Heather Dennis Email and Phone Number

I come from a family that has always been passionate about nonprofit organizations. At the age of 10 my mom was always volunteering me to help the organizations she was involved with. It started with selling raffle tickets or doing coat check at special events, I worked my way up to event check-in and auction check-out and I was hooked. In college I was the student representative to the Board of Trustees and they created a new role for me in alumni relations. It was here that launched my career path in development with each role adding more skills and responsibilities. I have worked for incredible organizations and motivated to get up in the morning knowing that I will be supporting a mission impact organization. One of the things that helps me stand out is that I am both very external facing and enjoy people, and also highly strategic and solid in the operational management needs of a development department. I am a strong leader that sets aggressive goals and supports each individual to help them to perform at the highest levels. I am an accomplished senior executive with experience increasing net revenue through major gifts, direct mail, annual and planned giving, enhancing financial impact of donors, partners, and sponsors for non-profits and charitable organizations. I am skilled at implementing and managing cost-effective business operations. I am passionate about animal welfare, youth and education, civil rights, humanitarian relief, health and medical organizations. I am seeking a Development Executive role or a CEO position for a mission-driven organization. I served as the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy and the President of the Guideposts Foundation for nearly five years. Prior to that I oversaw all aspects of fundraising at Consumer Reports and led a team that generated over $31 million annually in contributions. Prior to that role, I served as VP for development at Keep America Beautiful, where I secured millions in gifts to set up its first-ever endowment fund beyond the annual drive. I also served as director of development and public relations for the American Red Cross in Greenwich, CT., the chief development officer for the New York State Historical Association, director of alumni relations and annual giving at Iona College and in the alumni office at Hartwick College.I enjoy pretty much anything outdoors especially taking our dogs for long walks, gardening and excercising. My husband and I also enjoy entertaining and cooking for our family and friends and traveling.