Molly Schar Marker Email & Phone Number

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, the flagship program of Dolly's Foundation, is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by getting free books to children from birth to age five through funding shared by Dolly and state/local program partners in the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and Ireland.This grassroots, community-based book gifting program mails high-quality, age-appropriate books each month completely free to the family no matter their income. We’re here to inspire a love of reading that will stick with those little ones for life.Here in Louisiana, local program partners within a parish promote the Imagination Library, enroll children in their communities, and raise money to pay for half of the book printing and mailing. The State of Louisiana pays the other half, and the Dollywood Foundation covers the program administration and mailing the books out.Last year, we celebrated the statewide expansion of the Imagination Library. Now, our big work is to make sure we have program partners across the state covering every single zip code so all our children from birth to age five – no matter where they live – can enroll in the Imagination Library and start receiving their very own books in the mail each month.

Staff positions held:EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR at JOURNALISM & WOMEN SYMPOSIUM (JAWS)April 2023 - July 2024JAWS advances the professional empowerment and personal growth of women in journalism and advocates for more inclusive coverage. As executive director, I led day-to-day operations by partnering with volunteer leaders, members, supporters, contributors, staff, and media colleagues.EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR at NATIONAL STATES GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION COUNCIL (NSGIC)June 2016 - January 2022NSGIC promotes the coordinated, impactful, and cost-efficient application of location-based information and analytics to best serve the nation, with emphasis on the power of initiatives and public policy that connect across local, state, federal, and private sector partners. As NSGIC's first executive director, I led a 25-year-old organization into a new era. In partnership with leadership volunteers and the staff I built from ground up, my work extended from advocacy and outreach to organizational development and strategic operations.EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR at OWLJune 2009 - August 2014; Washington, DCOWL promotes and develops diverse leadership in ophthalmology. As executive director, I led OWL's operations and collaborated with the OWL board of directors, staff, funders and volunteers to deliver OWL programs and services.DIRECTOR OF MEMBER RELATIONS at GREATER COLUMBIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCESeptember 1999 - October 2000; Columbia, SCAt the chamber of commerce, I served as primary contact for 3500+ member companies, created and implemented membership retention programs, and planned networking events.MANAGER, CONTEMPORARIES MEMBERSHIP GROUP at COLUMBIA MUSEUM OF ARTAugust 1997 - October 1999; Columbia, SCAt this regional art museum, I directed fundraising and communications for the young professionals’ membership group, growing membership and directing special events including a summer outdoor rock concert series and annual formal ball.

Staff positions held:PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER at WORLD COUNCIL OF CREDIT UNIONSMay 2004 - September 2006; Washington, DCThe World Council of Credit Unions is a global trade association and development agency for credit unions. During my tenure, I directed Washington advocacy efforts before federal agencies and U.S. Congress, including collaborating on the successful first-ever effort to secure a $10 million program appropriation. I served actively as part of the Washington-based Microenterprise Coalition and U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council as legislative committee co-chair. I also developed a multimedia editorial campaign to raise awareness of organization and its work, and reported on projects and placed stories in national trade media and international donor publications.PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST at NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATIONFebruary 2002 - May 2004; Alexandria, VAThe National Credit Union Administration is the federal regulator and insurance provider for credit unions. There, I served as public and congressional affairs team member, representing the agency and its priorities to various audiences; developed and disseminated media kits; responded to media inquiries; handled media relations; pitched stories to trade and popular press (local and national); managed internal communications; and led the International Visitors Program for foreign government officials of banking cooperatives.

Staff positions held:VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS at PENFED FOUNDATIONAugust 2014 - March 2015; Alexandria, VAThe PenFed Foundation, associated with PenFed Credit Union, is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization working to meet the unmet needs of the military personnel and their families in the areas of financial literacy, housing and support for the wounded. As VP of Development & Communications, I planned and executed the organization's fundraising and external relations activities, including providing strategic fundraising leadership, developing long-term strategies for revenue growth, strengthening relationships with donors, raising funds through a variety of programs, and growing the brand and market presence of the foundation.DIRECTOR, WOMEN MOVING MILLIONS at WOMEN'S FUNDING NETWORKFebruary 2008 - February 2009; San Francisco, CAWomen Moving Millions was an amazing campaign that raised $1 million+ gifts from individual women donors to support women and girls. As campaign director, I worked with donor-leaders to support peer cultivation, solicitation and stewardship; provided specialized fundraising technical assistance to women's funds; and oversaw a program to increase major gift fundraising of women's foundations.STEWARDSHIP MANAGER at AMERICAN RED CROSS NATIONAL HQJanuary 2007 - February 2008; Washington, DCAt the national headquarters of the American Red Cross, I led a staff of 11 to define and execute advanced strategy for donor retention and growth, focusing on effective donor communications in a complex and fast paced disaster relief organization. We developed flexible tools for front line fundraisers and training staff, including high impact reports, communications templates and turnkey donor recognition programs. Codifying resources throughout the ARC organization, I developed a fundraising toolkit for 750+ chapters and launched a companion website for sharing of best practices.