Experience

The Milestone Foundation

• United States
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Director

  • Nov 2021 - Present

  -Lead nonprofit advancing funds to plaintiffs undergoing litigation so they can meet their basic needs without falling prey to predatory lenders -Develop marketing and PR strategies including copywriting compelling blog posts, newsletters, and social media content, creation of informative visuals and infographics, podcast appearances, relationship building, and presenting at conferences -Implement nonprofit best practices around governance, registrations, fundraising and communications, including managing and growing Board of Directors -Responsible for fundraising including grants, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and annual giving programs Show less



University at Buffalo

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Advancement Writer

  • Jun 2019 - Nov 2021

  -Developed philanthropic cases of support for university, schools, various units, and programs such as social innovation and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts as part of the university’s historic Boldly Buffalo campaign, which seeks to raise $1 billion (over 20 cases drafted to date) -Liaised with advancement leadership, faculty and other key partners to discuss new programs and fundraising initiatives, develop strategy and supporting materials that will attract philanthropy -Worked with senior advancement leadership to draft internal and external communications, speeches, talking points and presentations distributed under their signatures -Crafted persuasive, highly personalized proposals for individual donors capable making 6- and 7-figure gifts -Wrote press releases, donor profiles and impact stories for vehicles such as website, social media, magazines and advancement annual report with the aim of stewarding donors and attracting additional support -Partnered with annual giving to draft appeals for a variety of audiences and signatories, including university president (average 20 unique pieces per fiscal year) Show less



Harvard University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Associate Director, University Donor Relations

  • Apr 2016 - Apr 2019

  In addition to associate director responsibilities:-Manage an assistant director and coordinator (thus, manage a team of six employees)-Oversee all University-wide recognition programs, including content development and liaising with Schools for the Report of Giving and strategic analysis and planning of campaign and lifetime giving societies-Provide management and strategic planning role for donor relations-Serve as project manager for high impact stewardship events and gift announcements Show less

• Associate Director, University Donor Relations

  • Feb 2013 - Apr 2016

  -Manage processes and directly supervise team of three writers and one assistant tasked with drafting the president’s ad hoc correspondence and gift acknowledgments (over 3000 unique pieces annually) to ensure accurate, personalized, and timely communication as part of Harvard’s $6.5 billion campaign-Maintain initiative-specific stewardship portfolio of 7- and 8-figure donors, coordinating with multiple groups (faculty, university leadership, communications colleagues, gift officers) to develop and make recommendations for long-term stewardship and recognition plans, drafting comprehensive reports, planning recognition events, and looking for appropriate ways to engage with donors-Contribute to development of annual university-wide report of giving, overseeing donor list, including ensuring accuracy of donor listings and levels and managing permission process, and providing input on content and design-Participate in other donor relations activities, including copy-editing, event support (staffing events, drafting biographies, assisting with leadership briefing documents), keeping abreast of industry trends and incorporating into Harvard’s program as appropriate, etc. Show less



Development Guild/DDI

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

• Fundraising Knowledge and Practice Manager

  • Sep 2011 - Feb 2013

  In addition to concurrent client work, was instrumental in developing and implementing tools and training for Development Guild's fundraising services.-Created internal tools, templates and training programs-Created and managed work scopes and budgets; ensured billable goals and client expectations were met, redesigned work scopes as appropriate-Managed client teams: prioritized tasks/resources to deliver high quality results, oversaw team members and specialists-Wrote and designed persuasive, job-winning proposals and marketing materials Show less

• Fundraising Consultant/ Executive Recruiter

  • Aug 2004 - Sep 2011

  Work including executive search and recruiting, feasibility studies, campaign counsel, fundraising planning and audits, grant writing, prospect research and resident counsel. Significant clients included Cambridge College, Children’s National Medical Center, Fuller Craft Museum, Harvard Medical School, Hofstra University, Samaritans, The World Wide Web Foundation, and Year Up.Fundraising and Planning Counsel-Worked with leadership, faculty, program staff, etc. to write compelling case statements, appeals, acknowledgments, letters of inquiry, and funding proposals (5- and 6-figure asks)-Conducted research and prepared profiles and solicitation strategies for individuals, corporations, and foundations -Provided onsite counsel,including prospect management, event planning and execution, database management, gift processing, grant reporting and stewardship-Analyzed fundraising results and prospect lists to identify areas of opportunity and create strategies to encourage new gifts and increase contributions -Created fundraising plans and assessment reports, policies and procedures manuals, cash flow and return on investment projections, prospect lists, gift tables, organizational charts, job descriptions, pledge forms, etc.-Reviewed systems and databases and made recommendations to streamline processes and allow for easy production of meaningful reports and analytics; researched relationship management systems and facilitate database conversionsExecutive Search Counsel-Assessed opportunity, determined desired candidate traits and skill sets, and designed positions-Determined outreach strategy/pitch-Created recruitment materials:position announcements, ads, org charts, candidate review sheets, etc.-Recruited senior development professionals on behalf of clients through outreach calls, resume review, and face to face interviews -Facilitated candidate interviews with management, staff and Board-Conducted reference checks and assisted with negotiations Show less



Governor's Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

• Briefing Coordinator

  • 2003 - 2004

  -Prepared daily briefing materials for Governor and Lieutenant Governor -Interfaced with high profile individuals from government, corporate and non-profit sectors, as well as close interaction with members of the Governor's Executive Staff, Press, and Advance Affairs Offices -Maintained discretion with confidential and classified information -Prepared daily briefing materials for Governor and Lieutenant Governor -Interfaced with high profile individuals from government, corporate and non-profit sectors, as well as close interaction with members of the Governor's Executive Staff, Press, and Advance Affairs Offices -Maintained discretion with confidential and classified information



Brigham and Women's Hospital

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Assistant

  • Feb 2002 - Aug 2003

  -Edited and submitted manuscripts for publication, prepared correspondence and maintained extensive curriculum vitae and publications list -Integral member in planning and implementing annual meeting for the Thorn Center for Endocrine Disorders Advisory Board including researching locations, maintaining contact with board members, and preparing PowerPoint presentations -Managed calendar and travel arrangements for world renown endocrinologist and former division chief -Member of the Association of Multicultural Members of Partners (AAMP) Committee, planning social and educational events, and writing and editing program materials Show less