Brandon Combs Email & Phone Number

Greater Chicago Area

Join Erika's Lighthouse. Get Depression Out of the Dark.Every student deserves good mental health. We’re a nonprofit on a mission to provide free mental health programs for any school, anywhere.• Tripled operating budget from ~$500,000 to over $1.7 million.• Oversaw program expansion from ~80,000 students to over 534,000 impacted annually.• Increased efficiency and scalability to allow each education staff to effectively support almost 4x as many school partners• Embraced and implemented technological improvements to provide transparency and automation to finances, programming and fundraising initiatives• Drove the formalization of 8 new programs to add to the suite of resources provided to schools• Diversified revenue streams by dramatically increasing support from foundations, corporations and earned revenue.

Greater Chicago Area

Greater Chicago Area

Provides support to the Executive Director for the overall leadership and management strategies designed to create cost effective and on-going sources of revenue, community presence and mission delivery within the Great Lakes Division's market area.• Managed seven fundraising events across Illinois and Michigan including walks, marathons and galas overseeing over $1 million per year in event-based revenue• Oversaw Program Director, Administrative Assistant and all volunteer activities• Tasked with strategic initiatives and development• Developed Get Fit Wellness Campaign to promote health & wellness, the organization and generate revenue• Transitioned leading fundraising event to less staff-intensive model for better ROI• Cultivated one-on-one relationships to identify new stakeholders• Streamlined internal processes through technology adaptations that extended nationally

Greater Chicago Area

Tuesday’s Child helps families address behavioral issues through individualized training for both parents and children. The program, developed in 1981 at Children’s Memorial Hospital, utilizes an evidence-based approach to assist over 400 families with children ages 18 months to 6 years exhibiting challenging behavior issues.• Increased foundation support by 125% through improved grant proposals and outcome measurements• Grew individual and special event giving by 50% through new events, outreach and alumni programming• Doubled the number of clients resulting in a 50% increase in sliding scale program fees through new partnerships, marketing and advertising initiatives such as Facebook Ads, Google AdWords, Webinars and traditional outreach• Tripled the number of active board members, boosting revenues and community outreach and presence• Educated, informed and supported the Board of Directors to ensure the agency is well supported and operating efficiently• Managed 14 employees overseeing programming, fundraising, grant writing, marketing and community outreach • Reversed a structural deficit over $70,000 to a $60,000 surplus in two years• Developed new program goals, outcomes and client database to better track success and attract new foundation donors• Successfully managed a facilities search and relocation, saving the organization over $60,000 a year• Ensured financial solvency of the organization through budgeting, financial oversight and policy implementation• Acted as the public face of the organization to promote development, marketing, and programming• Professionalized Human Resources through job descriptions, reorganization of duties and improved staff evaluations• Implemented two successful Taproot Foundation service grants for key messaging and a new online presence

Greater Chicago Area

Back Office Capacity's unique approach doesn't simply create strategies. We seamlessly implement solutions using a hands-on approach, working directly along-side nonprofit professionals. We cater specifically to small and medium sized nonprofits, providing resources based on their size, capacity and everyday needs.

Greater Chicago Area

Facing Forward to End Homelessness transforms the lives of Chicago’s homeless families and children by providing them permanent housing and the tools they need to move forward and rebuild their lives. Facing Forward serves over 100 women with a history of substance abuse and their children through permanent housing and wrap-around case management to end their homelessness.• Increased individual giving by 400% and corporate giving by 500% over three years• Responsible for raising more than $400,000 from foundations, individuals, businesses, and faith communities• Interacted, trained and supervised the Board of Directors around development and chaired the Marketing & Development Committee to develop and implement agency Marketing and Development Strategy• Managed Annual Fund including direct mail and events comprising of a benefit, youth experience and holiday celebration• Coordinated foundation and corporate research, outreach, proposal writing and reports• Created and managed the organizations short and long-term budgets• Managed program data staff, program outcomes, volunteer marketing projects including name and logo change, marketing piece development, organization website and social media outreach• Oversaw office technology upgrades and troubleshooting and managed equipment leases

Greater Chicago Area

The American Liver Foundation facilitates, advocates and promotes education, support and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease. The Illinois Chapter is a premier regional affiliate setting the standard for professional education, fundraising and pharmaceutical/corporate partnerships.• Raised over $350,000 with two special events, increasing grassroots fundraising by 110% in one year• Raised over $100,000 in program revenue, an increase of 140% in two years; increased program attendance by 200%• Interacted with Board of Directors, Medical Advisory Committee and membership on development and programming related issues including managing general and health related inquiries• Developed and implemented a five-year development strategy• Coordinated eight professional education programs, two public education programs, six monthly support groups annually, and coordinated a regional conference for state medical coordinators• Managed two special events including a walk and benefit and assisted with two additional events including a golf outing and marathon team• Managed a full-time Program Coordinator and a part-time Administrative Assistant• Coordinated foundation and pharmaceutical prospect research, outreach, proposal writing and reporting• Implemented new financial processes to ensure proper reporting and financial accounting

Bloomington, Indiana Area

The Alcohol-Drug Information Center at Indiana University promoted student education and safety on alcohol, tobacco and other drug policies. Funded by a grant through Smokefree Indiana, the organization promoted media literacy, education smoke free policies on campus and the surrounding community.• Advocated for new local government and university policies• Successfully passed City of Bloomington public workplace smoking ban for all bars, restaurants, offices and public parks• Passed new on-campus smoking policy• Created and managed on campus events to promote smoking prevention and cessation• Managed local and statewide partnerships and volunteers to promote the organization• Developed and presented media literacy programming in courses and student organizations on campus

Masters Of Nonprofit Administration, Fundraising & Development

Ba, Political Science, Fundraising & Resource Development, Sociology

Activities and Societies: Hoosiers Advocating a Tobacco-free Society (HATS); American Cancer Society Relay for Life Planning Committee