Experience

CIMA Consulting

• United States
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Strategy Officer

  • Jun 2021 - Present

  Serve as strategic and fundraising counsel for nonprofit leaders in times of organizational launch, growth, stagnancy or transition. Recommend solutions for clients’ internal issues to increase competitiveness for significant funding, and to prepare for expansion. Coach clients in cultivating mutually beneficial relationships with institutional funders. Write myriad solicitation materials. Helped primary client secure more than $1.2M in expansion funding and hire their first development director. Serve on firm's leadership team. Create strategy and structure for new business development helping to secure eight new clients to date. Show less

• Director of Strategy & Growth

  • Oct 2021 - Jan 2022

• Senior Consultant

  • Jun 2021 - Oct 2021



Independent Contractor

• Richmond, VA, Nashville, TN, and Tidewater, VA

• Strategy and Fundraising Consultant

  • 2014 - 2021

  • Secured $700K+ in new revenue for school-based initiatives serving children in high-poverty neighborhoods. Created institutional fundraising process and led internal stakeholders in developing funding proposals. (United Way of South Hampton Roads) • Crafted funding case to advance racial equity for underserved children via public policy advocacy. (Voices for Virginia's Children) • Collaborated with artistic, outreach and development staff to create three successful five-figure federal funding proposals for new projects addressing human rights themes. (Nashville Ballet) • Counseled founding executive directors of a pro-democracy start-up on cultivating, soliciting and stewarding principal gifts. Created prospect list of high-net-worth individuals. Drafted talking points for pitch meetings. Qualified and wrote proposals for six- and seven-figure institutional funding. Created and solicited portfolio of major gift prospects. (Stand Up Republic) • Expanded institutional funding for a start-up serving trauma-impacted communities. Created prospect list of qualified grant opportunities. Counseled founder and board development committee on fundraising strategy and staffing. (Small World Yoga) Show less



Blue Sky Fund

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Director

  • 2019 - 2020

  Transformed the case for funding by deepening the organization’s discourse around inequities addressed by each program, by codifying the model within a unified framework, and by clarifying intended results. Led conversations with funders to cultivate larger institutional grants. Counseled the board in governance best practices including the leadership role of committee chairs. Led conversation about the benefits of recruiting diverse racial and cultural perspective to the board. Advised transition to more sustainable staffing structure in response to covid-19 school closures. Show less



Higher Achievement

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Director, Richmond

  • 2010 - 2013

  Launched new affiliate adapting national model to local funding and programmatic landscape. Inspired community partners and families to believe in promise of future results. Partnered with development team and advisory board to raise $1.5M in individual, corporate and foundation support. Led cultivation and solicitation of new funding relationships and stewarded seven-figure corporate partnership. Created individual giving strategy. Cultivated, solicited and stewarded donor prospects. Recruited a nine-member Advisory Board of new investors and champions. Supervised development and program directors. Led team of six full-time and 18 part-time staff. Served on steering committees of two networks of peer organizations serving vulnerable youth. Show less



Girls For A Change

• United States
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• New Ventures Director and National Development Director

  • 2005 - 2010

  Launched first and second expansion sites in Phoenix and Richmond. Cultivated and solicited new institutional funding relationships and national corporate sponsors. Raised $900K in start-up and expansion funding. Recruited local Advisory Board of female leaders. Secured Governor as special event speaker. Launched first and second expansion sites in Phoenix and Richmond. Cultivated and solicited new institutional funding relationships and national corporate sponsors. Raised $900K in start-up and expansion funding. Recruited local Advisory Board of female leaders. Secured Governor as special event speaker.



Anderson Ranch Arts Center

• Artists and Writers
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Annual Fund Coordinator

  • 2001 - 2003

  Increased number of major gifts (up to $10K) by 40%. Stewarded 175-member National Council of major donors. Increased number of unrestricted gifts by expanding the prospect pool and refining the message. Increased number of major gifts (up to $10K) by 40%. Stewarded 175-member National Council of major donors. Increased number of unrestricted gifts by expanding the prospect pool and refining the message.



Portland Public Schools Foundation

• Portland, Oregon Area

• Director of Development

  • 1999 - 2000

  Partnered with the executive director to raise $1.6 million. Increased number of corporate sponsorships for 800-person special event. Coordinated public and private stakeholders to secure six-figure institutional funding. Partnered with the executive director to raise $1.6 million. Increased number of corporate sponsorships for 800-person special event. Coordinated public and private stakeholders to secure six-figure institutional funding.



Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

• Aspen, Colorado, United States

• General Manager

  • 1997 - 1999



The Aspen Institute/Aspen Meadows

• Aspen, Colorado, United States

• Conference Services Manager

  • 1995 - 1997



Merce Cunningham Dance Company

• New York, New York, United States

• Company Manager

  • 1992 - 1994



National Endowment for the Arts

• United States
• Government Administration
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Administrative Assistant

  • 1991 - 1992