Michele Gagne Wertz '95 Named to Key Fundraising Role

The College of the Holy Cross has named Michele Gagne Wertz, a graduate from the class of 1995, as its new associate vice president for individual giving—the lead fundraiser on Vice President Sean Scanlon’s growing advancement team.

For the past 23 years, Wertz has served as a key fundraising leader at Massachusetts General Hospital. As a managing director of development since 2016, she has played a critical role in the planning and implementation of Mass General’s ongoing $3 billion campaign. She was part of the team that solicited and stewarded several transformational gifts—including two of the largest in the hospital’s history.

Wertz originally joined the hospital in 2001 as director of annual giving and donor relations, growing annual fund revenue and increasing the donor base by 28%. In 2007, Wertz was tapped for a senior role overseeing information management, including two database upgrades and conversions, and integrated marketing and communications for the hospital’s fundraising operations, laying the foundation for a modern, data-driven strategy across the entire development organization.

At Holy Cross, Wertz will lead a team of fundraising professionals dedicated to growing philanthropic support from alumni, parents, and friends. Specifically, she aims to expand the pipeline of major and principal gifts, strengthen support from corporations and foundations, and enhance efforts aimed at encouraging people to consider the College in their estate plans.

During her Holy Cross days, Wertz was a star player on the field hockey team and recognized as the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year in 1994. Wertz broke the Crusaders’ single season record with 19 goals scored, allowing the two-time All-Northeast All Star to finish with 48 career goals. In 2003, she was inducted into the college’s Varsity Club Hall of Fame. Wertz is excited to partner with Director of Athletics Kit Hughes to elevate the athletics program as part of the College’s vision of a transformational student experience outlined in the strategic plan.

In addition to her work at Mass General, Wertz is an ardent supporter of and volunteer for community-based initiatives, inspired in part by the Jesuit, Catholic approach to education she experienced as a student.

“Holy Cross has always been a special place to me. It serves as my true north and my education here prepared me for a life and career that is focused on giving back,” she says.

Wertz is a board member and fundraising chair for the Ipswich YMCA and the rare disease nonprofit CureCMT4J. She served as president of the Ipswich Education Foundation from 2012 to 2017 and has twice run the Boston Marathon as a John Hancock Charity Runner. She will run the Chicago Marathon this coming October.

“I am honored to return to Holy Cross and help President Rougeau, Sean and the entire advancement team. Together, we will build upon the foundation of steadfast support from the Holy Cross community and strengthen the role of philanthropy in realizing an ambitious vision for the college’s future as described in the strategic plan.”

Wertz begins her new role at Holy Cross on May 28.