Ashley Pratka
Houston,TX
Summary
Dedicated non-profit executive committed to building new relationships while retaining existing ones. Uses expert content writing skills to review grants, build organization reputation and find new opportunities. Analyzes graphs, stats and reports to create effective fundraising campaign strategies. Seeking a position where I can utilize my executive management skills at a private foundation to make a transformational impact on the Houston community
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Development
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
01.2019 - Current
- Developed and implemented St. Martin's inaugural comprehensive fundraising program.
- Increased pledges to over $14.6M in 2023.
- Enhanced visibility of the Saint Martin's Endowment by rebranding the Legacy Program and Endowment Fund.
- Served in an advisory capacity on the Saint Martin's Endowment board, overseeing fiduciary and grant-making obligations.
- Identified programmatic expansion and collaborated with the clergy to discover potential 'future leaders' of St. Martin's. Initiated strategic planning for the church and determined suitable individuals for leadership roles, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Advisor and Consultant
Pratka Philanthropy Group
01.2015 - Current
- Collaborated with families to identify giving opportunities in the Houston community.
- Assessed the quality of grant proposals, measured their impact, and carried out site visits.
- Contributed to the enhancement of development team's efforts through support in donor identification practices, solicitation strategies, and strategic planning.
- Offered expertise to clients in areas such as program development, grant writing, financial planning,
and cultivating donor relationships. - Analyzed and applied top-notch strategies for the nonprofit industry by studying governance, leadership, and financial management.
- Facilitated meetings to discuss organizational objectives between boards of directors and senior staff members.
- Developed marketing campaigns to enhance brand awareness among target audiences.
- Devised successful solutions for company problems and helped plan for future growth based on financial projections and ambitious objectives.
- Analyzed client data to identify opportunities for organizational improvement.
- Advised clients on compliance with federal regulations governing tax-exempt status.
- Analyzed data from surveys, focus groups and interviews to inform program development decisions.
- Displayed strong telephone etiquette, effectively handling difficult calls.
Director of Advancement
Houston’s Amazing Place
01.2018
- Served as an integral part of the Executive Team.
- Oversaw the operations of marketing, development, volunteer services, and community outreach departments.
- Implemented streamlined systems and processes to support growth in four departments at Amazing Place.
- Collaborated with a diverse team of professionals across multiple departments, offering mentorship and support
- Developed and implemented moves management and contact reporting systems to enhance fundraising staff's ability to maintain relationships effectively.
- Worked closely with volunteer services to develop an effective tracking method for evaluating volunteer engagement, resulting in comprehensive metrics provided to board members.
- Implemented strategic evaluation of community outreach programs, optimizing service approach through data-driven insights.
Executive Director – Office of Advancement
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
01.1997 - 01.2014
- Aided in decision-making and strategy implementation as a member of the Executive Team.
- Led teams consisting of fundraiser managers, support staff, and administrative employees totaling to a workforce of 35 individuals spread over vast regions encompassing Texas and the Eastern/Southern US.
- Managed portfolio efficiently and fostered departmental collaboration to generate a continuous influx of prospect leads, enabling my staff to attain their annual team target of $50M.
- Mentored staff and collaborated with MD Anderson's President and Executive Leaders to achieve program objectives.
- Achieved recognition as an exceptional leader in driving the strategic funding initiatives for the Cancer Moon Shots Program.
- Collaborated with faculty to establish funding program budgets and formulate a comprehensive business plan aligning with funding goals.
- Started as an assistant director in 1997, focused on increasing annual gifts. Progressed to major gift officer and subsequently promoted to various management roles.
- Secured funding totaling more than $130 million for cancer research.
Associate Director of Individual Giving
Houston Symphony - Office of Development
01.1995 - 01.1997
Assistant Account Manager
B. D. Langham Public Relations
01.1994 - 01.1995
Student Liaison & Chairman
Brazos Valley United Way / Texas A&M University
01.1992 - 01.1995
Non-Profit Executive
Skills for all Positions Held
Houston, TX
1997 - Current
- Maintained fundraising database to produce accurate monthly reports for board of directors.
- Cultivated strong relationships with board members, donors, prospects, and philanthropic community to keep institution's financial needs in forefront.
- Coordinated with internal departments to ensure alignment between development and organizational objectives.
- Evaluated existing programs to identify areas of improvement or expansion opportunities.
- Analyzed data from past campaigns to inform future decisions about resource allocation.
- Cultivated relationships with major donors, foundations, corporations, and other funding sources.
- Facilitated meetings between senior leadership and potential donors.
- Directed the preparation of reports on development activities for board members and other stakeholders.
- Reviewed gift agreements prior to execution by management personnel.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive fundraising strategies to meet organizational goals.
- Recruited staff members for various roles within the Development team.
- Conducted prospect research to identify new funding opportunities and partnerships.
- Ensured compliance with all legal requirements related to charitable giving.
- Prepared successful applications to obtain funding from government and private grants.
- Facilitated collaboration between development team members on key projects.
- Monitored budgets, expenses, and revenue related to fundraising initiatives.
- Managed grant writing process from research to submission and reporting.
- Produced materials to highlight program offerings and reach new donors.
- Developed and executed strategic fundraising plans for nonprofit organizations.
- Collaborated with board members on fundraising strategies and goals.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Public Relations and Marketing
Texas A&M University
Skills
- Strategic Panning
- Strong Interpersonal Communication and Leadership Skills
- Dynamic and Creative Thinker
- Relationship Management
- Program Development and Expansion
- Problem-Solving
- Effective Communication
- Analytical Skills
- Customer Relationship Management
- Goal Setting
- Active Listening
- Written Communication
Leadership Experience
- National Charity League – Former Board Member
- Houston Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi Literacy Foundation– Former Board Member
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) – Former Board Member
- AFP National Philanthropy Day Houston – Former Chairman
- Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
- Association of Healthcare Philanthropy
- Episcopal High School - Capital Campaign Committee
References
References available upon request
Timeline
Director of Development
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
01.2019 - Current
Director of Advancement
Houston’s Amazing Place
01.2018
Advisor and Consultant
Pratka Philanthropy Group
01.2015 - Current
Executive Director – Office of Advancement
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
01.1997 - 01.2014
Associate Director of Individual Giving
Houston Symphony - Office of Development
01.1995 - 01.1997
Assistant Account Manager
B. D. Langham Public Relations
01.1994 - 01.1995
Student Liaison & Chairman
Brazos Valley United Way / Texas A&M University
01.1992 - 01.1995
Non-Profit Executive
Skills for all Positions Held
1997 - Current
Bachelor of Science - Public Relations and Marketing
Texas A&M University
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