Steve Ragan is an experienced nonprofit executive and board member, having led and consulted for some of the most impactful education, social service, and arts and culture nonprofits.
Steve Ragan most recently served as executive vice president for Hope Network. Previously, he was the senior vice president of development and external relations for Southwest Solutions, a position he held from 2015 to 2019. Ragan joined Southwest Solutions from Focus: HOPE, where he led the successful conclusion of their $100 M capital campaign. From 2009 to 2017 he served as chief development officer and then senior advisor to Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation.
Steve brings a strong background of experience and success leading philanthropy, communications and advocacy programs for nonprofits. He spent the first half of his career in education, beginning at Eastern Michigan University where he led development and alumni affairs for their College of Arts and Sciences and, later, directed the University’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign. He was the vice president and later senior vice president for university advancement at Lawrence Technological University, where he led their first capital campaign. Since then, Steve has expanded his work to include leadership in the arts, social justice and human services as both chief development and communications officer, and as a consultant to impactful regional and national nonprofits.
Equitable educational opportunity has also been a priority in Steve’s volunteer work. He served as a publicly-elected community college trustee and board chair for nine years; helped co-found an innovative charter academy that serves Detroit students from low-income households; and is a tutor and serves as a board member at All Saints Literacy Center.
Steve received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and is a graduate of Harvard University’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Education. In 2021 he was the recipient of Association of Fundraising Professionals for Greater Detroit Dr. John S. Lore Award for Outstanding Fundraising Executive.
