Michael Carson Email & Phone Number

Jonesborough, Tennessee, United States

The International Storytelling Center is the premiere educational, arts and cultural institution dedicated to building better lives through the art of storytelling. ISC’s goal is to inspire and empower people everywhere to capture and tell their stories, listen to the stories of others, and use storytelling to produce positive change.Michael is responsible for the leadership of ISC’s activities, and his duties involve serving as ISC’s organizational leader. Michael reports directly to the Board of Directors and guides and directs all activities of ISC’s dedicated staff. His priorities include Vision Setting and Strategy, Fundraising and Resource Development, Fiscal and Operational Oversight, and Culture and Community.

Silver Spring, Md Usa

IFE is a consulting firm with proven expertise and results in Business Development and Fundraising, Project Design and Management, Public-Private Partnerships, Organization Assessment, Strategic Planning, Knowledge Management and Learning, Corporate Social Responsibility, Rural Development, Agribusiness, Community Health and HIVAIDS, Non-Profit Executing Coaching and Non-Profit Executive Leadership. Michael possesses geographic experience in sub-Saharan Africa, Central Europe and Southeast Asia. For more details refer to www.innovationforempowerment.com Past Client: Mercy Corps, Oregon USA, February 2016 – Present. Performance Evaluation Consultant, Oil and Gas Global Partnership Initiative. Conduct a performance evaluation of Mercy Corps’ Oil and Gas Global Partnership Initiative through mixed methods evaluation planning and execution, desk research of program documentation, Healthy Partnership survey data analysis, stakeholder interviews and site visits to the Netherlands, China and Indonesia.Past Client: ACDI/VOCA, Washington, DC/Conakry, Guinea, July-September 2015. Sr. Value Chain Researcher for USAID’s Leveraging Economic Opportunities project. Responsibilities include: Review/Desk Research. Reviewing existing documents and evidence for each commodity type, Support the Team leader in the delivery of value chain training for local consultants. Field work on Consumption and Production Trends, and conduct Value Chain Analysis.Past Client: Tetratech DPK, Baghdad, Iraq, May - July 2015 - Responsible for designing and implementing a corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy for their USAID-funded Iraq Access to Justice Program. Training and building the capacity of the Iraq Legal Clinic Network (LCN) leadership on corporate and foundation fundraising. Drafted a CSR fundraising plan for the LCN. Identifying and approaching Iraqi oil and gas and telecommunications companies and U.S. foundations for funding and strategic partnerships.

Washington Dc-Baltimore Area

WISER’s mission is to empower East African girls through transformative education and health. Michael was responsible for the leadership, oversight, and expansion of WISER. He led a team of four consultants, and was responsible for the fundraising, advocacy, finance, donor compliance and board governance of WISER. Michael’s achievements include securing renewals on all existing grants, two multi-year foundation commitments, and multiple five-figure donations from outgoing WISER board members.

Eugene, Oregon Area

CREATE!’s vision is to empower Africans to act on climate change. Our mission is to build resilience through solar-powered water supply, organic agriculture, micro-credit, and renewable energy initiatives. Michael was responsible for the leadership, management and expansion of CREATE!. He led 16 staff, served as chief strategist and technical advisor and was responsible for the finances, donor compliance, and fundraising for CREATE! Michael’s achievements included facilitating and co-writing a participatory strategic plan and Case for Support from major donors, securing seven new foundation and corporate partnerships, and expanding CREATE!s reforestation, climate action and nutrition activities.

Silver Spring, Maryland Ussa

TREES’ mission is to be the catalyst that permanently eradicates rural poverty in the developing world by implementing - and teaching others to implement - the Forest Garden Approach. Michael was responsible for the effective management and growth of Trees for the Future's field-based teams. Michael’s duties included leadership and coordination of field operations, technical support to special initiatives like Credit for Trees, strategic partnership and business development and representation and presenting at national and international conferences.

Arlington, Va Usa

TREES’ mission is to be the catalyst that permanently eradicates rural poverty in the developing world by implementing - and teaching others to implement - the Forest Garden Approach. Michael was responsible for the effective management and growth of Trees for the Future's field-based teams. Michael’s duties included leadership and coordination of field operations, technical support to special initiatives like Credit for Trees, strategic partnership and business development and representation and presenting at national and international conferences.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Conducted an assessment of Africare resuming its Guinea development program. Wrote a successful post-Ebola Agriculture Recovery proposal to an international mining company with the Ministry of Agriculture and farmers’ associations.

Washington, Dc Usa

The Fund for Justice and Education (FJE) solicits and secures financial resources to advance the mission-driven public service and educational endeavors of the ABA. In 2011-2012, the FJE received more than $57 million in charitable gifts and grants to promote: access to justice; children and family rights; public education; international justice; and professionalism in the legal field.Responsible for researching, identifying, analyzing and developing high-level funding opportunities for ABA public service programs (domestic and international), with an emphasis towards funding that supports international projects through the Center for Human Rights and Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI). Formulates and executes funding strategies including outreach to individuals, law firms, corporations and other potential prospects.Cultivates those and other funding prospects and implements fundraising initiatives to secure charitable gifts and grants.Conceive and execute fundraising campaigns around strategic initiatives and special events.

New Rochelle, New York And Washington, Dc Area

Executed an organization assessment of SM's operations, management structure, revenue streams and future strategic direction.Reviewed SM's Corporate Engagement partners and initiatives. Designed a corporate engagement strategy in collaboration with SM's executive leadership.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Serve as Team Leader on a West Africa USDA Food for Progress proposal Engage in partnership development for agribusiness initiativesConceptualize an agriculture venture finance model for Africare to include in existing projects and new business proposals.

Bethesda, Md Usa

Deepened relations and co-developed an Africa agribusiness briefing note for a major U.S. foundation.

AFG is an NGO that works in collaboration with Hyperdynamics Co and other oil exploration and production companies to promote improved health and social well-being in Guinea, West Africa.

Conduct government and foundation business development for health and HIVAIDS prevention, care and treatment NGO.

Responsible for new business development, technical support and management for four country offices and fifteen affiliate NGOs.

Oversaw a six-country, $60 million economic development, humanitarian and HIVAIDs program portfolio. Directly managed four HQ officers and six country directors.

Washington, Dc, Usa

• Provided administrative and program support to four Southern Africa offices implementing a USAID-funded $4.2 million emergency water program.

Naivasha And Taita Hills, Kenya

• Coordinated technical (i.e., beekeeping, dairy production and fisheries) and business management assistance, and financing of self-help groups and individual enterprises. • Co-developed, coordinated and implemented two business management seminars for fifty entrepreneurs. • Conceptualized proposals and secured $30,000 from USAID’s Small Project Assistance program, and $60,000 from U.S. Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund for three group initiatives. Supervised procurement and monitored construction activities. • Managed Trickle-Up Program for Taita Hills region and administered financing to seven small businesses.

Schaumburg, Il Usa

• Provided marketing and administrative support to sales representatives by structuring lease/finance transactions. • Analyzed clients’ financial situation and coordinated documentation and processing of transactions. • Achieved thirty percent increase in processed transactions. Received the Outstanding Service Award, Midwest Region, 1986.

Mpa (Mid-Career), Economic Development, Leadership

Activities and Societies: Carr Center Human Rights Research Grant Recipient, Guinea-Bissau, 2003-4 Co-Founder, Kennedy School Social.

Certificate, Non-Profit Management Institute

Activities and Societies: Presented on non-profit organizations effective use of social mediaCo-sponsored by Stanford Social Innovation.

Mba, Finance, 3.5

Activities and Societies: Toastmasters International, Entrepreneurs ClubExecutive Management Fellow Empire Real Estate Scholar

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Political Science, Minor: Philosophy

Activities and Societies: President, Black Student Alliance 1983-4

Diploma, College Prepatory

Activities and Societies: Secretary, Student Council, Sportswriter, Beacon Newspaper, Basketball, 1976-8, 1979-80, Tennis, 1979-80.