Holly Donaldson Casella

Holly is the Director of Major Gifts and Alumni Affairs at New Canaan Country School, a New Canaan native, and an active member of our local community. Holly attended New Canaan Country School, The Taft School and then Hamilton College, where she was a Public Policy Major and a HANSA Fellow for Nonprofit Management. Prior to joining the team at NCCS, Holly held various roles in fundraising and special events at Americares, a global health organization founded here in New Canaan and headquartered in Stamford.


Holly has volunteered in many capacities for the New Canaan Community Foundation. She has participated in Grant Review since 2018 and is leading the Food Insecurity team this year. She has also served on the Luncheon Committee and the Appeal Committee for several years and Co-Chaired the Annual Appeal in 2022 and 2023. Holly also joined the Development Committee this year and is currently chairing a Major Gifts Sub-Committee in support of the strategic plan. This year Holly also received the NCCF Impact Award.

Holly is passionate about lending her fundraising expertise to local organizations. Beyond her work with the foundation, Holly volunteers for Americares, Horizons at NCCS, IMPACT Fairfield County, and Taft. She is also a member of the Country Club of New Canaan and Gardeners. Holly and her husband Adam have lived in New Canaan since 2017 along with their two children Clarke and Dottie, who both attend New Canaan Country School.