Nicholas Gould Email and Phone Number

I re-launched Gallaudet's planned giving program and successfully raised over $10 million in new planned giving commitments. On a macro-level, I focused on developing strategies, systems and gift policies that curate best practices and generate ever-higher levels of giving. On a micro-level, I focused on building genuine relationships with bighearted supporters and partnering with them to fulfill their philanthropic intentions using creative gift packages.

My mission was to articulate the critical role of private philanthropy support to Gallaudet University. I worked with a team of fundraisers to maximize the financial support to Gallaudet University by seeking private contributions in order to increase the margin of excellence of Gallaudet University's educational and research programs. I was responsible for crafting "thanking" strategies, developing fundraising strategies and carrying out specific fundraising initiatives. My specialty was saying "thank you" and working with planned giving donors and corporate sponsors.

For one semester I taught an introductions to communication course at Gallaudet University. The introductions course examined the elements that shape communication at the individual, small group, and public communication levels with emphasis on the practice of communication at each level. But what my students really learned was how to listen attentively, how to communicate big ideas, how to connect to people in a genuine way and how social media translates into transparency, trust and our own personal brand.

I successfully managed the design and execution of Gallaudet's annual giving program. I worked to develop and employ a myriad of experimental communication and solicitation tactics with the goal of recruiting and retaining new donors while increasing the total dollar amount raised by alumni donors and to focus on increasing the alumni participation rate. The basic principal of my fundraising strategy was be personal, be nice, always say thank you and practice great customer service. In two years, Gallaudet University saw historic gains. In October of 2011, Gallaudet University reported a participation rate of 10.2% and $272,377 raised from alumni. By 2012 the participation rate almost doubled to 19.4%. Then in 2013, a new record for the highest participation rate in Gallaudet's history was set at 22.2%. In 2013, we recruited 750 first-time donors and collected over $600,000 in alumni donations that year which was a 120% increase from $272,377 raised in 2010.

Using a bicycle, a fantastic team of volunteers, and the power of social media, I started a volunteer fundraising project called, "Operation: Miles for Smiles" which was a cross country bicycle excursion to raise money and awareness for Operation Smile by bicycling from Venice Beach, California to St. Augustine, Florida. We rode 3,000 miles and raised $15,000 for charity in 6 weeks. As we rode across the country, we gave interactive workshops and presentations to elementary and high schools students on the importance of volunteering and how to make it fun.

I traveled extensively to 30 plus states and 100 plus schools to recruit prospective students for enrollment to Gallaudet University. While traveling, I gave presentations, met with students one-on-one, met with parents, and attended regional college fairs.

Elected to the position of SBG President for the 2008 – 2009 academic year. I was responsible for the vision and execution of the Student Body Government for one academic year. Responsibilities included overseeing student government affairs and the administration of student government projects. Served as a representative of the student body at University functions and on University committees relating to fiscal planning, school policy, shared governance, academic rigor and student development. I was charged with addressing campus wide student issues and informing the university administration of ideas emanated from the student body. Manged the day-to-day operations of the Student Body Government’s executive office and administered a $50,000 organization budget.