(Fruh-Nel, If You’re Wondering)
Fresnel Strategies takes its name from the lens Augustin-Jean Fresnel designed for lighthouses in the early 19th century. By gathering scattered light into a focused beam, it allowed ships to see a signal from much farther away. It became known as “the invention that saved a million ships.”
The idea stuck.
Fresnel Strategies helps funders and advocates focus their resources and strengths so they can go further.
About Jeff
Jeff Criteser has spent 20 years working across philanthropy, politics, and advocacy.
Before founding Fresnel Strategies, Jeff was a senior leader at the Gill Foundation, where he led OutGiving and advised donors working to advance LGBTQ equality. Today, he works with funders seeking to be catalytic, helping them decide where their resources can make the greatest difference.
Jeff began his career managing political campaigns. Knocking on doors taught him the power of organizing, the importance of listening to people’s stories, and the value of meeting folks where they are. Those lessons still shape how he works.
He lives in Traverse City, Michigan, near the historic Mission Point Lighthouse, which has housed a Fresnel lens since 1870.
Away from work, Jeff enjoys cooking for friends and family. His two young daughters, relentless advocates for choosing pizza, provide a regular test of his dedication to incremental progress.