The New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome (NJCTS) is proud to announce that Executive Director Hilary Kruchowy has been named the recipient of the Robert J. Smythe Professional Fundraiser of the Year Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) New Jersey Chapter. The honor was presented at AFP NJ’s Annual Excellence in Philanthropy Awards on June 9.
Kruchowy has been a member of AFP New Jersey for 31 years, serving in roles ranging from board leadership to conference co-chair to co-chair of the Excellence in Philanthropy Awards program itself — under her leadership, the awards program achieved record-breaking fundraising results.
A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Kruchowy’s career has spanned institutions across New Jersey, from the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University to the Adult Day Center of Somerset County, where she achieved a 100% increase in annual giving and a 65% increase in donors. She joined NJCTS as the Director of Development in 2022 and was appointed Executive Director in 2024, where she leads the statewide nonprofit’s advocacy, education, and support programming for individuals and families affected by Tourette syndrome.
“This recognition reflects everything Hilary brings to this work — discipline, curiosity, and a genuine investment in the people and communities around her,” said Andrew Hendry, Board Chair of NJCTS. “We are proud to have her leading our organization.”
Peers who nominated Kruchowy described her as someone who “looks for the zest in life” — a quality evident in both her professional tenure and her ongoing commitment to learning and growth within the fundraising profession.
AFP New Jersey’s Excellence in Philanthropy Awards recognize outstanding contributions to philanthropy across the state.