Nat Follansbee grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, on the campus of Phillips Academy, where his father, Harper Follansbee, was a teacher, coach, and house parent. After attending The Pike School and Governor Dummer Academy, Nat went on to Hamilton College, where he captained the soccer and lacrosse teams and graduated in 1973. After one year as a Near East Fellow – teaching English at Athens College, a private school in Greece – he returned to New England to join the faculty at The Loomis Chaffee School, where he taught English, coached, and ran a dormitory before becoming director of development in 1986. After eleven years in that role, during which time the school raised over $50 million in total voluntary support, Nat became associate headmaster for external affairs, continuing his focus on governance, strategic planning, development, alumni affairs, communications, and admissions. In June 2003, Nat joined Browning Associates as president.

A CASE Steuben Apple recipient, Nat has been a frequent presenter at CASE/NAIS Conferences, CASE District 1 Conferences, and the CASE Summer Institute for Independent School Advancement Officers. He has served on several planning committees for CASE Conferences and, for the last several Julys, as a faculty member of the CASE Summer Institute, chairing that conference in 2003.