Sara O'Hare Email & Phone Number

Remote

As Vice President of Operations at the Parkinson's Foundation, I lead cross-departmental strategies to streamline processes, drive operational efficiency, and address organizational gaps that impact our mission. My role centers on building frameworks that enhance our team’s effectiveness and empower growth across all functions. With a focus on collaboration and continuous improvement, I work closely with leadership to refine processes in budgeting, data management, and advancement operations… Show more As Vice President of Operations at the Parkinson's Foundation, I lead cross-departmental strategies to streamline processes, drive operational efficiency, and address organizational gaps that impact our mission. My role centers on building frameworks that enhance our team’s effectiveness and empower growth across all functions. With a focus on collaboration and continuous improvement, I work closely with leadership to refine processes in budgeting, data management, and advancement operations, ensuring we’re equipped to meet evolving organizational goals.Key areas of impact include:• Operational Strategy: Overseeing and implementing initiatives to optimize day-to-day operations, fostering a culture of efficiency and adaptability.• Advancement Operations: Supporting fundraising success through structured processes in donor services, database management, and reporting.• Budget Strategy & Planning: Partnering with leadership to enhance budgetary processes, streamline coding, and provide tools that support financial planning.• Data & Donor Services Optimization: Leveraging automation and data accuracy to improve donor engagement, satisfaction, and long-term stewardship.I am passionate about aligning our operations with our mission, building sustainable frameworks, and driving the organizational growth that enhances our impact. Show less

Remote

As a Senior Leadership Team member with strategic implementation and management expertise, I oversee Chapter fundraising and program initiatives, maintain confidentiality, and communicate and liaise with multiple internal and external stakeholders.Key Accomplishments:• Successfully designed and implemented a regional Chapter structure, organizing markets, staff, and resources into 17 Chapters to ensure nationwide constituent service. • Increased overall revenue by implementing a… Show more As a Senior Leadership Team member with strategic implementation and management expertise, I oversee Chapter fundraising and program initiatives, maintain confidentiality, and communicate and liaise with multiple internal and external stakeholders.Key Accomplishments:• Successfully designed and implemented a regional Chapter structure, organizing markets, staff, and resources into 17 Chapters to ensure nationwide constituent service. • Increased overall revenue by implementing a strategy to diversify our giving portfolio.• Develop comprehensive budgeting guidelines that ensure growth of annual Chapter revenue goals in alignment with strategic goals.• Compile and analyze monthly revenue reports and actively engage with Chapter leaders, ensuring accountability toward meeting set goals.• Develop and set annual goals and implement efficient tracking methods.• Create efficiencies through business processes and procedures, which include policies for onboarding, mass email communications, use of data, and a protocol for disclosing relationships in the CRM.• Establish and maintain relationships with key donors, volunteers, and other external stakeholders.• Serve as the liaison with internal department leaders to ensure collaboration and cohesion towards the Foundation’s strategic goals. • Manage the data and donor services departments, including staff who coordinate donation processing, donor stewardship, CRM database management, and fundraising technology.• Lead a cross-departmental Operational Governance group to assess current business processes and procedures and advise improvements that support sustainable organizational growth.• Serve on various internal working groups, including the Strategic Planning Committee, to set and measure four-year vision and strategy goals.• Ensure uniformity across all systems in data collection and consistency in the appearance of webpages and forms, enhancing the overall user experience. Show less

United States

Managed a national events team and oversaw annual fundraising events across the country. Provided event strategy, guidebooks, and marketing materials for staff. Secured a network of volunteers. Developed and monitored annual event budgets and work plans to ensure revenues and expenses were aligned.Key Accomplishments:• Developed materials, guidelines, and budget tools for the development staff managing over 100 fundraising events.• Conducted staff professional development… Show more Managed a national events team and oversaw annual fundraising events across the country. Provided event strategy, guidebooks, and marketing materials for staff. Secured a network of volunteers. Developed and monitored annual event budgets and work plans to ensure revenues and expenses were aligned.Key Accomplishments:• Developed materials, guidelines, and budget tools for the development staff managing over 100 fundraising events.• Conducted staff professional development training and monthly meetings.• Served as interim regional director for the Midwest and Southeast and as a national director of corporate sponsorships during vacancies.• Implemented and documented new procedures, including gift crediting, constituent data management, sustainer and pledge gifts, and stewardship procedures.• Improved local advisory board structure by developing board member volunteer agreements, terms, a manual, and an orientation presentation to assist in recruiting, training, and retaining volunteer board members.• Implemented new donor and volunteer stewardship touch points, including the use of video technology and a Loyalty Donor Program. Show less

Greater Chicago Area

As the Development Director, I introduced and established the Parkinson’s Foundation in the Chicago market as the organization's first remote field team member. Through grassroots initiatives such as events, educational programs, and other initiatives I worked to foster impactful relationships within the Parkinson's community. This groundbreaking work went on to become the benchmark model for the Foundation's expansion into new markets.Key Accomplishments:• Spearheaded the annual… Show more As the Development Director, I introduced and established the Parkinson’s Foundation in the Chicago market as the organization's first remote field team member. Through grassroots initiatives such as events, educational programs, and other initiatives I worked to foster impactful relationships within the Parkinson's community. This groundbreaking work went on to become the benchmark model for the Foundation's expansion into new markets.Key Accomplishments:• Spearheaded the annual peer-to-peer Moving Day Chicago fundraising walk with 165+ teams and a retention rate of 67% raising $5M+ since launch in 2012.• Obtained $150k annually in funds from corporate event sponsors.• Established and maintained year-round relationships with walk participants, concurrently developing a proactive pipeline for securing major gifts.• Collaborated with local Centers of Excellence, fostering relationships with neurologists and other care team members to partner on educational programs and secure participation in peer-to-peer events.• Recruited and collaborated with a dedicated volunteer committee and successfully recruited and organized over 100 volunteers for event day.• Presented free patient and caregiver resources to 50+ support groups while connecting with all major healthcare systems treating Parkinson's patients in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas.• Authored a grant for the African American community to start a program on the south and west sides of Chicago, bringing education and services to underserved communities.• Proclaimed April as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month in Illinois, lit the Chicago skyline blue, secured funding through a revenue share campaign with Sport Clips, and collected data on women with Parkinson's and their struggles. Show less

While working as the Director of Marketing, I worked to ensure the sales, marketing communications, registration, public relations, and operations departments had the support they needed to succeed. I was successful in securing premier speakers for luncheons, presentations, networking events, exhibits, charity events, and design competitions.My career highlights include:• Creating and managing a tradeshow budget of $7.1M (NeoCon) and $1.7M (NeoCon East) for the contract furniture… Show more While working as the Director of Marketing, I worked to ensure the sales, marketing communications, registration, public relations, and operations departments had the support they needed to succeed. I was successful in securing premier speakers for luncheons, presentations, networking events, exhibits, charity events, and design competitions.My career highlights include:• Creating and managing a tradeshow budget of $7.1M (NeoCon) and $1.7M (NeoCon East) for the contract furniture department. Show less

During my time as the Education and Event Coordinator, I created marketing materials for upcoming educational programs, events, and conferences. I also succeeded in identifying sites and negotiating contracts while remaining in compliance with budgetary constraints.

While working for the Hyatt Regency Chicago, I held multiple roles with increasing responsibility. I was responsible for collaborating with clients to plan and implement their functions ensuring all event facets were in order. I was successful in expanding my knowledge on the logistics involved in operating a large convention hotel.Some of my career highlights include:• Leading and directing banquet operations for the largest hotel chain in Chicago with three ballrooms, an exhibit… Show more While working for the Hyatt Regency Chicago, I held multiple roles with increasing responsibility. I was responsible for collaborating with clients to plan and implement their functions ensuring all event facets were in order. I was successful in expanding my knowledge on the logistics involved in operating a large convention hotel.Some of my career highlights include:• Leading and directing banquet operations for the largest hotel chain in Chicago with three ballrooms, an exhibit hall, and 265,000-square-feet of meeting space.• Supervising 200 individuals, offering training to employees on company policies and procedures, managing schedules, and processing payroll for employees. Show less

Bachelors Of Science, Hotel And Restaurant Management

Education record