Elliot Isen- Director of Major Gifts

Elliot Isen is an entrepreneurial and mission-driven fundraiser with fourteen years of experience building enduring philanthropic partnerships and growing major gifts programs at leading cultural organizations in Massachusetts. He brings a strategic, creative approach to development and believes it is a true team sport, thriving in close collaboration with colleagues, leadership, and Board members to advance bold, shared visions for impact and sustainable growth. Elliot first visited Cathleen Stone Island in 2008 as a camper at the Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddle School and is thrilled to return to the island in this new role. He believes in the power of outdoor experiential learning and is energized by connecting people to purpose. He began his career at The Discovery Museum in Acton and further honed his skills at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem during its $650M comprehensive campaign, where he developed a deep appreciation for the strategy, creativity, and alignment required to secure transformational investment. Elliot also spent seven years at Historic New England, where he most recently helped to launch the first phase of a major cultural redevelopment initiative in Haverhill—translating an ambitious vision into early philanthropic momentum.

Elliot is a graduate of Boston University with a degree in History and has completed additional coursework at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at the University of Indiana. He served as Treasurer of Pinewoods Camp Inc. in Plymouth—an outdoor camp for traditional dance and music originally founded by Helen Storrow over 100 years ago—and currently serves on the Board of the Garden Club of the Back Bay. He lives on Beacon Hill and is actively involved in a number of cultural and social organizations in town.