EXPERIENCE

YIMBY Action | National; Remote from Austin, Texas                                          

Senior Manager, Major Gifts | March 2026 – Present                       

·       Responsible for raising $1.3M in major gifts and event sponsorships; of $3.85M annual contributed goal.

·       Establish Major Gifts department and annual plan to prospect, retain and increase donors giving $5K to $200K annually.

·       Direct executive leadership team in prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of a portfolio of 150+ major donors.

·       Develop and execute annual calendar of mass, segmented, and individualized donor relationship touchpoints.

·       Plan and execute donor events including regional house parties, annual gala, and donor convenings in San Francisco and DC.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas | Austin, Texas                                                  

Philanthropy Officer | December 2023 – March 2026           

·       Responsible for raising $1.9M in major gifts, planned gifts, and event sponsorships; of $26.7M annual contributed goal.

·       Prospected, cultivated, solicited, and stewarded a portfolio of 80+ major donors and trustees in Central Texas and California.

·       Developed and executed annual calendar of mass donor communications and individualized donor relationship touchpoints.

·       Planned and executed annual gala, donor appreciation events and health center tours with Events and Health Services teams.

·       Managed 25-member Community Board leading member events, quarterly meetings, nominations and succession planning.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden | Brooklyn, New York                                               

Associate Director of Donor Engagement | May 2023 – October 2023

·       Responsible for raising $2.1M in major gifts, planned gifts, and dedications; of $3.5M annual contributed goal.

·       Prospected, cultivated, and stewarded a portfolio of 300+ high net-worth donors and board candidates.

·       Create, present, and track donor communications, reports, engagement, and moves management using Raiser’s Edge.         

·       Planned and executed cultivation events for major donors and President’s Circle members in collaboration with Events team.

·       Supervised team of three: Major Gifts Managers (Donor Engagement; Research & Stewardship) and Development Associate.

Thinkery (Austin Children’s Museum) | Austin, Texas                                                  

Senior Institutional Giving Manager | November 2020 – April 2023                

·       Responsible for raising $900K in corporate, foundation, and government grants; of $1.2M annual contributed goal.

·       Developed departmental goals, strategy, budgets, policies, and procedures as part of the Advancement Leadership Team.

·       Led prospecting, stewardship, budget creation, and submission of grant LOIs, applications, reports, and petitions for change.

·       Tracked, analyzed, and managed government relations, compliance, and advocacy for STEAM education and research.

·       Supervised Grant Writing Associate and Institutional Giving Coordinator.

Zach Theater | Austin, Texas

Institutional Giving Manager | January 2018 – April 2020                                                                                     

·       Responsible for raising $1.1M in corporate sponsorships, foundation, and government grants; of $3M annual contributed goal.

·       Prospected, wrote, and managed LOIs, applications, reports, and budgets for grants, and stewarded corporate partners.

·       Tracked, analyzed, and managed government relations, policy, compliance, and advocacy for the performing arts.

·       Supervised contracted Grant Writer.

Texas Civil Rights Project | Austin, Texas     

Development Associate | May 2017 – October 2017                                                                                    

·       Responsible for raising $500K in individual and institutional gifts; of $1.4M annual contributed goal.

·       Coordinated, promoted, and executed fundraisers in Austin, Houston, Dallas, DC, and NY, raising $300K annually.

·       Supervised team of two Development Interns.

Dunya Restaurant & Bar | Washington, DC                                                                                      

Manager; Marketing Director | November 2013 – November 2014                                                                     

·       Managed a staff of 6 full-time bartenders and bar backs, including hiring, training, and compliance as well as earned media.    

Silverwood Companies | Reston, Virginia 

Media & Marketing Manager | May 2012 – August 2013                                                                                

·       Managed marketing and communications for a 1,100+ unit, multi-family housing developer, increasing traffic 600%.

Kaine for Virginia (Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) 2012 Campaign) | Alexandria, Virginia

Development and Events Coordinator | May 2011 – January 2012                                                                    

·       Coordinated 40+ events, gaining over 700 new donors, contributing to record-breaking $18M total raised for campaign.

SKILLS

CRMs: Raiser’s Edge; Salesforce; Tessitura; Donor View; NGP VAN; BetterUnite

Languages: English; Spanish (conversational)

Fundraising Frameworks: Community-Centric; Donor Centered, Responsive; Moves Management

AI Agents: Claude; Gemini

Editing & Creative Programs: Photoshop; InDesign; Final Cut; Canva

Processing Suites: Adobe; Microsoft Office; Google; Airtable

BOARD SERVICE

US Oral History Association Board Development Committee: Chair | Term 2022-2025; Grants Specialist | Term 2021-2022

Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy Board: Trustee | Term 2026-2029; Development Committee | Term 2026-2029

SPEAKING & TEACHING ENGAGEMENTS

Grants 101: Prospecting, Writing, and Budget Creation for Beginners | Columbia University Alumni PD | November 2021; 2022

Ahak’lo (Listen to Me): Recording Family Oral Histories | Dynamic Women of the Chickasaw Nation Conference | May 2019

EDUCATION

Columbia University, Master of Arts, Oral History | Thesis Highest Honors | October 2016                                               

Tufts University, Bachelor of Arts, History & Political Science| Chickasaw Nation Hill Scholar | May 2011