AVERY W. BELL
Summary
Transformational fundraising leader with extensive experience managing high-performing teams and multi-million-dollar portfolios. Achieved a 67% year-over-year increase in gifts and secured substantial donations, including a $1M individual gift for Fighting Cancer initiative at the American Red Cross, all while exceeding strategic revenue goals.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Regional Philanthropy Officer
American Red Cross
07.2023 - Current
- Manage a portfolio of 80 - 100+ individual, corporate and foundation donors.
- Secured $3.6M on a goal of $3.2M achieving 80% Blue Sky funding from FY23-FY26.
- Strategized and secured a $1M gift from an individual supporting Fighting Cancer.
- Achieved 67% YOY increase in gifts from FY25 to FY26.
- Achieved $400K or 17% YOY increase in gifts from Circle K in FY26.
Resource Development Events Manager
DAP Health
Palm Springs
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Managed the Development Events Team for the creation, production, and delivery of effective and measurable events, including delivery of activation of sponsors for three major fundraising events and monthly donor events that resulted in raising $3M in revenue per year. Primarily responsible is to develop the strategic plans to increase donation from new donors and maintain current donors.
Fundraising Events Manager
CASA of Los Angeles
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Develop and implement the organizations fundraising events designed to raise funds to support the programs of CASA of Los Angeles. Developed three virtual/online streaming fundraising events in 2021, raising over $960,000, resulting in a cost-to-revenue ratio of less than 20%.
Director, Business Development & Sponsorship Marketing
Artistic Entertainment Services
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Led sponsorship and partnership development for the inaugural Tournament of Roses SIP & SAVOR food and wine festival, generating $1M in revenue and drawing 14,250 attendees to the historic Rose Bowl.
Director of Resource Development
Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Managed the donor relations strategy and the Development team that exceeded the year-over-year revenue goal by 40% and achieved $4.2M on a goal of $3.0M in FY17. Developed the strategic business plan, program evaluation processes, and specific performance standards for the department.
- Secured 279 donations in FY17 (vs 209 in FY16), resulting in $4.0M in FY17 (vs. $2.5M in FY16), exceeding enterprise-wide revenue goals, enabling mission-critical programs to continue.
Director, Corporate Relations & Special Events
Para Los Nios
01.2008 - 01.2016
- Principal steward of the design and execution of corporate and individual donor strategies to secure donors to exceed the annual $3M goal. Interact daily with the CEO, CFO, and Board of Directors to develop corporate donors that further the mission of Para Los Nios a $50M nonprofit organization providing education and wrap-around social services in Los Angeles.
- Achieved or exceeded $3M yearly revenue goal from 2008 - 2016
- Identified, cultivated, and secured 25 new corporate sponsors (Coca Cola, BP, Time Warner, United Airlines, etc.)
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration Management
University of Pittsburgh
Skills
- 30 years of management experience, with 18 years as a mission-based fundraising team leader
- Motivate, manage, and coach direct reports to exceed fundraising goals Twice promoted from my peers on a team to then supervise the team
- Extensive experience with goal setting, managing performance, and evaluating direct reports
- Strategic revenue planning and expense management yearly and quarterly
- Extensive cross collaboration experience within highly matrixed organizations (Disney, AT&T)
- Donation growth strategies, fundraising forecasting, pipeline development and management
- Extensive experience with donor prospect qualification, gift solicitation, and donor cultivation
Accomplishments
Climbed the highest mountain on 5 continents, in a one-year trip around the world.
Timeline
Regional Philanthropy Officer
American Red Cross
07.2023 - Current
Resource Development Events Manager
DAP Health
01.2021 - 01.2023
Fundraising Events Manager
CASA of Los Angeles
01.2020 - 01.2021
Director, Business Development & Sponsorship Marketing
Artistic Entertainment Services
01.2018 - 01.2020
Director of Resource Development
Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County
01.2016 - 01.2018
Director, Corporate Relations & Special Events
Para Los Nios
01.2008 - 01.2016
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration Management
University of Pittsburgh