Susan Berkun joined OAI in July 2006 as a Director of Marketing. She has more than 15 years experience in nonprofit management and fundraising. Prior to coming to OAI, she was Senior Director of Development at the National Park Foundation. She was responsible for some of the largest foundation grants NPF has received to date, bringing in more than five million dollars. She organized a series of regional Foundation Forums that brought together leaders from the foundation community to help NPF develop new strategies for working with private foundations. She also raised significant funds from corporations, including cause-related marketing, philanthropic, and licensing partnerships. While at NPF she also helped develop a series of strategic fundraising publications, including a corporate marketing kit, a major donor package, and an organizational case statement.

Prior to coming to NPF she worked as a Grants Manager for the National Partnership for Women and Families, and for the International Rescue Committee, based in Malawi and Mozambique, where she was also responsible for program monitoring and evaluation. Early in her career she served as a volunteer teacher in southern Namibia through WorldTeach, a non-profit organization based at the Center for International Development at Harvard University.

She graduated from Boston University with a degree in International Relations and Geography. Her strong interest in travel has taken her to Africa, Europe, Asia, Central America, Canada, and across the U.S. She loves all outdoors activities, and particularly enjoys kayaking, hiking and rock climbing.