Karen Nichols Email & Phone Number

The Spartanburg County Foundation is committed to improving the lives of Spartanburg County residents by promoting philanthropy, encouraging community engagement, and responding to community needs. As Director of Philanthropic Services, I provide leadership, strategic direction, oversight, and coordination in the areas of Development, Donor Services, and Marketing Communications to further the engagement and retention of current and prospective donors and fundholders, and to foster long‐term relationships with the Foundation. The Philanthropic Services Team's goal is to help identify potential supporters, nurture donors and fundholders, ensure supporters know about all the great work the Foundation is doing, and provide them with opportunities to be involved.

Spartanburg, Sc

As Stewardship Officer, I developed strategies to facilitate the asset development and growth activities of the Foundation, including prospect identification and research, donor cultivation and stewardship, database management, and various development initiatives. I also served as a personal contact to fundholders and all Foundation constituents to provide outstanding donor services.

Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States

As Executive Administrative Director, I played a key role in the day-to-day operations of this essential organization that is making a difference in the Spartanburg community. My responsibilities included: • Communications: team lead overseeing marketing and communications • Trustee Relations: serve as liaison for all communications to the Board of Trustees• Human Resources: assist in hiring, onboarding, personnel policies and procedures• Organizational Support: lead and direct the Executive Administrative Team • Special Projects: conduct best practice research and assist the Chief Operating Officer with special projects as needed

Greenville, South Carolina Area

Managed operations of social media management service, led a team of social savvy expertsOversight of marketing policies, objectives, and initiativesManaged all digital marketing channels (e.g. website, blogs, emails and social media) to ensure brand consistencyDeveloped specific campaigns to acquire sales leads, Experienced Salesforce CRM & Pardot userManaged and optimized online content, considering SEO and Google AnalyticsEstablished and maintained a consistent brand image and message throughout all collateral, promotional materials, events, and digital marketingCollaborated with Client Development Team to support Sales effortsMonitored competition and used insights to guide strategyMeasured ROI and KPIs for campaigns and stayed up-to-date with digital technology developments

Gaffney, South Carolina

Responsible for implementation of strategic marketing programs that support recruitment and enhance brand awareness of degree programs for traditional and non-traditional students Developed, executed and measured strategic marketing plans to achieve enrollment objectivesManaged and monitored marketing and advertising budgetPlanning and oversight of advertising and promotion activities including print, online, broadcast, collateral, events, website, search, inbound, and social marketingProficient in Google Analytics and Google AdwordsExperienced Salesforce CRM userMonitored competitor’s marketing activities Established and maintained relationships with key strategic partners (agencies, printers, designers, vendors)

Greenville, South Carolina Area

Managed all integrated marketing plans and strategies including eCommerce, Graphics Design, e-Marketing, Social Media and mCommerce for multi-unit hotel owner/operator business.Oversight of marketing department, supervised eCommerce Managers, Graphic Design Manager and Marketing CoordinatorDeveloped marketing strategies for portfolio of 35 hotels and managed overall marketing for corporation including event/conference planningPlanned and administered each hotel’s Marketing budget Provided direction on all electronic and print marketing efforts, to ensure that: ads adhere to brand standards, tracking tools are in place, costs justify ROI expectations, and ads are created appropriately to the target marketSupervised management of eCommerce programs including Sponsored Search PPC programs, brand.com, OTAs and third-party websites as well as social media and email marketingUtilized Google Analytics and managed Google AdWords programManaged day to day PR activity, wrote and distributed press releases for all hotels and corporate office

Monitored use of endowment funds that support academic, athletic, and other University purposesManaged relationship marketing programs and systems to aid in appropriate and positive communication between recipients and donorsDeveloped personalized stewardship plans for individual, corporate and organizational donors and prospectsProvided support to research questions, problems or concerns from donorsManaged stewardship website content

Development and implementation of print and online communications for North American product lines, primarily Cryovac product lines, and Bubblewrap brandImplemented first interactive marketing program for the company Supported organizational initiatives/objectives by developing communications programs for two business units: advertising, public relations, event planning, printed materials, direct mail, video and online promotions (web banners, email sponsorships, special projects) and search marketingManaged communications budget to ensure targets are metMeasured effectiveness of communications programs against their objectives and report findings to key stakeholdersUtilized Google Analytics and managed Google AdWords programManaged web content on company website with NA marketing directors (12+) including custom web pages for special online projects and keyword optimization to improve results in search enginesEvent planning and production of communications materials for promotional events at company's exhibition center

Bachelor Of Science, Business And Communications

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.)