A passion for putting pets first — and for staying ahead of the curve — fuels the ASPCA’s innovative strategies, and kept it energized when Katrina-relief efforts, a rebranding campaign and the overhaul of its development department all converged.

By Margaret Battistelli Gardner

If there were to be crowned a Richard Simmons of nonprofit fundraising in the United States, ASPCA Senior Vice President of Development and Communications Jo Sullivan just might fill those sequined short-shorts.

She’s got the passion, that’s for sure. And the — ahem — dogged determination. And while organizations of this size have large development staffs and can’t attribute their success to one person, inspiration usually flows down from the top. Sullivan’s completely unbridled dedication to pets and the ASPCA’s mission to protect them and to speak for them in matters of health, adoption, training, care and legislation helps keep the organization at the cutting edge when it comes to both programming and fundraising.