Tristan A.B. Steel, CFRE is a nonprofit development and communications consultant specializing in donor development and stewardship, grant strategy and writing, prospect research, strategic planning, capital campaign feasibility analysis, and board development. Through Tristan Steel Consulting, he has worked with organizations across arts and culture, education, youth and family services, housing and homelessness prevention, healthcare, animal welfare, and environmental causes.

With more than 15 years of fundraising and resource-development experience, Tristan approaches philanthropy as fundamentally relational: connecting people and institutions whose values align with an organization’s mission and developing those connections into lasting partnerships. His work emphasizes donor-centered communications, thoughtful cultivation and stewardship, and building a culture of philanthropy that engages staff, volunteers, board members, donors, and the wider community.

A particular focus of Tristan’s consulting practice is helping smaller and evolving nonprofits professionalize and strengthen their development operations. He works to create systematized, repeatable practices that increase organizational capacity and reduce dependence on any one individual, with the goal of leaving clients stronger and more self-sufficient.

His professional background includes executive leadership and development roles with several regional nonprofits. His earlier experience as a systems analyst also included designing database systems – an analytical and systems-oriented perspective that complements his nonprofit development work.

Tristan holds a B.A. from Yale University and a Certificate in Fundraising Management from the University of Washington. He is a Certified FundRaising Executive (CFRE) and serves as board Treasurer of the Puget Sound Grantwriters Association