Meet the Team

We invite you to learn more about our consultants, team, and accomplished careers — not just as fundraising consultants, but as nonprofit leaders. Our role is to teach, facilitate and guide you. With that as our backdrop, you’ll see why Byrne Pelofsky is best equipped to serve you, your team, and your community.

Fundraiser, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist

Jeffrey D. Byrne
Co-Founder + CEO

Jeffrey is the Co-Founder + CEO. Jeffrey’s 35 years of experience in the nonprofit sector continues to improve the lives of millions through philanthropy and building nonprofit organizations’ capacity to connect stakeholders to missions.

Jeffrey has expertise in spearheading difficult and complex strategies for nonprofits. He has led hundreds of planning studies and seven, eight and nine-figure fundraising campaigns. Jeffrey has led regional, national, and international projects for luminaries like the Harry S. Truman’s Presidential Museum and Library, the National WWI Museum & Memorial; the Ewing & Muriel Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts; numerous Nature Conservancy and Special Olympic state chapters; and his beloved alma mater, The University of Missouri.

Recognized for his distinctive client-focused philosophy Jeffrey is a frequent guest speaker at workshops and conferences across the United States. He has been quoted in the NY Times, the New York Post, the Wall Street Journal, The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Kansas City Star, and has been interviewed scores of times by newspapers and now through social media. He makes regular guest appearances as “Dr. Philanthropy” on the podcast KC Cares as Kansas City’s Nonprofit Voice. Jeffrey has received numerous awards including Nonprofit Connect’s Fundraiser of the Year.

Byrne Pelofsky is among a few fundraising consulting firms in the country to be accepted into The Giving Institute, the preeminent professional association most recognized for embodying the values of ethics, excellence, and leadership in advancing philanthropy. Jeffrey serves as a Board Member of The Giving Institute Board of Directors and was on the Executive Committee for 14 years and served as Chair (2015-2017).

Jeffrey reflects his Midwestern upbringing of hard work and a strong commitment to leadership. Raised in Charleston, Missouri, as a fourth-generation farmer, Jeffrey served on his family’s B&F Farms, Inc. Board for 19 years before selling in 2021. Jeffrey is a graduate of the College of Arts & Science at the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Jeffrey’s hobbies include snow skiing in Vail, Colorado and across the world; adventurous travel to 46 countries on all seven continents and a love of art, music and dance. He is a member of numerous nonprofit boards including the New York-based David Parsons Dance Company. He has a love for animals, especially dogs, including his Miniature Australian Shepherd Holly.