Robin Simons Email & Phone Number

Bainbridge Island, Wa

Slverdale, Wa

I was brought in to help repair an organization in serious distress after the abrupt departure of the previous management team. As supervisor of all day-to-day operations including animal intake, adoptions, animal care, volunteer recruitment and management, outreach, customer service, and income generation, I manage a staff of 25 and over 75 active volunteers. I am creating or strengthening systems in all aspects of shelter operations including data entry and management, development and documentation of policies and procedures, streamlining the animal management and adoption processes in order to speed adoptions and increase revenue, staff hiring and internal culture, and short- and long- term planning for all departments.

Bainbridge Island, Wa; Ethiopia

I managed fundraising and communications for this Ethiopia-based, global development NGO. My responsibilities included grant research, writing and reporting (I secured a $500,000 grant from USAID, which was highly unusual given that we were a one year old organization); donor relations; website development and maintenance; writing and design of the annual report and e-newsletters; and public speaking.

Seattle, Wa

I developed, researched and wrote all foundation grant proposals for this sustainability think tank.

Washington, Dc

I conceived, developed and acquired $2 million in funding for an entirely interactive traveling exhibit, Coming of Age in America, for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The exhibit was designed to travel to shopping centers in order to help babyboomers plan for their own positive aging and assist them in caring for their aging parents. To support the exhibit I developed partnerships with the U.S. Administration on Aging, AARP, American Express, and Johnson & Johnson.

Seattle, Wa

Initially hired as a consultant to develop the public programs/education plan for the new museum prior to its opening, I was then hired as the first Director of Programs. Programs included tours, exhibit related programs, lectures, films, special events, festivals, and school and children’s programs. I hired and managed a staff of three and a docent corps of 50. I managed the department budget.

Denver, Co

I was brought in as a consultant to create a museum in Denver about the history of African Americans in the frontier west using the organization’s sizeable collection of artifacts. I arranged for the creation of the museum in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, developed the exhibit and program plans, garnered funding for the museum from the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as local foundations and corporations, and directed the museum for the first year of its operation.

Washington, Dc

I was hired by the NEA to consult with NEA grantees on management issues, long-range planning, fundraising, board development, and earned income generation.

Denver, Co

I conceived and managed the development and implementation of all exhibits and public programs at this entirely interactive museum, and supervised day-to-day operations. I developed and implemented an income generating traveling exhibit program, which rented exhibits to local schools, community centers and shopping malls. I hired and supervised the museum’s staff and volunteers and managed the design and construction of the museum’s new $3.2 million building. I wrote all the museum’s grant proposals and much of the marketing material.