Bethany Leslie, M.A., M.B.A. Email & Phone Number

Cleveland, OH, US

Marietta, Ohio, United States

Marietta, Ohio, United States

• Strategically oversee the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-net-worth major gift prospects to facilitate significant contributions to the College.
• Serve as a key member of advancement leadership, driving team success and achieving aspirational fundraising goals, including the completion of an historic $100M comprehensive campaign.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of major gift officers, ensuring the attainment of ambitious fundraising targets through strategic guidance and support.
• Design, develop, and implement metrics for gift officers, enhancing contact reporting and moves management efficiency with expertise in Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT CRM.
• Manage a portfolio of 120-150 high-level prospects, leveraging travel and technology to build meaningful relationships and align donor passions with the College's mission and goals.
• Engage and cultivate high-net-worth prospects, personally securing $1.5-$3M annually.

Alliance, Ohio, United States

• In addition to annual giving responsibilities:
• Strategically developed and implemented initiatives to secure bequests and other deferred commitments, enhancing the College’s long-term financial stability.
• Identified, cultivated, and solicited planned and major gift prospects, successfully securing significant cash and deferred gifts.
• Provided strategic training and counsel to the fundraising team on emerging trends and updates in deferred giving, ensuring the team remained at the forefront of industry practices.
• Developed and executed comprehensive marketing strategies to promote planned gift options, including the Heritage Society newsletter, Mount Union Magazine content, and the Crescendo planned giving website and.
• Collaborated with donors’ professional advisors to develop tailored planned gift commitments, ensuring alignment with donors’ financial goals and the College’s mission.

Alliance, Ohio

• Created, implemented, and evaluated a comprehensive multi-year strategic solicitation plan, driving consistent financial support growth from alumni and friends of the University, resulting in record amounts of.
• Conducted 150 annual visits to cultivate and steward both annual and major donors, ensuring sustained and increased engagement.
• Led and managed the Mount Union Fund team, including the Assistant Director, Database Specialist, and Wayne Manzilla Diversity Intern/Mount Union Fund Coordinator, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team.
• Strategically utilized a variety of solicitation methods, mentoring the assistant director in overseeing the student-staffed call center, and leveraging direct mail, e-communications, and innovative technology to boost.
• Conceptualized and executed the annual 24-hour day of giving, Raiders Give, significantly increasing donor participation from 618 to over 1,000 and raising nearly $500,000 in subsequent years.
• Revamped the employee giving program, achieving a substantial increase in faculty and staff participation in The Mount Union Fund from 43% to 79% within the first three years, maintaining high participation levels in.

Rootstown, OH

• Developed and implemented first-ever young alumni and student philanthropy program aimed at educating current students and recent graduates about the benefits of the Alumni Association and the important role.
• Hired, trained and supervised 18-20 student callers and managed annual phone-a-thon calling program
• Developed overall strategy and communications plan and implemented first, second and third annual 24-hour days of giving, resulting in record number of donors three years in a row and 167 gifts totaling $130,589.16 in.
• Assisted in the development of annual fund giving societies and stewardship initiatives
• Conducted one-on-one meetings with students and recent graduates, and developed and a young alumni leadership giving program to increase young alumni participation in the annual fund
• Collaborated with PR and Marketing to develop effective communications strategy for alumni and annual fund prospects, and developed content/wrote copy for monthly eNewsletter, appeals, etc.

Lakeside, Ohio

• Worked collaboratively with the Vice President of Advancement and the Lakeside Chautauqua Foundation to develop a comprehensive strategic plan and annual fundraising tactics
• Provided guidance to the Lakeside Fund Team and volunteers to establish an annual giving campaign to identify and solicit new prospects and renewing donors
• Cultivated and met with prospective donors to solicit annual fund and major gifts
• Organized events, including donor recognition events, prospect and community engagement events, State of Lakeside address, financial presentations and seminars, committee meetings and volunteer activities
• Collaborated with Director of Marketing and Vice President of Advancement and write content for social media posts, e-news, electronic appeals and print communications for fundraising and sales initiatives
• Designed and wrote appeal cards, event invitations, announcements and other small in-house publications

Lakeside Chautauqua

• Communicated with existing and prospective clients to plan 435 events
• Obtained all event details, including venue options, menu selections, room layouts, financial information, pricing solutions and AV and linen needs
• Created and dispersed contracts, event orders and work orders for all events
• Provided excellent customer service to clients fielding more than 50 calls and 30 emails daily
• Offered creative input to maximize success of events and provided solutions to last-minute problems
• Handled guest conflicts in professional and timely manner

Fitzgerald Executive-in-Residence Program

• Consulted with executive team and interviewed leadership at Peoples Bank
• Designed and implemented employee engagement survey across 40 branches and over 300 employees
• Reviewed and analyzed survey results for company patterns, strengths and opportunities for improvement
• Provided recommendations and feedback about organizational culture and engagement strategies to leadership team

Marietta College Legacy Library

• Supervised student workers and oversaw Reference Desk
• Provided research assistance and recommendations
• Troubleshooted various technology issues as they arose

Marietta College

• Organized fundraising and awareness events for several hundred participants
• Coordinated and delegated responsibilities of thirteen-member executive board
• Developed and managed organization budget and expense reporting
• Recorded detailed minutes of all meetings and tracked member attendance
• Conducted interviews and selected incoming Executive Board for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 academic years

Akron, Ohio

• Developed and implemented effort distribution reporting policy across organization and designed effort tracking workbook
• Strategized reporting solutions with Director of Finance and various department coordinators
• Modified, processed, and analyzed financial reports using Microsoft QuickBooks software
• Constructed budget worksheets and assisted in budgeting process for 2012 fiscal year
• Reconciled monthly credit card statements and prepared list of cost centers and accounts

Marietta, Ohio

• Coordinated and implemented chapter programming to meet the needs of chapter sisters
• Assisted in providing ongoing education about the Alpha Xi Delta Ritual and philanthropic ties
• Represented chapter as Executive Board member and oversaw Programs Council efforts and activities

Mba/Ma, Business Administration/Communication Studies - Cumulative Gpa 3.985

Bachelor Of Arts -- Summa Cum Laude, Cumulative Gpa 3.947/4.0, Public Accounting, French, Leadership Studies, Graduate

Activities and Societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Financial Executives International, Tau Pi Phi -Treasurer, Order of Omega.

French Language And Culture Diploma, Delf Certification, French

Activities and Societies: Study Abroad Program Participant through Academic Programs International