Devon Villa Gessert Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

Washington Dc-Baltimore Area

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Delivered timely philanthropic intelligence and research consulting services to clients in the DC and New York area. Clients included Wealth Quotient, Smithsonian, Folger Shakespeare Library, Animal Rescue Alliance, St. John’s University, Helen Brown Group, Inova Fairfax Hospital. Deliverables for clients included staff training, personalized Research and Prospect Management office audits, philanthropic assessments for individual prospects, capacity ratings for individual prospects, and traditional full profiles briefings. Additionally, created a video training curriculum to teach how to find connections, interests, passions, and wealth, via traditional prospect research methodologies and online sources.

Arlington, Virginia

Supervised a team tasked with researching current and prospective members. Managed performance, develop team talent, and coach researchers. Identified and implemented process and technology-related improvements to increase service quality. Led development and documentation of new or existing research processes. Oversaw production of briefing materials, background notes, and biographies of current and prospective donors. Developed and maintained strong working relationships with all departments within the organization. Completed a Research and Prospect Management Office audit in an effort to constructively find areas of improvement for the challenges faced by the team. Used findings to implement new processes, technology and standards to increase value and quality of research product in order to help a wide variety of internal customers. Initiated a Research Checklist in an effort to standardize and streamline research. This has resulted in a more consistent research product on Individuals as well as Foundation research/ Led development and documentation of new or existing research processes, including but not limited to Feedback forms, Address Audits, and Invitation Review Lists.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

As the sole researcher, I worked closely with the major gifts team and the operations team to provide a wide scope of prospect research in order to inform and influence major, principal and planned gift portfolios and prospect pools, as well as provided research for short and long term strategic planning. Also coordinated with stewardship and governance teams on events and potential board memberships.

Multiple

Provided freelance research as well as created content and led delivery for Prospect Research online video course for Wealth Quotient’s Online University. Content included step-by-step instructions for Wealth Quotient clients in finding strategic information on their prospects; e.g. connections, passions, interests, and wealth, via traditional prospect research methodologies and online sources. Served as on-camera talent delivering the Prospect Research course. Produced online resource materials tailored for use during presentations.

Guided strategic planning, policy development as well as day-to-day functions for the office including prospect research, prospect management, measurement and analysis. Conducted prospect research, data analysis, interpretation, provided insight, and recommendations to fundraisers to inform decision-making and generate donor strategy. Facilitated and maintained constant coordination, collaboration and active dialogue between executive staff, fundraisers and Research staff to ensure transparency of projects, goals and deadlines. Organized and directed both proposal pipeline and prospect review meetings in order to track active campaign prospects, solicitations and closings.• Created and executed a process to proactively and systematically identify new prospects for fundraisers• Designed and launched the first official prospect management system for American University, resulting in banner fundraising years for 2013, 2014, and 2015• Led the prospect rating and screening process for over 5,000 principal and major gift prospects and partnered with fundraisers in developing outreach strategies and activity plans• Created and implemented Research Office Hours, which enhanced staff knowledge and provided a more proactive and collaborative environment for both researchers and fundraisers

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Conducted extensive financial and biographical research on prospects by identifying and analyzing wealth indicators, such as real estate holdings, compensation, family foundation assets, and philanthropy. Composed detailed research materials, such as profiles, on prospects for University leadership and development officers. Assigned ratings based on detailed wealth analysis. Directed prospect management-related database maintenance; tracked gift agreements for major gifts and pledges in donor database; monitored hard files on all major gift donors and scholarship donors. • Slashed 15% from annual $30,000 Research and Prospect Management budget after audit• Supported Research unit in completing prospect identification projects for university funding priorities• Analyzed and identified gaps in prospect pipeline to assess highest need for fundraising outreach

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Conducted research, analyzed, wrote in-depth biographical and financial profiles on major donor prospects. Presented new prospect brief bios at monthly prospect strategy meetings. Completed a broad range of administrative responsibilities including: divisional prospect assignments, prospect management digest (email), daily review of financial postings, and daily scan of local, national, and global events. Identified 10 new prospects to present at monthly prospect strategy meetings for two years to support comprehensive university campaign. Provided event planning administrative assistance to presidential-level events.

Atlanta, Georgia

Prepared research for executive director in preparation of donor visits. Created and managed external communications as well as the Foundation’s website. Oversaw the donor database as well as all gift acknowledgments, pledge reminders and post-event fundraising appeals. Assisted in the coordination intimate salon cultivation events. Assisted in the coordination of annual fundraising luncheon, “Numbers Too Big To Ignore.” Coordinated board meetings, organized meeting materials, and board communications.

Los Angeles, California

Ensured timely delivery of pledge premiums to KCET-TV members. Managed gift acknowledgement letters for donations of $5,000 and above. Assisted in the coordination of major donor events that enabled the stewardship of donors. Assisted with the pledge drive and televised auctions as well as volunteered with the Office of Special Events.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Drafted and disseminated press releases regarding relevant Catholic school news. Created weekly hard-copy press dockets for NCEA staff. Coordinated meetings on Capitol Hill with key Catholic state senators and representatives to meet with Catholic school students. Ensured timely updates of in-house congressional directory of Catholic members. Respond to inquiries from the media, Catholic education community, and the general public on a wide range of Catholic education topics.

Ba, Communication

Activities and Societies: Golden Key Honor Society Graduated with a BA in Communication: Visual Media. Member of the Golden Key Honor.

Education record

Activities and Societies: Delta Delta Delta Sorority