Cindy Elder Email & Phone Number

Barrington, Ri

The Barrington Land Conservation Trust has protected nearly 300 acres of land, including Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve, PIC-WIL Nature Preserve, Sowams Woods and other smaller environmentally sensitive parcels. With the support of dozens of volunteers, we care for these properties and conduct educational and outreach programs. The Barrington Land Conservation Trust is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that relies on charitable donations and grants to maintain its properties and acquire new open space as it becomes available. Find out more at www.blct.org.

Rhode Island, United States

Grant management and strategic communications for non-profit organizations.

North Kingstown, Ri

Build partnerships, develop revenue generating programs, streamline business processes, and collaborate on new policies to improve the functioning of the agency. Served on the Covid-19 Response Team, including research, stakeholder communication, development of guidance documents, and fielding public concerns.

Bryant University, Smithfield, Ri

Planned and managed workshops on innovation, time management, stakeholder communication and other topics for state and municipal leaders, including two-day conference for 150 newly elected leaders in collaboration with the RI League of Cities and Towns and the RI Association of School Committees. Facilitated strategic planning for several nonprofit organizations and consulted with Working Cities Newport program to evaluate team effectiveness.Accomplishments:• Published "State Business Rankings: A Primer,” which deconstructed a dozen commonly cited indices, with a focus on Rhode Island’s standings• Developed role-play case study on a hypothetical school shooting for a public leadership conference.• Produced video documentary on the Rhode Island Credit Union Crisis featured in a public event on ethics, accountability and oversight.• Launched new responsive website in collaboration with Bryant University Communications Department.

Providence, Rhode Island Area

Rejuvenated fundraising, communications and business operations for small nonprofit serving individuals and families living with mental illness. Accomplishments:• Media: Secured earned media, including front-page coverage in The Providence Journal, op eds, letters to the editor, broadcast features and online stories. Introduced new social media platforms with increased reach. Launched new website.• Membership and Fundraising Developed annual appeal, fundraising events and grassroots outreach. Increased membership by more than 100%. Established cloud-based donor management system. Managed annual fundraiser, increasing gross proceeds by 67% over two years, while reducing cost of event planning by $30K. Managed annual education conference featuring 65 presenters, increasing attendance by 500% over prior year, for zero net cost.• Organization: Transitioned organization to online banking and Quickbooks Online accounting. Developed budget for organization that had been operating on a cash basis. Strengthened relationship with primary funder, RI Department of Behavioral Health, Development Disabilities and Hospitals, including new system of reporting, site visits and participation in state-level committees.• Programs: Expanded mental health education program from 1,200 to 2,800 students in 29 schools per year. Presented to student and professional audiences ranging in size from 20 to 600. Established partnership with Parent Support Network of RI (PSNRI) and served as instructor for PSNRI Peer Specialist Certification course. Successfully nominated program staff member for national “NAMI Inspiration Award."

1 Colt Drive, Bristol, Ri 02809

Repositioned Coggeshall Farm Museum as a signature Rhode Island destination and living history museum with a reputation for excellence. Accomplishments:• Membership and Fundraising: Boosted annual attendance from 8,000 to 15,000; quadrupled membership. Conducted $50K matching gift campaign across multiple platforms, including crowdfunding, social and traditional media, mailings and donor outreach. Established cloud-based donor management database.• Program: Expanded education program from 500 to 3,000 students per year and managed development of new experiential, historically accurate curriculum aligned with K-12 standards.• Organization: Transitioned accounting to QuickBooks Online and outsourced payroll.• Communications and Outreach: Presented before RI House and Senate Finance Committees on behalf of the Green Economy Bond Issue, which resulted in a $100K grant to Coggeshall. Doubled Facebook presence to 3,000+; established Twitter and Instagram. Worked with several film producers to create documentaries, promotional films and feature films featuring Coggeshall at zero cost to the organization. Published article in Association of Living History Farms and Museums on "Building an Organization to Withstand Change."

Providence, Ri

Developed strategic communications plan for state food bank serving more than 150 member agencies in Rhode Island. Managed press relations, social media, website, newsletters, annual report and outreach. Crafted stories featuring clients, donors and volunteers. Worked with development team to design marketing and fundraising campaigns. Delivered speeches to business, nonprofit and educational organizations.Accomplishments:• Created Food Bank Speakers’ Bureau; developed and delivered training.• Increased social media presence by more than 500%. Won $60,000 grant by achieving top ten standing in social media contest among the nation's food banks.• Featured presenter at Public Relations Society of America’s District Conference: "A Matter of Trust: Building Partnerships with the Media."

East Providence, Ri

18-Month Contract: Coordinated school’s 100th anniversary, including major media campaign, grassroots outreach to boost participation and donor base, community awareness video, hard cover history book, historical timeline installation, and management of a large and diverse volunteer force.

Created start-up food business, building customer base to include Whole Foods, the U.S. Navy and specialty stores throughout the Northeast.

United States

Organizations have included: The New Teacher Project (RI), Codman & Shurtleff (MA), the American Automobile Association (FL), Tropical Research & Development (FL), the Massachusetts 4H Foundation (MA), Hospice of Central Florida (FL), Hospice Care, Inc. (MA), Ivanhoe Communications FL), WBZS Business Radio (FL), Aukerman Associates (RI), and others.

Master Of Public Affairs, Taubman Center For Public Policy And American Institutions

Governmental and nonprofit institutions, public budgeting, the economics of education, strategic communications, statistics, the effects.

Green Belt, Lean/Six Sigma

Ba, Career Writing/Creative Writing

Activities and Societies: Summa Cum Laude, Alpha ChiDouble major included: * Career Writing -- journalism, broadcasting, public relations.