Rebecca Bahar-Cook is the CEO of Capitol Fundraising Associates. As such, she develops fundraising plans, executes fundraising events, conducts feasibility studies, consults on capital campaigns, develops direct mail programs including suggested messaging, assists with the designing of solicitation materials, trains others on how to find new donors and fundraise, works on board development, and recruitment of volunteer fundraising committee members.Bahar-Cook enjoys teaching groups fundraising best practices and has provided training sessions to many statewide nonprofits, associations, and candidate training organizations on topics including Board Recruitment and Fundraising, Where to Find New Donors, Fundraising Success – What Works: Tried and New Fundraising Techniques, and Why Corporations Give.
During her time at CFA, Bahar-Cook has worked with a wide variety of nonprofit clients, including Children’s Trust Michigan, Citizens Research Council, Communites In Schools, Equality Michigan, Greater Lansing Food Bank, Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness/Michigan Fitness Foundation, Habitat for Humanity Michigan, Haven House, Michigan Donor Alliance, Michigan Political History Society, Michigan State University’s Michigan Political Leadership Program, Volunteers of America Michigan and the Williamston Theatre. Bahar-Cook has also consulted with the Schor Lansing Fund and the Whitmer Gilchrist Inaugural Committee to execute the swearing-in ceremonies for the Mayor of Lansing and all Michigan statewide constitutional office holders.
Currently, she serves as the Board Chair for Capitol Area Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board, and serves on the Capital Regional Community Foundation Board, the Rotary Club of Lansing Board, The Sparrow Specialty Hospital Board, the Ingham County Board of Canvassers, and the Ingham County Jury Board. She also participates in the community as a member of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Policy Committee and the Capital Region Community Foundation Marketing and Communication Committee. Ms. Bahar-Cook served on the Ingham County Board of Commissioners from 2006-2016.
Ms. Bahar-Cook earned her B.A. from Michigan State University in 1992. She lives in Lansing, Michigan, with her husband, Todd.