Dr. Ivy R. Buchan fell in love with volunteerism and board governance in high school as part of a community service club. Then, while working at a domestic violence shelter in college she decided to focus her career in the nonprofit sector. Ivy has worked with nonprofits for the last 20 years and started Helix five years ago. Ivy and her team create strategic solutions for fundraising and leadership challenges to achieve sustainable success. Ivy is also a Licensed Consultant through PANO’s Standards for Excellence, a board member of the Susquehanna Valley Council of Charitable Gift Planners, and an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)- Central PA Chapter. Ivy earned her Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Administration and Leadership Studies in the Nonprofit Sector with a research focus on multidisciplinary team collaboration and engagement, which comes in handy when working with boards. Ivy completed her MS from Shippensburg University and a BS from York College of Pennsylvania. She is also an Adjunct Professor at West Chester University and has edited three nonprofit textbooks. Ivy co-founded two nonprofits and currently serves on several community boards including the West Shore Young Professionals Advisory Board, York College Alumni Board, Financial Institution Young Professional Advisory Board, Lancaster County Career & Technology Foundation Advisory Board, and is the Chair of the United Way Bridges Society. She was a 2020 winner of the YWCA Tribute to Women of Excellence, 2018 winner of the Central Penn Business Journal’s (CPBJ) Women of Influence Community Achievement Award, 2018 winner of Leadership Harrisburg Area’s the Extra Mile Award, 2018 finalist for the Conference for Women Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017 winner of the CPBJ’s Forty Under 40, 2017 winner of City State PA’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars, and a graduate of the Leadership Harrisburg Area Class of 2018. During her free time, Ivy enjoys being outdoors, exploring new cities, yoga, and spending time with her husband and daughter.