Experience

Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• • Apr 2020 - Present

• • Apr 2019 - Present

  I seek grants and financial support for Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy, a non-profit charter school serving very low-income students of color in the urban core. 100% of CCPA students qualify for free breakfast and lunch. All seniors graduate and are accepted to college.



Creative Grant Strategies

• President

  • Jun 2017 - Apr 2020

  PRESIDENT AND CEO, CREATIVE GRANT SERVICES 2017-The Present and 2005 – 2013 • Lead clients in building partnerships and writing winning proposals to foundations, major donors, corporations and government agencies through this consulting firm which I founded and operated from 2005 until 2013 and reactivated in 2017. Generated more than $25,000,000, including multiple 7-figure gifts for past and current clients including: International Community Foundation – San Diego, CA State of Wyoming Department of Art, Parks & Cultural Resources Longmont Children’s Council Early Head Start The Palapa School--Todos Santos Mexico Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies – Washington DC Sentinels Disabled Veterans Foundation – San Francisco CA Plains Conservation Center Denver Botanic Gardens Colorado Symphony Orchestra And Others • Educate clients in developing effective and sustainable fundraising programs. • Facilitate strategic planning sessions and retreats to help clients envision and plan their futures. Show less



University of Colorado Advancement

• Director of Development

  • Jan 2015 - Jan 2018

  As Director of Development, I worked with a team of amazing professionals to raise funds educational and cultural programs. I had the privilege of collaborating with thought leaders in their fields to engage the generous support of caring philanthropists who are passionate about education and the arts: • Manage a portfolio of 85 donors to attract major gifts, planned gifts and grants for the CU College of Arts & Sciences and for the College of Music. • Established the first dedicated annual fund and major gift programs for the CU Art Museum, generating more than $800,000 in new income in my first year for Museum operations, collections and special programs. • Manage fundraising and endowment-planning for the Conference on World Affairs, an annual conference of more than 100 presenters which attracts audiences of more than 50,000. Closed two major bequest gifts totaling $160,000, the first major bequests in more than five years. • Write and manage winning proposals and grant applications. Show less



Colorado Music Festival and Center for Musical Arts

• Director of Development

  • 2013 - 2015

  • Increased annual giving from $850,000 to $1,000,000. • Senior leadership team member, with roles in strategic planning, fiscal management, personnel, board development, and other key administrative and management functions. • Collaborated with funders and community partners to enhance the audience experience for Music Festival patrons and to pioneer new services for low-income students in the community music school. • Increased annual giving from $850,000 to $1,000,000. • Senior leadership team member, with roles in strategic planning, fiscal management, personnel, board development, and other key administrative and management functions. • Collaborated with funders and community partners to enhance the audience experience for Music Festival patrons and to pioneer new services for low-income students in the community music school.

• President

  • Feb 2005 - Apr 2013

  • Guided clients in raising funds from foundations, individual donors, government agencies and corporate partners, as described above • Work with clients to identify and respond to untapped funding opportunities. • Helped client organizations raise more than $20,000,000 in grants, major gifts, sponsorships, endowment, grass-roots giving and capital support. • Guided clients in raising funds from foundations, individual donors, government agencies and corporate partners, as described above • Work with clients to identify and respond to untapped funding opportunities. • Helped client organizations raise more than $20,000,000 in grants, major gifts, sponsorships, endowment, grass-roots giving and capital support.



Womens Foundation of Colorado

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations

• Development Director

  • 1999 - 2005

  • Generated more than $2 Million per year through major gifts, capital support, grants and sponsorships for this major foundation serving women and girls. Increased unrestricted giving by more than 25%. • Managed a portfolio of 100 Major Donors. Directly solicited individuals, foundations and corporations. • Coordinated the fundraising contacts of a 38-member board. Developed The Art of the Ask, a training manual to help board, staff and volunteers become effective and confident fundraisers. • As part of the Capital Campaign collaboration with the University of Denver, helped to raise more than $25,000,000 for the construction of the Chambers Center for the Advancement of Women and Girls. Show less



Central City Opera

• United States
• Performing Arts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Development Associate

  • 1995 - 1999

  Generated more than $1.5 Million per year, soliciting major donors, grant makers, corporate sponsors and other supporters to generate income for the annual fund, capital projects, performance sponsorships, education and outreach and other needs. Generated more than $1.5 Million per year, soliciting major donors, grant makers, corporate sponsors and other supporters to generate income for the annual fund, capital projects, performance sponsorships, education and outreach and other needs.



Colorado Children's Chorale

• United States
• Performing Arts

• Director of Development

  • 1990 - 1995

  Responsible for all fundraising, generating more than $5 Million for this professional choral organization. Solicited major donors, foundations, corporations, individuals, and government agencies to generate operating support, program support and special project funding. Developed and managed annual fundraising plan, increasing contributed income by 50% and in-kind support by more than 100% As a member of the staff leadership team, assisted in agency-wide strategic planning, budgeting, board recruiting and other organizational development functions. Show less



Denver Museum of Natural History

• Grant Manager

  • 1989 - 1990

  Solicited government agencies, corporations, and private foundations to raise funds for Museum operations, special exhibits, educational programs, research projects and collections care. Worked with curatorial and education staff to develop goals, objectives, outcome projections, tracking measures and reporting criteria for grant-funded activities. Solicited government agencies, corporations, and private foundations to raise funds for Museum operations, special exhibits, educational programs, research projects and collections care. Worked with curatorial and education staff to develop goals, objectives, outcome projections, tracking measures and reporting criteria for grant-funded activities.



Denver Symphony

• Development Officer

  • 1984 - 1989

  Directed $2 million annual campaign for major symphony orchestra. Responsible for campaign planning and implementation, prospect cultivation and solicitation, and directing four staff members. Managed a portfolio of more than 100 major donors; worked with board members to develop and manage solicitation strategies; performed one-on-one asks. Developed, wrote and managed grants and sponsorships. Oversaw 10 special events produced by volunteer support groups, generating $500,000 per year. Show less