About Advancement Digital
Smarter Systems.
Stronger Relationships.
Sustainable Growth.
At Advancement Digital, we help leaders and teams use AI and automation to simplify marketing, improve operations, and scale impact — without losing the personal connection that built their success.
We bridge strategy and execution, guiding organizations through the shift from manual processes to intelligent, human-centered systems that create more time for meaningful work.
Why Clients Choose Us
Our clients love us because we are smart, creative, and always looking to optimize results. We are nimble, responsive, steady, diligent, and thorough. Here are a few more reasons clients choose to work with us:
Strategy first, technology second.
Every engagement starts with understanding your goals and workflows, not chasing the latest tech trend.
Built for people, not just processes.
Our systems are designed to enhance authentic connection with clients, customers, and donors.
Practical, ethical, and effective.
We believe AI should amplify human judgment and creativity, never replace them.
Proven across sectors.
Our methods for businesses and nonprofits deliver clarity, efficiency, and measurable growth.
meet our founder & President
Kathleen Banks, MA, CFRE, CFOP
Kathleen founded Advancement Digital to help mission-driven organizations and professional firms use AI and digital strategy to work smarter and grow sustainably.
With more than 20 years of leadership and consulting experience (including interim CEO roles), Kathleen brings a deep understanding of how strategy, systems, and culture intersect. Her work spans marketing, fundraising, and communications for some of New York’s most respected institutions.
She brings to each client a track record of success in traditional and digital fundraising and marketing, from major gifts, corporate and foundation grants, board recruitment and management, to email marketing, donation page optimization, web development, and donor stewardship. Individually and collaboratively, her thoughtful attention to donors’ philanthropic interests has resulted in millions in meaningful gifts and grants for several top New York institutions.
A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and Certified Fundraising Optimization Professional (CFOP), she pairs human insight with modern tools to create systems that strengthen relationships and deliver results.
Kathleen currently serves on the Community Advisory Board of WMHT Public Media holds degrees from New York University and Ithaca College.
Connect on LinkedIn.
how we can help you
Our Approach
We combine strategy, training, and implementation to create lasting change.
Research from leading consulting firms shows AI can help knowledge workers reclaim 5-10 hours per week from routine tasks. Let us help you and your team capture those gains!
selected clients & employers
Experience You
Can Trust
Our clients appreciate that we make complex change manageable, and always lead with integrity and results.
testimonials
What People Say
March Gallagher, Esq.
Past CEO, Community Foundations of the HV
Ulster County Comptroller
"Kathleen has a talent for uncovering donors’ philanthropic motivations, and she is able to translate that into compelling visual storytelling. Her nuanced understanding of the big picture, combined with an ability to outline a path forward and bring vision to reality, will be of great benefit to any nonprofit or small business."
elizabeth waldstein
Walkway Over the Hudson
"Highly recommend working with Kathleen and her team! Over 3 1/2 years, she helped us strategically segment and grow our annual fund and major donor programs by leaps and bounds. She also improved our communications, publications and social media, and project-managed a website overhaul. An organized and thorough systems-thinker, Kathleen’s creative solutions and "get-it-done right" work ethic solved the Walkway’s need for expert support that bridged staffing transitions."
Shawn phillips
Columbia University Medical Center
"She is an excellent writer, with a intuitive understanding of what will interest and entice potential donors. She has excellent interpersonal skills and is able to work with, and bring out the best from many personalities. One of Kathleen's strengths is her outstanding ability to get up to speed quickly with sufficient depth, on new scientific/medical topics, and then to translate and communicate that content for a variety of audiences."
Ready to Work Smarter?
Let’s talk about how AI and smarter systems can help you save time, strengthen relationships, and scale your impact.