Zane Gizzi brings decades of experience in advancement-related positions to his work with Partners in Mission, including leadership roles at both secondary and higher education institutions. He is honored to have been part of the exceptional team at Partners in Mission for more than a decade and values the opportunity to share his experience and expertise with those with a passion for Catholic education.
Zane is highly regarded for his 11 years of extraordinary success as Director of Advancement at Lancaster (PA) Catholic High School. Under his leadership, the advancement program more than doubled in size with a five-fold increase in overall giving, while alumni giving participation rose to 26%. In addition, Zane and his team established the St. Catherine Society, an organization that honors more than 80 planned giving donors. At the same time, enrollment climbed 27% to more than 800 students, positioning Lancaster Catholic as the largest Catholic school in the Diocese of Harrisburg. Prior to Lancaster Catholic, Zane spent the first ten years of his career working in college admissions, first as a counselor at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH, and then as an Assistant/Associate Director of Admissions at his alma mater, Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA. In 1993, Zane broadened his interest by joining the staff of Elizabethtown College (Elizabethtown, PA) as the Director of the Annual Fund. After his service at Lancaster Catholic, Zane returned to Catholic higher education as the Director of Planned Giving at Alvernia University, a Franciscan institution in Reading, PA. He then served as Assistant Dean of Advancement at York College of Pennsylvania before moving to the Penn State College of Medicine/Penn State Health as a Major Gifts Officer.
Zane's areas of expertise include planned giving, major gifts, annual fund, feasibility studies, advancement assessments, and enrollment management.
Zane earned both his Bachelor's (magna cum laude) and Master of Education degree from Westminster College and has been active in professional organizations, presenting at conferences on both the state and national levels.
