Experience

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  The National Math and Science Initiative

  • Houston, Texas Area

  • Director, Development, Growth, Corporate Partnerships

    • Feb 2019 - Aug 2020
    • Houston, Texas Area

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  Reasoning Mind

  • Houston, Texas Area

  • Vice President Of Development

    • May 2017 - Aug 2018
    • Houston, Texas Area

    *Acquired by a for-profit company in July 2018The mission of Reasoning Mind is to provide a first-rate math education for every child. We provide blended learning math programs to students in grades pre-k through eighth grade and professional development for teachers, increasing both math content knowledge and pedagogy. Responsibilities: • Serve on Executive Leadership Team, making key decisions for national organization • Key spokesperson for the organization • Supervise team of five, including a National Development Manager, Senior Development Associate and Regional Executive Directors• Manage all aspects of fund development and external affairs for the organization• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals, corporations and foundations for contribution to the organizations’ $12 million annual budget• Grant reporting and grant writing• Bring together schools/districts and philanthropic partners to implement our program in schools • Build collaborative relationships with other non-profits and government agencies to help broaden our reach and maximize our collective impact in the communities we serve- including regional STEM networks, chambers of commerce, rotary and other civic groups, education collaboratives, after school programs and universities • Input donor communications via Salesforce • Work collaboratively with the board of directors

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  Partners in School Innovation

  • San Francisco Bay Area

  • Chief Advancement Officer

    • Jul 2015 - Jun 2017
    • San Francisco Bay Area

    The mission of Partners in School Innovation (Partners) is to transform teaching and learning in the lowest-performing public schools so that every student, regardless of background, thrives.Reporting directly to and working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, I design and drive advancement efforts to meet annual operating revenue goals.Responsibilities• Serve on Executive Leadership Team, making key decisions for the organization• Supervise team of four including a Director of Marketing and Communications, Advancement Manager, Development Manager and Development Associate • Manage all aspects of fund development, marketing and communications and external affairs • Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward individuals, corporations and foundations for contribution to the organization’s $6 million annual budget• Grant reporting and grant writing • Build collaborative relationships with other non-profits and government agencies to help broaden our reach and maximize our collective impact in the communities we serveAccomplishments• Successfully closed foundation and corporate gifts ranging from $5,000-$550,000 • Successfully closed major gifts from individuals ranging from $500-$25,000• Member of leadership team that developed and implemented a national scale plan• Structured fundraising capabilities including the use of Salesforce, pipeline reporting and moves management• Doubled the number of grant prospects in the course of one year • Developed and executed on three- year advancement plan• Developed and executed on new national scale funding plan• Maintained working knowledge of field trends and significant developments in education• Worked collaboratively with PSI’s CEO and Regional Executive Directors to close blended deals that included earned revenue and philanthropy • Oversaw the redesign of the agency’s website• Oversaw the redesign of the agency’s messaging and branding

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  Canine Companions for Independence

  • San Francisco Bay Area

  • Director of Individual Giving

    • Sep 2014 - Jul 2015
    • San Francisco Bay Area

    Canine Companions for Indepenence is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. Responsibilities • Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward individuals for contribution to the organization’s $22 million annual budget. • Manage all philanthropic relationships in the Northwest Region, including Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Alaska. Accomplishments • Successfully closed major gifts • Increased contributions from various supporters across the region • Increased individual giving in the region • Coordinated donor appreciation events throughout the West Coast• Managed large portfolio of high wealth individuals

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  MIND Research Institute

  • San Francisco Bay Area/Los Angeles

  • Philanthropic Partnerships Manager, West/Senior Development Officer/Major Gifts Officer

    • Jan 2012 - Jul 2014
    • San Francisco Bay Area/Los Angeles

    MIND Research Institute's mission is to change math education in America. Responsibilities• Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors- individuals, corporations and foundations for contribution to the organization’s $25 million annual budget• Manage all philanthropic relationships in the seven Western states • Build collaborative relationships with other non-profits and government agencies to help broaden our reach and maximize our collective impact in the communities we serve- including regional STEM networks, chambers of commerce, rotary and other civic groups, education collaboratives, after school programs and universities Accomplishments • Personally raised millions of dollars for the organization, consistently meeting or exceeding goals• Grew existing donor gifts by two, three and even ten times their most recent gift amount• Increased donor gifts from a local to national focus • Co-created unique fundraising model to impact both philanthropic support and earned revenue for the organization and scaled the model nationally• Key spokesperson for the organization about our mission and work in math education, professional development for teachers, and also about STEM education in general • Closed large gifts ranging from $5,000 to $500,000• Salvaged relationships with major donors who had stopped giving to the organization• Stewarded many key corporate and foundation relationships including Boeing, Verizon, Cisco, Rose Hills Foundation, Keck Foundation and DIRECTV • Presented to the Business Roundtable with the CEO and as a result, our key program, ST Math was selected by both the Business Roundtable and Change the Equation as one of the five most effective and highly scalable STEM programs in the country. These initiatives will lead to millions of dollars in philanthropic support to the organization over the next five years.

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  I Have a Dream" Foundation

  • Los Angeles, California

  • Executive Director

    • Oct 2010 - Oct 2011
    • Los Angeles, California

    As the Executive Director of the I Have a Dream Foundation I supported the dream of hundreds of students to attend college. Most of these students were first generation and they needed the support and resources necessary to help pave their pathway to success. Responsibilities • Manage day to day operations of an organization with a $1.3 million annual budget and staff of fourteen.• Build collaborative relationships with local organizations. Partners include: Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, LMU, USC, Young Storytellers Foundation, FBI, The Story Project, Jr. Achievement, and The Electric Company• Secure private gifts and grants for the organization, with an emphasis on contributions from foundations and individuals• Develop and cultivate relationships with foundation program officers• Recruit, hire, appoint, evaluate and terminate staff and handle all human resource issues • Coordinate public relations activities including media, civic, and community involvementAccomplishments • Increased grant revenue by 90% and increased individual contributions• Successfully led the board through a process to improve the program model to maximize results• Under my leadership, the organization selected a new program site for 2012, a process that had been undecided for a number of years• Developed, directed and evaluated organization’s program goals and ensured goals were achieved • Developed and managed program and agency budgets• Partnered with the board of directors to develop a strategic plan for the organization and engaged board in fundraising• Organized annual Gospel Brunch fundraiser resulting in approximately $260,000 of revenue for the organization, an increase from previous years. Worked successfully with celebrities and their agents to participate in the event and leveraged media coverage both before and after the event• Developed and executed fundraising plan and major donor cultivation and solicitation plan and achieved fundraising goals

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  Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center

  • Executive Director

    • Jul 2005 - Nov 2010

    As the Executive Director of the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center, I led the effort to support students both after school and during the summer in a safe and loving environment while also providing the academic and life skills support they needed to be successful in life. Responsibilities • Manage the day to day operations of an organization with an $800,000 annual budget and staff of twelve• Secure private gifts and grants for the organization, with an emphasis on contributions from foundations and individuals• Manage a government grant from the City of Los Angeles• Recruit, hire, appoint, evaluate and terminate staff and handle all human resource issues• Coordinate public relations activities including media, civic, and community involvementAccomplishments • Increased agency revenue from $200,000 to nearly $1 million• Increased number of students served from 50 to more than 500• Developed, directed and evaluated organization’s program goals and ensured goals were achieved• Developed and managed program and agency budgets• Successfully managed the organization through a recession without reducing services to clients• Improved organizational culture including teambuilding activities, employee satisfaction surveys, increased benefits for employees, employee recognition programs and implemented 360 reviews to include supervisors and peer- to peer review• Partnered with the board of directors to develop strategic goals for the organization and engaged the board in fundraising

  • Associate Director

    • Oct 2007 - Jan 2009

    • Developed, directed and evaluated organization’s program goals and ensured goals were achieved.• Supervised all program managers, clerical/support staff and accounting clerk.• Assisted Executive Director in recruiting, hiring, appointing, evaluating and terminating staff.• Developed and managed program budgets.

  • Director of Development

    • Jul 2005 - Oct 2007

    • Development of case statement and development plan.• Development of donor database and relationships with prospects.• Organized and implemented fundraising events including an annual Auction/Dinner and Golf Tournament resulting in a 118% increase in event revenue.• Wrote and produced annual solicitations, grants, and agency newsletter.• Coordinated a capital campaign to purchase an additional building.

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  Intercommunity Child Guidance Center (now The Whole Child)

  • Whittier, California

  • Development Manager

    • Dec 2002 - Jul 2005
    • Whittier, California

    Increased private funding from 1% to 7% of organization's 3.5 million annual budget, in two years. Worked with legislators on a city, county, state and federal level on pending legislation that affects organizations in Los Angeles and to secure government funding for the organization.Responsible for securing private gifts and grants for the organization, with an emphasis on contributions from foundations and individuals- secured a $1.3 million gift from First 5. Development of donor database and relationships with prospects; tripled the number of individual donors.Organized Annual Brunch Auction and Golf Tournament resulting in an increase of event revenueWorked as part of management team that managed the daily operations of the organization.

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  Various Political Organizations and candidates

  • Washington and Nevada

  • Political Consultant, Campaign Staff, Executive Director and State Party Political Director

    • Jun 1992 - Nov 2002
    • Washington and Nevada

    Managed political organizations at the county and state level. Duties included: managing staff, fundraising, developing and cultivating relationships with elected officials and community leaders and training candidates. Managed political campaigns at the local, state and national level. Duties included: fundraising through events, PAC, individual and corporate contributions, developing policy statements and speeches, managing staff and developing and cultivating relationships with elected officials, and community leaders.