Alexis R. Smith
Phoenix,AZ
Summary
Experienced Senior Fund Development Officer with 40+ years of expertise in managing and expanding individual and institutional giving. Skilled in fostering donor relationships, executing successful fundraising initiatives, and securing substantial funding through strategic planning. Proficient in efficient stewardship, tailored outreach for foundation and corporate support, multi-year gifts, planned giving, endowments, special events, and donor recognition. Capable of overseeing projects from development to delivery, driving efficiency improvements, and influencing positive outcomes.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Operations – Grants Management & Donor Engagement
Jewish Family & Children’s Service
01.2017 - Current
- Currently holding a $1.2M funding portfolio – individual, corporate, foundation, government awards.
- Coordinate and maintain the grantsmanship cycle (researching, planning, writing, and reporting) to raise institutional support from individual, foundation, corporate, and civic sources at identified funding levels to meet and/or exceed overall fund development revenue goals.
- Maintain a Master Prospect & Agreement source chart for potential and awarded grants with start/end dates, internal/external contacts, and reporting dates.
- Research and evaluate the feasibility of prospects in line with JFCS strategic plan.
- Serve as primary relationship manager for an assigned portfolio of 650+ donors ($3K level & above), working through stages of donor relationships (identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship).
- Write case statements for special initiatives and program expansions.
- Foster relationships to boost increased investment in JFCS's mission through consistent communication, including annual reports, newsletters, donor impact reports, and events.
Grants Manager – Donor Engagement
Arizona Theatre Company
01.2015 - 12.2016
- Held a $950K funding portfolio for the largest LORT theatre company in the Southwest.
- Collaborated with Managing and Artistic Directors, Fund Development Director, and Governing Board in strategizing the direction/development of securing funders to raise $2M to avoid canceling the 2016-2017 season.
- Increased overall corporate, foundation and government funding by 45% in FY16 for education programs and production sponsorships.
- Implemented new revenue generating programs and partnerships focused on literacy for increased growth in statewide Education and Community Engagement initiatives. 30,000 youth served in the 2015-2016 school year, a 50% increase over the previous year. Brokered 37 new partnerships with school districts and social services organizations.
- Designed and implemented qualitative and arts-based assessments to add in-depth data to quantitative surveys to increase the relevance and effectiveness of Education and Community Engagement initiatives.
- Coordinated Opening Night donor dinners, After Performance Parties, and Behind the Scenes Tours.
Grants and Contracts Compliance Manager
Sojourner Center
10.2013 - 12.2014
- Managed a $3.2M funding portfolio for the largest domestic violence shelter in the Southwest.
- Planned and led the agency's rebranding with a contracted advertising firm, including logo, mission statement, website design, and marketing materials.
- Wrote and delivered presentations on complex issues to a variety of audiences.
Grants Writer – Donor Engagement
The Phoenix Symphony
06.2012 - 10.2013
- Obtained $1.5M in private/public funding for Education & Community Outreach programs and Concert Season Sponsorships.
- 1 of 22 symphony orchestras awarded the prestigious League of American Orchestras - The Getty Foundation grant for B-Sharp, an innovative community outreach targeting music wellness and homelessness.
- Developed evaluation tools and measurable deliverables for outreach programs including Mind Over Music, a teacher-training model integrating experiential hands-on music activities woven into STE[+a]M lessons and the Music Education Partnership, a Title 1 school "adoption" for music education.
- Led new opportunity identification, research, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for growth tied to community outreach, concert series sponsorship, and general operating.
Sr. Director of Research, Evaluation & Grants Management
Communities In Schools Arizona
07.2007 - 03.2012
- Managed $3.5M portfolio of federal, public, and private foundation grants for building capacity in K-12 schools using a "community school" holistic student support services model targeting dropout prevention. Increased federal, state, and tribal gaming grant revenues by $3M within two years.
- Wrote, awarded, and directed 3 Corporation for National and Community Service - AmeriCorps National and AmeriCorps State program grants, a $2.8M project serving 5 states with supervision of 136 AmeriCorps members and 8 program directors.
- Implemented agency expansion in Southwest Maricopa County, Central and Southern Arizona. Established delivery of student support services with 4 tribal-based schools and 35 school sites in four school districts.
Grants & Public Relations Writer
Deer Valley Unified School District
09.2005 - 06.2008
- Increased grant revenue from zero to $3.2M within 2.5 years by spearheading creation and implementation of highly effective grants management plan.
- Wrote and awarded the district's first 21st Century Community Learning Center grant ($960,072) using an Arts Education Integration approach to academic intervention.
- Developed and executed strategic external and internal communication/marketing plans, website and publication design, high-visibility special events, and regular contacts with media.
- Increased community visibility by 50% through local, state, and national recognition campaigns.
- Edited and proofread written materials for clarity and accuracy.
- Utilized exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills to produce engaging and error-free content.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Photography
Brooks Institute of Photography
Santa Barbara, California05.1977
Skills
- Technical Skills: Bloomerang, Raiser’s Edge, Tessitura, PatronManager / Sales Force donor databases Proficient with AP, MLA, and Chicago Manual Style Microsoft Office Suites
- Specialized Expertise: Visual & Performing Arts Arts Wellness Creative Aging Historical Preservation STEM and STEaM Development, Programming, Delivery and Evaluation Social Services
- Specialized Proficiency: Large Scale Management – Individual and Corporate Giving Programs Stewardship Development and Engagement Grants and Contracts Management, Reporting, Compliance Auditing and Monitoring Budget Development and Control Strategic Planning Capital Campaigns Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Program - Education and Nonprofit Sectors
- Strategic planning and execution
- Relationship building
- Goal setting
Training
- Presenter
- Nutrition & Heart: Healthy Eating for All – Hosted by Banner University Family Care & Arizona Heart Association, Lead Presenter on Food Security & Client Choice Models for Nonprofits, July 2023.
- Arts Education Integration & Academic Interventions, Arizona Department of Education, 21st Century Community Learning Center State Conference, 2008, 2009, 2010
- STEaM Models for K-12, Eight Educational Outreach/ASSET Annual Educator Institute, 2009, 2010
- Corporate Giving, Donor Stewardship, Grants Management & Event Sponsorships Workshops, Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies –, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Writer’s Workshops Series-Asset-Based Community Development, Community Mapping, Collective Impact, Nonprofit Self-Assessment Program, Arizona State University, 2004, 2005, 2006
Awards
- National School Public Relations Association, 2008 Award of Merit – Special Report to the Community: Bond Project Management., Arizona School Public Relations Association, 2008 ASPRA
- Tions Awards, Award of Excellence – Public Relations Program Award of Excellence DVNET, 2007 ASPRA
- Tions Award, Award of Excellence – Overall Public Relations Program, Award of Excellence Building Bridges to the Future, A Business & School Partnership Program, Award of Excellence – Red Carpet Customer Service
Timeline
Director of Operations – Grants Management & Donor Engagement
Jewish Family & Children’s Service
01.2017 - Current
Grants Manager – Donor Engagement
Arizona Theatre Company
01.2015 - 12.2016
Grants and Contracts Compliance Manager
Sojourner Center
10.2013 - 12.2014
Grants Writer – Donor Engagement
The Phoenix Symphony
06.2012 - 10.2013
Sr. Director of Research, Evaluation & Grants Management
Communities In Schools Arizona
07.2007 - 03.2012
Grants & Public Relations Writer
Deer Valley Unified School District
09.2005 - 06.2008
Bachelor of Arts - Photography
Brooks Institute of Photography
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