I am privileged to serve the exceptional team and the DZS mission to create connections between people, animals and the natural world so all can thrive. In this role, I have written myriad grants and gained valuable experience in applying to and managing government-funded grants at both the state and national level. I have worked with Michigan State Police, Dept. of the Interior, USDA, National Fish and Wildlife Service, among others. I love to search for new prospects, then I call them up and have a chat. Our grant-funded priorities are our expansive educational programming and our conservation efforts. Of course I also get to write grants for play structures for chimps, and other animal-related support, which is so much fun!

Grant writing. Piece of cake, right? Well... Grants involve much more than writing. Managing relationships, earning trust, and being proactive are as important as crafting a compelling case for support. I seek to fully understand an organization's priorities through dynamic and measured communication. Although most grants are submitted electronically these days, expect me to ask for some time to get to know your organization in person. Funders/Foundations with whom I have worked through out my career: The Kresge FoundationThe Skillman FoundationCommunity Foundation for Southeast MichiganThe Erb FoundationThe Riley FoundationGeneral Motors FoundationThe Ford FundHonda FoundationPNCThe Ralph Wilson FoundationMichigan Council of Arts and Cultural AffairsI am a seasoned, expert grant strategist who employs a 360-deg assessment of your organization's goals and needs. I use the nation's leading, comprehensive grant research engine to dig deep to uncover the prospective foundations that match your organization. From there, I lead you in a strategy session with action steps that will successfully position your organization for qualification, cultivation and solicitation of funders. I offer a suite of services that your organization can choose from, and I provide a tiered fee structure based on your budget.

First professional fundraiser hired in organization's 14-year history. I was invited to join the team to expand and diversify the donor base; to manage and clean up the neglected Raiser's Edge database; to create stories to tell and find pathways to tell them; and to create a corporate sponsorship program to expand our partnerships throughout the city and beyond. SVSF offers GED tutoring and elementary educational programs to benefit those in our community for whom quality education has not been accessible or perhaps not a priority. The organization stands apart from myriad other programs by using a social work approach, meeting each student where they are with a thorough analysis of fluency in each subject needed to pass the GED. For the youngsters, they are individually evaluated by qualified teachers who coach them at their level and have a fun rewards system for progress, including themed celebrations throughout the year.

Kids Can Act! is a year-round program designed with original content to teach children to act. Through games, exercises, multimedia presentations and dynamic discussion, our students get their feet warm standing in front of a crowd, public speaking and acting. We have lots of laughter, appreciation and encouragement. Kids grow their imagination and embrace their different personalities.

I support 3 schools in the ramp-up to our capital campaign (launch date Fall 2017). My areas of responsibility are the School of Health Sciences, the Honors College, and the Kresge Library. My priority is getting out of the office to discover new prospects and cultivate, solicit and steward current donors. So here's a snapshot of my work to date: • Through effective moves management, solicited & landed (5) $10K+ gifts• Cultivated and solicited a $3.5M gift with the President of OU• Booked 2 planned gifts of $100K, one of $50K• Established good internal relationships to aid in my creation of a culture of philanthropy• Drafted 2 cases of support• Created and implemented a first-time faculty solicitation to endow a new Masters program• Created 3 first-time alumni events • Identified, assembled and activated a group of quality volunteers I continue to learn about the nuanced nature of development in higher ed as funneled through the kaleidoscope of campaign, major gifts, alumni relations, communications & marketing, and development services. What I have learned to date is that no matter the size/mission/resources/successes/challenges of a particular organization, the art & science of development remain basically the same. I am skilled at adapting the 5 stages of moves management to accomplish my goals. And I always start with stage 5: Stewardship, the most important of all the stages of moves management. Currently I spend my time calling and visiting current donors to thank them for their most recent gift, acknowledging their entire scope of involvement at OU, and sincerely listening to them to learn what inspires them to support us. I am also adept at compassionately and eloquently soliciting planned gifts.

Ladywood High School has existed for 64 years without an effort to cultivate alumnae. When I began, I had a stack of paper with addresses on them and paper copies of donation checks. In two years I: *Grew our alumnae database to 5,000 *Hit 100% of my fundraising goal for 2013 and 2014*Wrote two successful grants from the St. Francis Stewardship Fund*Conceived and completed major project with photographic mural in the lobby and main hallway of school*Conceived, created and published Ladywood's first alumnae magazine, "Magnificat," 32 pages*Increased gala attendance by 40%*Invested in Blackbaud database technology*Institutionalized the annual fund*Convened a marketing group of all Felician ministries to share ideas and resources across campus*Hosted many alumnae receptions and reunions *Supervised website redesign

The Major Giving Group was my own consulting firm that consulted with non-profits who wanted to create sustainable, mission-driven philanthropic support from their supporters. My expertise is in major and planned gift solicitation, donor relations and stewardship.

*Member of team that raised $16M in 2010*Member of team that raised $15M in 2009*Staff lead on Urology campaign to raise $35M*Pursued a 6-figure gift within first 4 months of employment*Closed a 6-figure gift within first 7 months of employment*Closed a 5-figure gift within the first 3 months of employment*Handled a portfoilo of 100 prospects*Strongly motivated to get visits with donors to start cultivation process*Fluent in Moves Management process for major giving*Understand the importance of travel; Florida and "up north" are mainstays of major gift work*Committed to continual professional development by reading, taking seminars, attending classes

*Experience in researching, cultivating and soliciting 6- and 7-figure gifts for annual and capital campaign*Authored master prospect list for 5- and 6-figure phases of campaign, responsible for directing staff in prospect management*Raised $1.4M for campaign in three years*Responsible for raising $450,000 through individual annual giving*Maintained prospect list of 150 for Detroit Public TV capital campaign*Worked closely with all levels of staff, from President/CEO to customer service representatives to identify strong ideas for organization sustainability*Experience in recruiting and effectively managing volunteer committees*Responsible for marketing and soliciting planned gifts including bequests, charitable gift annuities, IRA rollovers, charitable lead trusts

*Authored all creative marketing outreach to current and new business relationships*Managed implementation of innovative marketing programs*Effective, responsible management of all aspects of annual fundraising events*Responsible for realizing $250,000 revenue through original sponsorship/marketing campaigns*Responsible for fostering and coordinating all efforts between Marketing and Development departments *Contact for all corporate relationships relating to sponsorships/in-kind donations*Redesigned fundraising objectives with the guidance of corporate community and Board of Directors*Chairperson of campus-wide United Way Campaign - reached goal of $75,000

* Worked with non-profit organizations to identify fundraising and marketing goals * Planned and implemented all logistical aspects of fundraising/marketing events* Designed concepts for events based on client vision and need* Wrote all communication including tv & radio promos, press releases, newsletters, programs & brochures, grants, annual campaign letters* Managed PR for clients, press contact* Obtained sponsorship* Created and responsibly managed event budgets* Oversaw production of invitations & program books