Colin Hamilton

Over the past 25 years, Colin Hamilton has collaborated with leaders on complex projects that have both transformed local communities and shaped national movements. He has a particular depth of experience in the arts and creative placemaking, community development, public media and journalism, libraries, and parks. 

Colin got his start at a political consulting firm in Northeast Ohio, where he helped public agencies build support for tax referendums. As Executive Director of the Friends of the Minneapolis Library from 2000 – 2007, he led a $140 million referendum and a $16.7 million capital campaign before helping advance a politically complex merger between the city and county systems. In his last year, Minneapolis was voted the nation’s most outstanding Friends organization, and he was named one of the Twin Cities’ “40 under 40.”

He then spent 10 years leading advancement and planning work at Artspace, a national nonprofit developer working at the intersection of the arts and community development. His first assignment was completing the $46 million Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts. He then transitioned to work on cultural heritage/artist housing developments in neighborhoods of New York, New Orleans, Honolulu, Seattle, and elsewhere, while helping shape creative placemaking as it emerged as a national field. During his time at Artspace, it became the largest arts grantee of both the Ford and Kresge Foundations, which combined to contribute more than $20 million over a five-year period.

After the 2016 election, Colin joined PRI (Public Radio International), which had created iconic radio programs like The World, Marketplace, The Takeaway, and Studio 360, and helped relaunch and complete a $20 million campaign. As PRI merged with PRX, he worked with the new CEO and board to set the organization’s mission and strategic priorities while restructuring the development program to best suit its culture and needs.

Since beginning consulting work in 2019, Colin has been a frequent collaborator with Creative Fundraising Advisors, contributing to projects for the Trinity Park Conservancy (Dallas), Colorado Public Radio, Nashville Public Radio, the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, the Basilica of St. Mary’s, and the Minnesota Land Trust. Other clients include Breck School, the Institute for Nonprofit News, the Friends of the Falls, Graywolf Press, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America Native Services division, and the National Book Awards.

Learn more: colinhamiltonconsulting.com