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Director of Donor Engagement
Baltimore, MD
Oct 2015 - Present (8 years 7 months)
- Lead the advancement event and donor relations efforts of the University's Office of Advancement.
- Hire and supervise two, full-time staff members and a team of student workers.
- Play a leadership role in ensuring that named and endowed funds and scholarships are awarded in compliance with donor intent and that donors are stewarded appropriately and informed regularly as to the impact of their philanthropic gifts.
- Review all draft agreements to ensure each is worded appropriately and legally.
- Implement the following initiatives and processes: gift receipting and acknowledgment; impact and endowment reporting; donor recognition and named gift opportunities; pledge reminders; tribute gift notification; and donor giving societies.
- Lead creative stewardship efforts, many of which resulted in five and six-figure contributions.
- Oversee and manage two department operating budgets and many fundraising event budgets totaling more than $450,000.
- Oversee planning of advancement events, including vendor contract negotiations; budget management; fundraising efforts; invitation strategy and deployment; speaker and run-of-show programming; staffing; troubleshooting; creative and marketing materials; guest experience; and menus and day-of logistics. Types of events include high-end galas; athletics hospitality; campaign events; lectures/symposiums; donor recognition events; capital project events; salon dinners and receptions; charity golf tournaments.
- Completed an audit of all named and endowed scholarships and fellowships, which resulted in the discovery and subsequent utilization of over $3.5 million in unused student aid.
- Drafted a comprehensive named and endowed fund policy, which was later adopted and called into use when the actions of the namesake of a residence hall were called into question.
- Managed the event and engagement strategy for the Men’s Lacrosse Program’s appearance in the 2016 NCAA D1 Men’s Lacrosse Championship in Philadelphia, PA.
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Associate Director, Development & Alumni Relations Communications
Newark, DE
Nov 2013 - Oct 2014 (11 months)
• Oversaw the University’s two-tiered gift acknowledgment process at both the central and college/unit levels.
• Successfully completed a comprehensive redesign of the University’s existing gift acknowledgment process to facilitate appropriate and efficient acknowledgment of donor contributions.
• Produced highly customized acknowledgment letters for the University’s President and the Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations. Approximately 4,000 unique letters produced during tenure.
• Drafted and prepared much of the University President’s hand-signed correspondence, including condolence letters, congratulations letters, invitations, and event follow-up letters.
• Oversaw and successfully revamped the University’s tribute gift notification process, ensuring accurate and timely notification of “in memory of” and “in honor of” gifts. Trained and mentored a subordinate staff member who was later able to take full ownership of the process.
• Edited drafts of all new gift agreements and letters of intent to ensure grammatical accuracy, clarity, and awarding/stewardship feasibility.
• Produced press releases, gift announcements, donor profiles, post-event articles, and web content in line with departmental polices.
• Managed the creative and design needs of the department including the design and copy for: presidential event invitations, annual stewardship reports, the University’s donor honor roll, and more. Occasionally filled the roles of both graphic designer and project manager; but, more often worked as project creative lead in collaboration with staff and freelance designers.
• Recruited, hired, trained, and supervised several interns and student workers and (as Associate Director) a full time staff writer.
• Provided staff support at presidential events (approximately 50 events/year).
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Assistant Director, Development Communications
Newark, DE
Nov 2011 - Nov 2013 (2 years)
• Oversaw the University’s two-tiered gift acknowledgment process at both the central and college/unit levels including: training staff.
• Successfully completed a comprehensive redesign of the University’s existing gift acknowledgment process to facilitate appropriate and efficient acknowledgment of donor contributions.
• Produced highly customized acknowledgment letters that were mailed under the signature of the University President or the Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations. Approximately 4,000 unique letters were produced during my tenure.
• Drafted and prepared nearly all of the University President’s hand-signed correspondence, including condolence letters, congratulations letters, invitations, and event follow-up.
• Oversaw and successfully revamped the University’s tribute gift notification process, ensuring accurate and timely notification of “in memory of” or “in honor of” gifts. Trained and mentored a subordinate staff member who was later able to take full ownership of the process.
• Edited drafts of all new gift agreements and letters of intent to ensure grammatical accuracy, clarity, and feasibility of the proposed fund.
• Produced press releases, gift announcements, donor profiles, post-event articles, and web content in line with departmental polices.
• Managed the creative and design needs of the department (occasionally alone; often in collaboration with a staff or freelance designer) including the design and copy for: presidential event invitations, annual stewardship reports, the University’s donor honor roll, and more.
• Recruited, hired, trained, and supervised several interns and student workers.
• Provided staff support at presidential events (approximately 50/year).
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Assistant Director of Donor Relations
College Park, MD
Jun 2009 - Oct 2011 (2 years 4 months)
• Oversaw the Presidential and Vice Presidential gift acknowledgment letter process for all gifts to the University in excess of $5,000—approximately 1,300 letters per fiscal year.
• One of two people on campus tasked with drafting the Memorandums of Understanding used to establish endowed funds at the University.
• Worked in conjunction with Director of Donor Relations to prepare and distribute annual endowment reports to the donors and stewards of the University’s over 800 endowed funds.
• Managed Celebration of Scholarships web site, including approval of all recipient profiles and photographs and replying to website feedback.
• In fiscal year 2011, compiled information to draft an Office of Donor Relations guidebook containing detailed descriptions of all procedures and tasks performed by staff members.
• Helped plan and oversee several annual events including the Celebration of Scholarships reception and the Maryland Day President’s Hospitality Suite.
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Development and Marketing Associate
The Shoshana S. Cardin School
Baltimore, MD
Jan 2006 - Feb 2009 (3 years 1 month)
• Researched and wrote five grant proposals, of which four were approved, resulting in over $80,000 of new funding.
• Oversaw the most profitable annual fund campaign in the school’s history, which resulted in a 30% increase in contributions over the previous campaign.
• Managed and implemented a complete redesign of the school’s Web site.
• Coordinated media buys and the development of advertising and collateral materials.
• Prepared e-newsletters, press releases, and communications to donors and foundations.
• Maintained database and fundraising records to support yearly nonprofit independent audit.
• Planned successful events, such as the Annual Grandparents’ Day.
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Executive Assistant to Executive Vice President, Marketing & New Media
Washington, DC
Aug 2004 - Dec 2005 (1 year 4 months)
• Coordinated four departmental budgets with a combined total in excess of $25 million.
• Coded and tracked invoices, completed monthly budget reconciliations, and submitted requests for expense authorizations.
• Revamped and oversaw the network’s premium products program, including the creation and management of a Web store, training end users, and tracking inventory.
• Planned Chicago Upfront event for 200 potential advertisers and members of the media.
• Provided administrative support, such as managing executives’ schedules, producing advanced PowerPoint presentations, coordinating travel arrangements, and completing expense reports.
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Marketing Associate
Baltimore, MD
Apr 2003 - Aug 2003 (4 months)
• Researched and developed new business proposals.
• Assisted in the creation of marketing materials.
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Production Assistant - Discovery Channel
Bethesda, MD
Aug 2001 - Dec 2002 (1 year 4 months)
• Assisted with pre-production, production, and post-production of such programs as the long-running series The New Detectives and the Emmy Award-winning special Walking with Prehistoric Beasts.
• Researched program topics, disseminated production information, and maintained production records.
• Reviewed scripts, contracts, treatments, and rough and fine cuts.
• Assisted with editorial decisions, editing sessions, and on-location shooting.
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Executive Assistant to Head of Network - Discovery Health Channel
Bethesda, MD
May 1999 - Aug 2001 (2 years 3 months)
• Disseminated and tracked all Discovery Health executed production contracts.
• Coordinated departmental budget in excess of $1 million.
• Acted as primary liaison between the network and the Viewer Relations Department.
• Researched and investigated all factual discrepancies to ensure that only the most current and up-to-date health information was presented on-air and online.
• Provided administrative support, such as managing executives’ schedules, producing advanced PowerPoint presentations, coordinating travel arrangements, and planning meetings.
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Marketing Assistant
New Castle, DE
Dec 1997 - Apr 1999 (1 year 4 months)
• Assisted with writing and developing new business proposals.
• Coordinated press releases, case histories, public relations, and advertising.
• Customized and maintained the firm’s marketing database.