ORT America

Merraine Group partnered with ORT America, a global nonprofit dedicated to education and workforce development, to fill a critical senior fundraising role in the Midwest. Through a consultative, relationship-driven recruiting approach, Merraine successfully placed a highly tenured Regional Development Officer within 4 weeks, delivering both speed and long-term fit.

ORT America needed a Regional Development Officer for the Midwest, responsible for leading fundraising efforts across the states of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. The role required:

- Deep regional donor and board connections

- 10+ years of development experience

- Strong relationship-building and communication skills

- Alignment with a mission-driven, values-based organization

This was a highly strategic hire with a significant impact on regional growth.

The process began with an in-depth consultation with ORT America’s CEO, focused on understanding not just the role requirements, but the personality traits and leadership qualities necessary for long-term success.

Leveraging:

- Targeted LinkedIn sourcing

- Direct outreach to senior nonprofit professionalsIndustry knowledge of Midwest nonprofit networks

- Detailed candidate qualification against CEO-defined success criteria

Jori Holloway quickly identified a standout candidate: Rob Platt.

Role Filled: Regional Development Director, Midwest RegionPlacement Timeline: 3 to 4 weeksCandidate Placed: A 10-year senior development professional based in Ohio with extensive Midwest donor relationships and national nonprofit experience.

Rob’s deep regional ties, proven fundraising success, and ability to connect authentically with leadership made the placement a seamless match.

“He was a true connector, exactly what ORT needed,” Jori said. “The alignment on both skills and personality made this a fast, successful hire.”

- Regional expertise: Deep understanding of Midwest nonprofit landscapes

- Consultative recruiting: Acting as an extension of the client’s internal team

- Culture-first mindset: Prioritizing long-term fit over quick placements.

- Responsive communication: Real-time feedback via text, email, and calls

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Jori brings a unique blend of business acumen, HR expertise, and people-first values to her work. After earning a degree in Marketing and Finance from Yeshiva University in New York City, she began her career in advertising and tech, working across HR operations, including onboarding, benefits, payroll, and compliance.

While the operational side of HR provided a strong foundation, Jori’s passion ultimately led her to recruiting, where she could focus on helping people find meaningful work and organizations build impactful teams. Prior to joining Merraine, she spent four years at a national staffing firm, while recruiting across HR, administrative and leadership roles.

Today, she plays a central role in growing Merraine’s nonprofit practice, specializing in senior-level placements, including CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and Chief Development Officers.

What drew her to nonprofit recruiting was the opportunity to align work with purpose.

“I realized I wanted to help place leaders who are actually making a difference, people who are creating impact, not just growing revenue,” Jori said.

At Merraine, she found an environment that values mission alignment, long-term placements, and true partnership, not transactional recruiting.