Marisa Vela Email & Phone Number

Houston, Texas, United States

- Identifies, cultivates and secures individual, corporate, and foundation donors and partners while also expanding and strengthening partnerships and investments from existing supporters.- Develops and implements comprehensive fundraising strategies to meet and exceed annual revenuegoals of Texas 2036 by securing substantial six and seven-figure gifts and grants.- Manages a diverse portfolio of statewide donors, ensuring personalized and effective engagement.- Strategically leverages relationships of board and staff leadership to identify, cultivate, secure, andsteward new major donors with a focus on those in Greater Houston- Oversees the planning and execution of statewide fundraising and stewardship events to ensuresuccessful outcomes.- Tracks and manage donor interactions and contributions using Raiser’s Edge NXT.- Represents Texas 2036 in the community and in meetings, enhancing the organization’s visibility andreputation.- Works closely with colleagues from across the organization including the policy, data, communications,and operations teams to stay informed about organizational goals, programs, and outcomes, andintegrate this knowledge into donor communications.

• Responsible for a best-in-class and donor-centric stewardship strategy for a diverse portfolio including individual, foundation, and corporate donors, that expands and enhance donor's experiences with New Leaders and produces new avenues of engagement.• Builds relationship with donors to gain insight and understanding of current experiences and expectations of engagement, proactively planning thoughtful, personalized relationship-based stewardship plans.• Regularly meets with existing donors, both in-person and virtually, serving as an external face of New Leaders while providing deep and meaningful stewardship touchpoints, including school visits, observation sessions, and funder meetings and events, leading all appropriate preparation and follow-up steps.• Cultivates and conveys a deep level understanding of New Leaders’ programs and their impact onunderserved and underrepresented students while engaging in clear and compelling fundraising workgrounded in the principles of equity and excellence for all students.• Leads the development of a robust and growing prospect pipeline of funders through sophisticated prospect identification, qualification, and cultivation strategies, fully leveraging the talents and connections of leadership staff and key volunteers.

Sugar Land, Tx

-Responsible for the overall organization and management of the school’s Advancement Office, including overseeing the Advancement Coordinator and the Marketing and Communications coordinator. -Manages the school’s major fundraising endeavors including the Annual Fund (raised over $230,000 in 21-22), Tuition Assistance Golf Tournament (raised $60,000 in 21-22), Gala and Auction (raised over $400,00 in 21-22), SPICE Luncheon (raised $30,000 in 21- 22) and other fundraisers that may occur throughout the school year. -Pivoted to a Virtual Auction in 2020 and 2021, and in April 2022, held the most financially successful Gala and Auction in the school’s history, raising over $400,000. -Recruits and empowers parent and community volunteers to assist with special events throughout the school year. Serves as a liaison to the School Board, the PTO Board, and various community and parish organizations. -Established and maintains the donor database, including donor acknowledgement efforts for all levels of giving. -Successfully transitioned the Advancement department to online giving, facilitating greater ease in giving and increasing the number and amount of donations to SLCS. -Established the first Endowment for Tuition Assistance in the history of St. Laurence Catholic School, providing the opportunity for scholarships to deserving students for years to come. -Establishes and maintains relationships with donors, including foundations and grant providers. Researches, writes, and facilitates grant requests.

- Responsible for planning, implementing and executing signature fundraising events associated with the Annual Giving and Events program. Events include Houston Restaurant Weeks, Backpack Blast, Run for a Reason, Chefs’ Dinner and Empty Bowls.- Coordinate all activities associated with f.r.e.s.h., the Houston Food Bank’s young professionals’ society. Activities include fundraising events, volunteer opportunities, networking activities, and learning experiences.- Provide leadership and support to event chairs and committee members in a team-based system.- Manage and coordinate event related solicitations,monitor income and expenses for fundraising events to ensure they are meeting projections and maintain event data and metrics in Raiser’s Edge events module.- Responsible for coordinating assigned cultivation and appreciation activities for event donors/prospects.

- Connect with non-profits, health related institutions, residential care facilities, religious institutions, and other community groups in order to create awareness of and engagement in chapter activities.- Build relationships within the community and develop partnerships that will position the chapter as the leader in Alzheimer’s education and services.- Recruit, train, and manage volunteers to help provide services and raise funds in the area.- Plan and coordinate the Walk to End Alzheimer's event in Sugar Land, Texas. The walk raises awareness and over $130,000 in funds for Alzheimer's care, support, and research. In 2016, over 1,100 walkers participated in the walk at Constellation Field in Sugar Land.- Assist teams in the Fort Bend area with planning and fundraising for The Longest Day, the Alzheimer's Association second signature fundraising event.- Coordinate the inaugural Reason to Hope fundraising breakfast in May 2016 in Fort Bend as a way to engage high-level donors with the Alzheimer's Association.- Provide Alzheimer's disease educational to seniors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, students, and the community through various presentations, workshops, lunch and learn events, and panel discussions.- Create social engagement and art programs for individuals living with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and their families in Fort Bend County. Implemented "Memory Cafe" at the Mamie George Community Center in partnership with Catholic Charities in June 2015. Partnered with the Sugar Land Art Center and Gallery for 2 sessions of "Art with Heart" painting class for individuals with dementia in Fall 2015 and Spring 2016.

Corpus Christi, Texas Area

-Program director for YMCA outreach programs targeting low-income elementary, middle school and high school students throughout Corpus Christi. -Coordinated the YMCA North Side Tutoring program, the Youth and Government program in 3 high schools and 2 middle schools, YMCA Teen Camp during the summer, T.C. Ayers Pool, and the MEND program, serving a total of over 600 children and families each year. -Actively involved in writing all grants for YMCA programs, assisting with the YMCA annual campaign, updating the YMCA website, and creating brochures and flyers for upcoming events. -Worked in conjunction with community leaders, businesses, schools, churches, foundations, donors, and other non-profit organizations to schedule YMCA outreach events. -Planned and coordinated YMCA events including community events, charity giveaways, annual campaign fundraisers, and out-of- town trips.