Samantha Decker Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

- prepare and submit grant proposals and reports to foundation and corporate funders- develop and implement strategy and processes for identification of new donor prospects- develop and maintain communications with funders and partners- collaborate as needed on cross-functional teams to support additional revenue opportunities such as government grants, contracts, and fee for service opportunities- develop, maintain, and monitor fundraising pipelines as related to institutional donors

Chicago, Illinois, United States

- Set and execute strategy to reach annual giving and participation goals; lead the development of a comprehensive annual appeal program including the conception, planning, creation, and execution of all annual fund appeals and campaigns- Project manage all solicitations for record-breaking 2022 fundraising luncheon, generating more than $3.3M in contributions and 1,200 guests- Create and execute first ever quarterly stewardship report communications for the entire donor base - Chief author and project manager of monthly alumni e-newsletters - Fluency in fundraising data management; ensuring accurate record keeping and appropriate donor segmentation and ratings to support prospecting and moves management of the larger team

Chicago, Il, United States

- Serve as project manager, primary point of contact, and strategic partner to nonprofit clients during preliminary phases of all campaign feasibility and fundraising assessment contracts across the Central US Region - Build all foundational materials needed throughout engagements with clients including: project work plans, data and materials requests, wealth screening analysis, preliminary cases for support, donor correspondence, peer benchmarking exercises, feasibility study tools, and high-level data analysis- Oversee, conduct, and deliver findings of full campaign feasibility studies, peer benchmarking, and development assessment engagements for select clients including DuPage County Animal Services/DuPage Animal Friends, Chattanooga Area Food Bank, and St. Andrew’s Catholic Parish- Other nonprofit clients include: Erikson Institute, Ounce of Prevention Fund, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Totino-Grace High School, Loyola Catholic High School, and a variety of faith-based organizations

Chicago, Illinois

-Manage portfolio of $1.48 million of foundation and government donors for Chicago’s NPR radio station-Write, produce, and edit a variety of proposals and reports to donors, working across departments to gather information and resources-Create, document, and implement standard operating procedures for the institutional giving program, including internal evaluation metrics, research and prospecting, pipeline management, and deadline management-Monitor and synthesize industry related research, news, and trends for the entire development team

- Manage entire $2.2 million portfolio of foundation and government donors to Chicago’s premier PBS Station and classical music radio station- Produce, write, edit, and design a variety of proposals, reports, and cases for support to foundation and government donors including general operating support, as well as project specific support - Steward and build relationships with portfolio of 125 foundation donors- Serve as primary point of contact for all foundation and government donors

Chicago, Il

- Serve as first and only fundraising staff member, overseeing and creating a fundraising department to support a $2.2 Million organization- Identify, research, solicit, and steward a complete major gifts portfolio of 12 individual donors- Create, execute, and evaluate all individual giving appeals, on average 4 per year- Identify and research all corporate, foundation, and government granting opportunities, as well as the creation of a master grantwriting calendar, averaging 15 proposals per year- Prepare all letters of inquiry, proposals, and reports for collective $300,000 portfolio of new grantwriting initiatives- Craft and execute two major fundraising events each year to highest grossing totals in company history- Work directly with Board of Directors to prepare monthly and weekly reports, managing expense and revenue budgets, and oversee database transition and record-keeping

Chicago

-Prepare proposals, reports, and supporting documents for all corporate, foundation, and government funders- Lead writer on 2014 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award and selected as one of twelve winners- Serve as primary stewardship contact for high-profile partners such as American Airlines, Hyatt Hotels, BMO Harris Bank, JP Morgan Chase, BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois, Illinois Arts Council, and The Davee Foundation- Process partnership documentation including agreements and invoices, transmittal contracts, pledge reminders, and acknowledgement letters for a $1.7 Million collective portfolio of 20 corporate, 40 foundation, and 3 government partners- Solicit and steward entire $200,000 in-kind portfolio to highest levels of success in company history- Prepare season visibility reports for corporate partners and fulfill impressions requests from sponsors- Manage partner benefits including: producing special events, VIP ticketing, and promotional co-branding partnerships- Monitor and enforce brand and style guidelines in all marketing and fundraising documentation and signage- Identify and research new corporate and foundation prospects

Assist on annual Gala planning and implementation. Grant research and writing.

Consulting: Assisted in the management of the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, and Business Volunteers for the Arts programs. Developed organization intake survey as well as a training program for new volunteers.Development: Successfully managed a small grant making program throughout the summer from call for submissions to selection process.

Managed and directed all performance programming throughout the academic year including a ten-minute play festival, artist in residency series, as well as the open mic series. Successfully updated programming series to become the most requested, most attended, and highest grossing program within the organization.

Managed a staff of twelve, serving all music, theatre, and dance events within Illinois State University as well as the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.Oversaw training of new staff members, development of season subscriber program, group sales, playbill creation, and concessions.

Served as assistant company manager, responsible for weekly Actor's Equity reports, and payroll. Assisted with all housing, transportation, and medical needs of company members.

Master Of Arts Management, Management, Non-Profits, Performing Arts

Master's Thesis: Carnegie Mellon School of Music/Carnegie Music Hall Proposed Strategic Alliance Feasibility Study

B.S., Theatre, Business Administration