities.

Esinam is a graduate of Wesleyan University, where she dual-majored in Sociology and African-American Studies. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in 2003, Esinam attended Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she received recognition for Outstanding Performance in Beasley’s top-ranked Trial Advocacy program and completed her law studies in 2006 earning a Juris Doctorate. She is a member of the New York State Bar.

Ariadne Valsamis is a senior consultant with Community Resource Consulting providing strategic fundraising counsel, constituent engagement, and donor pipeline development services in support of CRC's client relationships. In addition, she supports CRC's business development activities. 

Ariadne brings more than two decades of experience driving transformational philanthropic growth at distinguished institutions, includingHarvard Kennedy School, Harvard Medical School, and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Her work is rooted in the conviction that lasting philanthropy requires authentic relationships, strategic clarity, and organizational alignment. She has a proven track record of mobilizing new donor constituencies and revitalizing fundraising programs, including increasing revenue by 164% atHarvard Kennedy School, where she helped secure three of HKS's largest gifts in its history, including a $150M gift to establish the Center for Cities.

Lois A. Smith

Lois A. Smith is the Founder of LAS Consulting Pro, where she provides strategic fundraising counsel, grant development, philanthropic planning, board engagement, and nonprofit capacity-building services to charitable organizations seeking sustainable growth and long-term impact.

Lois brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership and fundraising experience, having helped secure millions of dollars in philanthropic support for leading organizations including the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Saint Francis House, Dimock Community Health Center, and Boston University. Her expertise spans foundation and corporate relations, major gifts, grant writing, strategic planning, and donor engagement. She has successfully led major fundraising initiatives, developed high-impact philanthropic partnerships, and guided organizations in building the capacity and resources needed to advance their missions. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to equity, educational opportunity, and strengthening communities. Lois earned a Master of Education in Human Services from Antioch University and has devoted her career to helping mission-driven organizations build the relationships and resources they need to thrive.

Seth Gordon

Seth Gordon has recently joined CRC as an associate. Seth supports web, graphic, and presentation design, as well as provides administrative support to the CRC team. An undergraduate at Tufts University, Seth is a dual major in Art History and Political Science. Passionate about creating meaningful and systemic change, Seth hopes to further develop his skills and knowledge about the needs of the non-profit community as he helps to advance their important work in his role with CRC.

Tchad Ross is a CRC Associate supporting client projects and CRC’s internal administrative needs related to fiscal management/systems, technology, communications, website management, design, and document production, as well as other tasks that may be assigned from time to time to support personal administrative needs of CRC’s Founder and Principal, Lori Smith Britton. As a graduate of Bard College class of 2022, Tchad majored in Written Arts with an emphasis in Fiction Writing. She excels in creating compelling narratives and is most interested in using her writing skills to advocate for support of other's goals.