Ash Harden Email & Phone Number

Colorado, United States

Chapel Hill, Nc

-Managed a high-value contract with the state of Georgia, overseeing the evaluation of 400 in-home childcare centers to uphold quality standards statewide. Directed all project facets, including scope, schedule, budget, and deliverables, while leading a team of 8 staff and consultants to ensure strict adherence to project requirements and client expectations.-Successfully delivered the contract on time and within budget. Implemented project management methodologies such as Waterfall, utilizing tools like Smartsheet and Risk Matrix to track progress, identify risks, and implement effective mitigation strategies.-Conducted regular status meetings and project reviews to maintain transparency and address any emerging concerns promptly.-Currently leading the development of an early childhood education training website (ersi.info) from concept to launch (Mar 27). The platform enables users to to book trainings, explore academic research, purchase tools to evaluate childcare programs (ERS), and engage with expert evaluators in the field of early childhood education.-Collaborate with internal teams and external vendors to gather requirements, design the website layout, and develop content. Ensure the website meets usability and accessibility standards, optimizing it for performance and search engine visibility.-Provide comprehensive training and ongoing support to stakeholders on website functionality and content management, ensuring optimal user experience. -Continuously monitor website performance and soft-launch user feedback, implementing iterative enhancements to drive user engagement and achieve campaign objectives.

Denver, Colorado, United States

-Directed and executed strategic advocacy campaigns across Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, and El Paso, TX, managing all aspects including timelines, budgets, deliverables, and staff. -Spearheaded long and short-term philanthropic and policy strategies. Exceeded fundraising goals by 2%-9%, even in times of economic downturn, accumulating over $6.5M in donations. -Led, mentored, and managed the Colorado office, as well as a geographically dispersed team to solicit and steward gifts, strengthen our political advocacy efforts, and meet policy and fundraising goals. -Managed and expanded a diverse portfolio of 100+ investors, successfully soliciting five, six and seven-figure donations.-Identified, cultivated, and stewarded long-term, high-value partnerships and relationships with individuals, families, foundations, policymakers, and non-profit leaders to expand AIPAC’s policy and programmatic impact.-Developed targeted strategies for donor engagement, optimizing the use of CRM tools (Salesforce) for progress tracking and strategy refinement. -Grew and strengthened local Board and Board-staff relationships. Coached and developed Board capacity for fundraising and political advocacy, thereby diversifying donor base. -Championed the adoption of data-driven practices across multiple teams, bolstering the donor base while fortifying internal processes and fostering interdepartmental synergy and efficiency.-Represented the organization as an advocate to local, statewide, and national stakeholders, including donors, policymakers, government leaders, and other partner nonprofits. Effectively communicated organizational impact and ROI through impactful storytelling.

Greater Denver Area

-Directed political initiatives for Members of Congress in 13 Congressional districts, constantly adapting to rapid political changes. -Trained and supported lobbying efforts for over 50 lay leaders to effectively influence U.S. policy and grow political relationships.

Denver, Co

Successfully design and implement strategic advocacy and fundraising campaigns for seven western states.STRATEGY & OPERATIONS | PROGRAM MONITORING & EVALUATION• Evaluate program operations and impact of seven state programs annually. Design and implement strategic changes based on evaluations or rapidly changing political environments. • Successfully coordinate with several internal departments to ensure best donor experiences and effective advocacy strategies for each state’s unique political dynamics. • Demonstrate and quantify program success for members and USGLC’s Board to encourage donor retention and increase fundraising. • Effectively manage highly confidential member information. STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS • Developed political, business, and nonprofit community relationships resulting in opening operations in three additional states within 18 months.• Advance USGLC’s advocacy agenda by building and managing diverse and bipartisan coalitions.• Organized and facilitated 25+ meetings with Members of Congress and 20 meetings with candidates running for U.S. Congress in open or competitive seats. Recruited and trained USGLC members to participate in these meetings.• Hosted 15+ high-level public events with Members of Congress ranging from 75 – 500 attendees.DONOR CULTIVATION & RETENTION• Successfully message and recruit members across bipartisan and diverse communities: liberal, conservative, business, nonprofit, faith-based, and elected officials. • Ensure continued member engagement by planning and directing communications, fundraising, and volunteer opportunities. Grew membership by 275% in three years to include 550 community leaders.• Research, cultivate, and secure donors and corporate partnerships from members such as, CoBank, Vulcan, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, etc. Amounts range from $5K-$25K. • Grew member relationships through buy-in of the organization and fostering personal relationships to ensure recurring donations.

Colorado Springs, Parker, And Pueblo, Co

Recruited and led a team of eight Field Organizers across three offices in rural, suburban and conservative areas.MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS• Executed the largest grassroots field operation in Colorado Springs and Pueblo during a non-presidential election year.• Directed fieldwork for three Congressional campaigns (the most of any Regional Field Director on the campaign). Reached 10,000+ voters and managed relationships and volunteer coordination with local leaders, candidates, various political interest groups, three County Parties, and their 100+ members.TEAM LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT • Managed sensitive personnel issues. Coached and trained all team members on political organizing and other professional skills to create a positive work environment on an intense campaign. VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT, DEVELOPMENT & MANAGEMENT• Grew active volunteer and intern base in 4 months from 0 to 450 volunteers by conducting local presentations. Also trained field organizers on volunteer recruitment and public speaking.PROGRAM EVALUATION• Monitored, evaluated, and reported metrics in fast-paced campaign environment. Adapted strategies to meet high recruitment and outreach goals and deadlines.

-Produced the highest voter contact numbers of any FO in the state, with 35,267 total door knocks and 94,345 total phone calls (7,952 GOTV knocks and 43,084 GOTV calls). -Trained and managed largest volunteer and intern program in the state, with 605 total door shifts and 433 total phone shifts completed during the campaign. -Directed fellows and intern program conducting over 50 public presentations, which recruited 150 active interns and volunteers in Baltimore, Carroll and Howard County.

Greater New York City Area

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & FUNDRAISING• Developed and executed all Bpeace marketing campaigns to amplify Bpeace’s profile, increase membership, and raise donations. • Led marketing efforts and event planning for annual bike fundraiser, which raised $40K.PROGRAM MANAGEMENT• Managed diverse portfolio of 28 entrepreneurs in Afghanistan. Coordinated pro-bono consulting services entrepreneurs received with American-based Bpeace volunteers. In 2013, the entrepreneurs created 420 jobs in Afghanistan, a 50% increase from 2012. • Co-created and co-managed RwandaFilm.org, the first online marketplace to connect international and Rwandan filmmakers to create jobs and grow Rwanda’s economy. Project included fieldwork with international businesses, non-profits, and Rwandan governmental organizations focused on economic development.

Greater New York City Area

GRANT & MAJOR DONOR RESEARCH / MANAGEMENT• Co-designed, managed, and implemented objectives and budget for six grants totaling $700K+. Topics included reproductive health, economic development, good governance, and mobile technology for development.• Researched and identified new funding sources to match with program priorities. • Coordinated engagement with 200+ donors and eight major foundations, including organization of large events and donor visits.STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS• Advanced strategic partnerships and managed outreach with high-level U.S. and foreign government officials, NGOs, and corporations to impact gender policies. Institutions included U.S. Congress, the White House, World Bank, Office of Management and Budget, and the UN.RESEARCH & WRITING• Drafted, researched, co-authored articles, working papers, and op-eds in publications, such as The Huffington Post and World Politics Review on economic and international development and foreign policy.

Udaipur Area, India

• Co-coordinated and executed bi-weekly trainings for over 100 local panchayat village representatives about issues of women's empowerment, health, education, and human rights• Developed, implemented, and secured funding for a project that increased the effectiveness of the Institute's trainings

Master Of Science (Msc), Gender, Development And Globalization, Honors

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Middle Eastern And South Asian Studies And International Relations, Honors

Activities and Societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Who's Who, Sigma Delta Tau