Fund Raisers’ Group to Lose Its Chief

Patricia F. Lewis, president of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, has announced her resignation after heading the society for seven years.

Ms. Lewis is credited with keeping the association on a steady course through a period of rapid growth. During her tenure, the group’s membership grew from 12,000 to nearly 19,500, and its budget nearly tripled, from less than $2.5-million to $6.5-million.

Ms. Lewis, who will remain as president until March 31, said last week that she had accepted no other job and wanted time off to consider future career plans. A committee of board members and N.S.F.R.E. members has begun a search for her replacement, assisted by Korn-Ferry, an executive-search firm based in New York.