Beth Heikkila

Beth Heikkila joined The Compass Group in 2019 as chief operating officer and a strategic member of the leadership team.

Prior to this position, Beth gained unparalleled operations and fundraising expertise through her roles with The Nature Conservancy, The Salvation Army, and March of Dimes. She brings this experience from complex, national nonprofit organizations to The Compass Group, enhancing the firm’s operations through her dedication to best practices and effective problem solving. In her role of chief operating officer, Beth oversees the infrastructure to advance corporate sustainability, maximizes business development, and ensures the highest quality of service for Compass’s growing client base.

Preceding Compass, Beth worked for more than a decade with The Nature Conservancy. Her accomplishments for the Arizona chapter include leading the operational strategies for a $70+ million campaign; spearheading the annual fundraising operations; implementing a multilayered prospect identification process for a principal and major gift pipeline; supporting the frontline and operations team; overseeing one of the largest chapter-based planned giving programs in the organization; and creating infrastructure for long-term success. Before The Nature Conservancy, Beth served as the director of special projects for Salvation Army, collaborating with colleagues, donors, and volunteer leaders to meet the organizations’ goals for fundraising, community involvement, and volunteer engagement.  Beth began her career at the March of Dimes, working across the organization to gain exposure to operations at all levels and outlets. She credits this experience with finding her passion and impending career in fundraising, as Beth witnessed the power of philanthropy in helping others at both a local and national level.

Beth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois State University, double majoring in Public Relations and Spanish. She completed coursework in fundraising operations through Rice University and holds her Women in Leadership Certification from Cornell University.