Alma Chavez Strasser Email & Phone Number

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

As the Senior Director of Development for ASU’s College of Health Solutions, I work collaboratively with the ASU Foundation (ASUF) and the dean of the college to lead the college’s development program and secure significant philanthropic investments. I proactively manage a portfolio of individuals, corporate, and foundation prospects, developing working relationships to execute strategic partnerships on behalf of ASU’s College of Health Solutions.

In the role as Vice President, I oversaw the individual major giving strategies and activities of the organization. I lead a team of major gift officers and prospect researchers, aligning donor philanthropy with the work of VSUW and its community partners. I also managed a portfolio of prospects and donors closing transformative gifts for the organization. My department oversaw the Alexis de Tocquville annual giving society as well as the organization’s Legacy Planned Giving Society.

As the Senior Director of Development for ASU’s College of Public Service and Community Solutions, I worked collaboratively with the ASU Foundation for A New American University (ASUF) and the Dean of the College to lead the college’s overall development program and secure significant philanthropic investments. I proactively managed a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation prospects, developing working relationships in an effort to execute strategic partnerships on behalf of ASU’s College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

As a member of the senior management team of the local affiliate of the nationally recognized United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Association I directed the fund development, marketing, and public relations activities of the disability service agency. The organization’s annual budget was approximately $11 million, of which $6 million was secured through the development team’s efforts. The fund development activities included major gift solicitation, corporate and foundation relations, an annual giving campaign, as well as various community events and fundraisers.

As Director of Community Relations for Mario E. Diaz and Associates, LLC, a government and public relations firm, I interacted with government elected and appointed officials, corporate and business executives and community advocates on a daily basis. I managed several high-profile community clients, which included numerous nonprofit organizations, city and state programs, medical facilities, community colleges, private corporations, industry collaborations, grassroots campaigns and labor unions.

The Director of Community Affairs position was an interim assignment, which was concurrently fulfilled while maintaining the requirements of my primary position of Director of Development. It allowed me the managerial opportunity to provide direction, guidance and leadership to the administrative department of CPLC. CPLC is a statewide nonprofit, Community Development Corporation, which is committed to delivering superior social service, education, economic development and affordable housing programs to communities throughout Arizona. The position required me to oversee the day-to-day operations of the department, which incorporates the functions of development, marketing, media and public relations, and corporate administrative services. During the interim assignment, I ensured that all previous requirements of the Director of Development position were upheld.Director of Development (5/2002 – 2/2006)The position of Director of Development required me to oversee and track the fundraising activities of the agency. This included but was not limited to, corporate, foundation and governmental grant requests, campaign support, and special events and fundraising projects. Under my direction, the Development Department was responsible for raising at least $3 million in revenues annually for the expenditures of the agency. Funds generated were utilized for programmatic support including domestic violence protection and prevention, education and youth programs, emergency services, affordable housing projects, economic development ventures and other social service programming. (Served as a Development Specialist/Grant Writer from 11/2000 – 5/2002)

Mpa, Public Administration

B.S, Justice Studies

Leadership Institute, Class 34

Cfre, Certified Fundrasing Executive

Member