ALLISON SARAS

Senior Major Gift Officer & Philanthropic Specialist

• Maintain a major gift portfolio of 125+ prospects, successfully securing gifts between $25K–$500K annually.
• Collaborate with university leadership, including the President, to foster strategic donor engagement.
• Orchestrate alumni events, such as a reunion dinner for 200+ attendees, increasing alumni participation by 15%.
• Partner with the Center for Global Engagement to streamline international fundraising strategies, expanding the university's global footprint.

• Secured record-breaking $15M and $5.2M gifts, significantly advancing the school's financial stability.
• Directed an annual $1.5M budget, leading a 7-member team to a 72% increase in fundraising results over five years.
• Conceptualized and executed a $2.2M library initiative and $2.1M athletics facility project, enhancing student resources.
• Developed a predictive modeling system to identify and engage new donors, increasing prospect acquisition by 20%.
• Facilitated strategic planning sessions with the Board of Trustees and Senior Administrators, integrating philanthropy into long-term institutional goals.
• Cultivated relationships with international alumni and donors, resulting in increased philanthropic contributions and strengthened cross-cultural connections.

• Launched and completed the $30M Campaign for Shady Side, achieving over $14M for capital projects $7M for the endowment fund, and $9M for the annual fund.
• Implemented a multimedia marketing strategy, increasing visibility and donor interest.
• Enhanced the planned giving program, resulting in a 12% growth in pledged legacy contributions.

• Managed 150+ high-capacity donors, securing $1.5M annually in major gifts.
• Partnered with school leadership and faculty to align donor interests with critical institutional needs.

• Expanded the alumni relations program, resulting in a 23% increase in alumni participation and giving.
• Created a faculty giving program that achieved a 75% participation rate in its inaugural year.

• Established the school's inaugural reunion giving program, contributing to a 15% increase in annual fund donations.
• Designed data-driven donor tracking systems that improved targeted outreach success rates.

• Supervised all operations pertaining to the student telemarketing efforts: recruited, trained, and evaluated student callers
• Organized special events, fundraising initiatives, and recognition programs for young alumni
• Assisted in marketing and promoting the University's Corporate Matching Gift program