Professional Experience
About me
I’m a mission-driven leader who bridges strategy, storytelling, and community to drive meaningful impact. With over a decade of experience in donor engagement, campaign execution, and strategic philanthropy, I have a proven record of securing major funding, leading high-performing teams, and designing innovative initiatives. Known for bringing both heart and strategy to my work, I’m a kind, creative, and inclusive leader who makes others feel seen and supported. My approach emphasizes listening, data-informed insight, and genuine collaboration—balancing compassion with clarity and results. I thrive at the intersection of purpose, people, and problem-solving, especially when building community, tackling new challenges, and turning bold ideas into lasting impact.
SENIOR Manager, Advancement
Climate Reality Project| Hybrid, headquarters in Washington, DC | Aug 2023 — Mar 2025
Managed and grew a national portfolio of major donors and family foundations giving $5K–$100K, developing and executing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that increased overall revenue to support an annual $20M+ organizational budget.
Partnered with the Vice President of Advancement and CEO to design and implement high-level fundraising events and institutional foundation strategies.
Supervised and coached two direct reports, overseeing mid-level giving, operations, and prospect research to strengthen the donor pipeline and departmental effectiveness.
Directed the organization’s prospect research strategy, ensuring a steady flow of qualified leads and data-driven portfolio management using Salesforce CRM and research tools.
Advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion in fundraising by identifying opportunities to diversify funding partners and promote equitable donor engagement practices.
Key Achievements
Partnered with the CEO and Board of Directors to launch new strategies to engage first-time high-capacity donors, leading to additional five- and six-figure gifts in year one.
Oversaw the development of a new mid-level giving program, driving increased revenue from four- to five- figure donors and building a strong pipeline into the major gifts program.
Developed a new revenue tracking and forecasting tool, providing monthly numbers to the Vice President of Advancement and contributing to strategic planning and reporting to executive leadership.
SENIOR DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT
News Literacy Project| Remote, headquarters in Washington, DC | 2019 – 2023
Senior member of a four-person Development team; promoted twice in three years to a senior management position; took on additional responsibilities during two colleagues’ parental leave.
Design and execute individual giving strategies, including donor acquisition and stewardship, with a focus on increased engagement to meet the organization’s growing budget of $8.1M.
Managed a portfolio of 200+ major donors with gift capacity between $1,000 and $100,000.
Developed and managed execution of all fundraising campaigns, events, and annual fund program.
Collaborated across departments to create messaging, collateral, impact reports and digital campaigns.
Oversaw prospect research and strategies to identify, prioritize, cultivate, solicit, and steward funders and assisted the CEO with their targeted, high-capacity portfolio.
Created and managed the Development team’s budget.
Managed one direct report: Manager, Donor Engagement
Key Achievements
In first year, launched the Visionary Circle, a tiered giving society to develop and steward a pipeline of mid-level and major donors. Helped to raise $150,000 from Board and Leadership Council to serve as the campaign launch matching gift and exceeded the match goal from founding Visionary Circle members, raising over $300,000 in six months.
Secured five- and six-figure gifts, from new and existing donors, tripling individual revenue and number of supporters in three years; recently exceeded a $500,000 matching challenge year-end campaign goal.
Proposed, designed, and secured funding for two direct-response public awareness campaigns: a COVID-19 Misinformation campaign and a 2020 Election Misinformation campaign, reaching over 48 million people nationwide with in-kind TV, radio, digital and print space valued at nearly $2M.
DIRECTOR, ANNUAL GIVING
Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast | Houston, TX | 2016–2019
Developed successful strategies to reach fundraising goal of $2 million – $1 million in special event revenue and $1 million from eight distinct annual fund revenue streams.
Managed a portfolio of 25,000 annual fund donors and 50 major event donors.
Created strategies and managed annual events, including an annual luncheon and quarterly stewardship “Lunch and Learns” featuring the CEO. Identified high-capacity donors to move to a major donor pipeline.
Problem-solved process integration between national and affiliate database platforms.
Managed one direct report: Manager, Donor Stewardship
Key Achievements
Planned and executed the organization’s first million-dollar luncheon, with a 30-person event committee and over 2,200 attendees. Helped to secure a $100,000 luncheon gift.
Built an inaugural Stewardship program and processes for the entire donor engagement lifecycle.
SENIOR MANAGER, VOLUNTEER SERVICES AND DIRECTOR, CAMP HOPE
AIDS Foundation Houston | Houston, TX | 2014–2016
Cultivated and organized community stakeholders, donors and event chairs with high-touch engagement.
Assessed agency-wide program needs; Recruited and trained 1,400+ corporate and community volunteers.
Planned and executed all annual organization fundraising and community events.
Key Achievements
Managed over 500 volunteers for AIDS Walk, Dining Out for Life, Pride Houston and World AIDS Day.
Planned and directed Camp Hope, a week-long camp for HIV positive children. Led a 12-month multidisciplinary planning committee.
COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH VOLUNTEER, JUSTICE AND WOMEN (JAW)
United States Peace Corps | KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | 2012–2014
Built organizational capacity by writing and submitting grant proposals, developing a volunteer database, creating data collection systems, and running staff training programs.
Assisted in creating and implementing sexual rights and reproductive health programs.
Collaborated with community members to create a comprehensive, consultative community needs assessment for the village of Njomelwane and implemented community initiatives.
Key Achievements
Created and operated two community campaigns impacting 2,000+ community members, including the Who Owns My Body (WOMB) Campaign, discussing issues of bodily integrity and reproductive rights.
Established a self-sustaining community computer lab and a computer literacy curriculum.
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Secured multiple five- and six-figure gifts, tripling individual revenue and donor base within three years.
Led a successful $500,000 year-end matching challenge campaign.
Designed and launched Visionary Circle, a tiered giving program that raised over $300,000 in its first six months.
Spearheaded fundraising efforts for public awareness campaigns on COVID-19 misinformation and the 2020 election, reaching over 48 million people with nearly $2M in in-kind advertising.
Executed Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast’s first million-dollar fundraising luncheon, attracting 2,200+ attendees and securing a $100,000 major gift.
Received the 2018 Fundraising Achievement of the Year Award – Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Fundraising Strategy & Execution
Major Gift Portfolio Management
Donor Stewardship & Acquisition
Event Planning & Campaign Management
Prospect Research & Relationship Development
Budgeting & Financial Oversight
Team Leadership & Development
Community Engagement & Public Awareness
Education
BA, International Studies | American University, Washington, DC
Concentration: International Development & Gender in Development
