Bonnie Callahan - Development Specialist

Bonnie’s expertise and interests lie at the intersection of development, marketing, community outreach, and strategic planning, with particular emphasis on addressing systemic inequities in the arts, education, and social service. She prides herself on her ability to consult organizations and entrepreneurs on how to better communicate their mission and impact to their community, expand their reach, and improve organizational stability, leveraging her skill sets in brand building and content strategy, prospect research, targeted donor and sponsorship appeals, grant acquisition and management, and community-centered project coordination. She has been fortunate to work with many organizations in this capacity, including ASAP!, Rising Tide Music & Arts, Positive Legacy, the MusicLink Foundation, AK Artist Management, Manhattan Grant Writers, and the Atlantic Brass Band. Bonnie was previously the Development Associate for the Academy of Vocal Arts, the world’s only tuition-free institution solely dedicated to the training of opera soloists, and a Consultant at Corner Alliance, where she worked with Federal agencies to help them design and implement impactful and innovative programs through consulting in grants management and administration, strategic planning, technical assistance, legislative and policy analysis, and more.

Currently, she is a writer at Influential Writings by Heather Macaulay, offering services in grant writing, grants management, copywriting, and strategic content development for executives and students, a Development Consultant for the East Brunswick Symphony Orchestra, and Development Specialist for the Philadelphia Civic Symphony. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Princeton Brass Band, serving as the band’s Social Media Manager and on the Fundraising Committee, in addition to playing solo cornet with the band. Bonnie is also a frequent contributor to the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Journal, serving as a writer on the Product and App Reviews column.

As an accomplished administrator and musician, Bonnie brings the insight of a performer and artist to her administrative work and her eye for detail and nuance to her performing projects. She regularly performs with the East Brunswick Symphony Orchestra, Princeton Brass Band, and Coda Brass Quintet, of which she is a founding member. Since its inception in 2023, Coda Brass has been accepted into the Bespoken fellowship program, hosted performances throughout New Jersey and Delaware, and commissioned and performed new works by gender-marginalized composers. Coda Brass will also be featured performers at the International Women’s Brass Conference New Works Recital in May 2025. Bonnie frequently performs with other groups and ensembles throughout the Northeastern US in various genres and settings, including orchestras, with choral ensembles, brass quintets, and British brass bands. Bonnie is also a frequent church musician, performing in worship services throughout NJ, PA, and DE.