Experience

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  We Care Solar

  • Berkeley, California, United States

  • Director of Development

    • 2023 - Present
    • Berkeley, California, United States

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  Himalayan Cataract Project

  • Waterbury, Vermont, United States

  • Director of Development

    • 2019 - 2023
    • Waterbury, Vermont, United States

    Brought in to build a more sophisticated fundraising infrastructure and raise $12M to $26M annually for an international organization that restores sight to the blind in under-resourced countries. Oversaw moves management, acquisition and retention strategies, managed major gifts, government and foundation grants, legacy giving and corporate giving programs. Managed 7 direct and 2 indirect staff. Worked directly with the CEO and Board.• Led the strategy and team that gained 4,600 new donors and exceeded fundraising goal by 191% in 2020; exceeded individual gifts and grants goal by 177% in 2021; raised $15M in bequests in 2022.• Generated $2.2M in additional revenue in 2020 by implementing fundraising campaign in conjunction with New York Times • Cultivated and stewarded a portfolio of 150+ major donors with a giving range of $10K to $10M+• Managed a $3M capital campaign in partnership with the Genius 100 Foundation to provide 125,000 sight restoring surgeries – negotiated the campaign contract and set up the fundraising and joint marketing strategies• Stewarded major corporate relationships including Johnson & Johnson Vision (with a 125% increase in giving over last year), Abode of Snow and Amico Medical Supplies • Created and grew the organization’s first Legacy Giving program, which generated $15M in 2022

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  Vermont Studio Center

  • Johnson, Vermont

  • Director Of Development

    • 2017 - 2019
    • Johnson, Vermont

    Directed and improved the development department and overall fundraising strategy for the largest international artist residency program in the US. Designed and executed short and long-term fundraising plans, raised funding to maintain and upgrade a campus of 32 historic buildings, improved messaging and branding, and maintained a $500K annual grants program. • Directed the fundraising team that raised $4.2M annual operating, programs, fellowship and capital support • Stewarded a portfolio of 120+ major donors and prospects with giving capacity over $1M, and supported the President in the management of his major gifts portfolio• Restructured organization's fundraising model, boosting major gifts by 15.5% in the first 3 months of implementation • Increased grant capital project income by 40% during tenure by writing and receiving 2 successful grants that funded restoration of two historic buildings• Facilitated 40 fellowships for artists with spinal cord injuries over 6 organizations throughout U.S. and created 35 new fellowships for underrepresented populations to increase representation, access, and equity of residency program • Led the Board Development Committee through development and delivery of new 3-year strategic plan, its first in 10 years• Designed and implemented the organization's 35th Anniversary Campaign – includes creating the Corporate Sponsorship Program and the successful 35 in 35 Campaign that raised 35 new fellowships for artists and writers• Re-ignited the organization's lapsed Planned Giving Program in support of an $8M endowment fund

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  S.K. Judd Consulting

  • Burlington, Vermont Area

  • Executive Director / Principal Consultant

    • 2010 - 2019
    • Burlington, Vermont Area

    Founded and managed a boutique consultancy providing capacity-building strategies, project development, event planning, fundraising and grant writing services to domestic and international non-profit organizations, start-ups, and political campaigns. Managed project and grant budgets of $10K - $1M. Highlights include:• Led the successful 501(c)(3) registration for 3 international non-profits – appointed board members, set salaries, defined scope of work, facilitated the application process, and developed mission statements in collaboration with founders• Through the Puzey Foundation, advanced the founding of a solar-powered water purifier plant in Kenya that provides employment to aged-out orphans and clean water to hundreds of people • Assisted Polus Center for Social and Economic Development to fund prosthetics clinic for children in Iraq by designing and executing fundraising plan• Aided Vermont's colleges and law school in creating Vermont Higher Education Food Systems Consortium of 6 higher education institutions implementing a collaborative food systems education program • Led multiple successful large fundraising events, generating $5K-$100K per event – includes high-profile events for US Senator Bernie Sanders and Michelle Obama

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  Rice Memorial High School

  • South Burlington, Vermont

  • Director Of Development

    • 2015 - 2017
    • South Burlington, Vermont

    Took over management and growth of the Annual Fund, Capital Campaign, major gifts, planned giving, grants, scholarship programs, social media engagement, and donor and alumni events for this 100-year-old independent private school. Managed a philanthropic portfolio of 170+ individual donors.• Revived over-budget $8M capital campaign for school improvements and guided favorable completion by closing out remaining pledges and renegotiating project funding to position next year’s 100th-anniversary capital project for success• Facilitated a 21% boost in annual fund revenue by negotiating a bridge gift from the Angell Foundation, tempering the potentially serious loss of a major donor and enabling time to locate a new donor• Coordinated alumni and parent volunteer networks to execute fundraising, alumni, and cultivation events as part of the campaign celebrating the school’s 100th anniversary • Coordinated with the Catholic Diocese to establish the school's first Legacy Giving programs

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  Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

  • Vergennes, Vermont

  • Director Of Development

    • 2012 - 2015
    • Vergennes, Vermont

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  Vermont Commons School

  • Director Of Development

    • 2010 - 2012

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  Vermont Public Interest Research Group

  • Director Of Development

    • 2007 - 2010

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  Vermont Forum On Sprawl

  • Vice President

    • 2003 - 2007