ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) today announces that Fawn Bernhardt-Norvell has been promoted to the position of vice president of advancement. In this role, she will have responsibility for the organization-wide strategy for sustaining and expanding revenue and leading CVT’s talented team of fundraisers, grant writers and events professionals.

Fawn Bernhardt-Norvell has thirty years of non-profit and political fundraising experience. Prior to this promotion, she served in the role of CVT development director for nearly a decade, leading a team that more than doubled CVT’s fundraising revenue during that time.

“I am excited to take this next step with the Center for Victims of Torture; our work is needed now more than ever, and I look forward to continuing a role in reaching as many survivors of torture as possible” said Bernhardt-Norvell. “As CVT develops new global initiatives for healing, resilience, advocacy and justice for survivors, it is my privilege to raise the resources we need to support survivors as they build new lives.”

Bernhardt-Norvell’s contributions to CVT span two separate periods of employment here: In 1996 she was hired as CVT development assistant and worked on fundraising and advocacy initiatives in the early growth stages of the organization. She left in 2001 to raise money on a U.S. senate campaign and then worked as development director at three different Minnesota based non-profit organizations.

But she said she always wanted to return to CVT. “I had the opportunity early in my career to work with survivors of torture at CVT, and I began to understand what it takes to seek healing and rebuild your life after severe trauma. I never forgot the words of those clients,” she said. Bernhardt-Norvell rejoined CVT in 2014 as development director.

She said her first priority in the new role will be to focus on growth areas for programs for survivors internationally and within the United States. She said, “The fundraising team at CVT is truly exceptional; it is my honor to lead them in this next phase of innovation and accomplishment at CVT.”

“It is my great pleasure to welcome Fawn into this senior leadership role for us at CVT,” said Dr. Simon Adams, CVT president and CEO. “She brings extensive experience in fundraising and knowledge of the expanse of our global work, as well as a deep commitment to our clients and the challenging work of all our colleagues. I congratulate her on this next step for CVT.”

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The Center for Victims of Torture is a nonprofit organization with offices in Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Uganda, United States and additional project sites around the world. Visit www.cvt.org