Director of Content Strategy, Policy & Leadership Dept.

• Jan 2021 - Present

Associate Director of Content Strategy, Policy & Leadership Dept.

• Sep 2017 - Jan 2021

Responsible for leading the creation and implementation of the communications strategy for Erikson’s policy and leadership department programs, which are designed to inform effective and responsive early childhood policy and systems change. • Message framing for complex social issues affecting child development• Writing content, editing and providing editorial direction for multiple platforms: social media, email marketing, videos, websites, blog posts, and printed materials• Working with the institutional advancement team to identify potential funding sources, proposal writing and grant reporting• Managing project timelines and working with freelance photographers, web developers, videographers and graphic designers to provide project direction and supervision Show less

Assistant Director of Development

• Oct 2014 - Aug 2017

Primary responsibilities included stewarding individual donors and group funds, assisting them with the management of their donor-advised funds, and leading the annual fundraising campaign, raising approx. $500,000 each year to grant to nonprofits providing basic human needs services. Additional accomplishments included: • Developing a pilot grant program offering professional development grants for fundraisers working for nonprofit organizations• Leading the Giving in Chicago research project, a comprehensive study on charitable giving in the Chicago region to aid fundraisers in developing their strategies• Created content for various donor communication outlets including appeals, emails and newsletters Show less

Manager of Development

• Dec 2008 - Oct 2014

Researched prospective donors and analyzed giving potential, and managed the prospect pipeline for the We Are Chicago campaign that yielded $1.65 billion in estate gifts. Additional responsibilities included: • Stewarding individual donors, assisting with management of their donor-advised funds• Writing grant proposals and final reports• Managing data integrity processes and reporting using Salesforce• Establishing donor gift acknowledgment process

Fellow-Arts & Culture Management Fellowship at The Chicago Community Trust

• Jun 2007 - Dec 2008

Participated in paid fellowship program, working on focused projects for The School of the Art Institute, Chicago Children's Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, Shedd Aquarium and Chicago Community Trust. Project undertakings included: • Revising donor communications plan• Managing end-of-year donor reports• Grant writing• Prospect research• Reviewing grant proposals for arts education and making recommendations for approval

Communications Specialist

• Nov 2004 - May 2007

• Researched, conducted interviews and wrote articles for organization’s Forum magazine, various newsletters, website, Intranet and other publications • Wrote press releases and pitched stories to media • Coordinated placement of public service announcements and ads in field-related publications Lead exhibit committee to represent organization at conferences • Researched, conducted interviews and wrote articles for organization’s Forum magazine, various newsletters, website, Intranet and other publications • Wrote press releases and pitched stories to media • Coordinated placement of public service announcements and ads in field-related publications Lead exhibit committee to represent organization at conferences

Public Relations Manager

• Aug 1998 - Nov 2004

Responsible for the production of small to large-scale special events, including the Chicago Latino Film Festival. • Wrote press releases, pitched stories to media and coordinated interviews • Wrote copy for all marketing materials and online content, including some design work • Executed event design concepts and logistics • Supervised work with contractors for graphic design and website development • Supervised event staff, and trained and scheduled more than 100 volunteers Show less