B. Michelle Johnson
Summary
I'm a passionate advocate for women's, LGBTQ+, immigration, and healthcare rights, and an experienced fundraiser and impact storyteller dedicated to systemic change. My work centers on building community, mentoring staff and future fundraisers, creating strategic action plans, and finding joy and integrity in building meaningful relationships.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Director
Ultimate Rainbow Consulting
02.2021 - Current
- Company Overview: Ultimate Rainbow Consulting works primarily with advocacy and human rights organizations. Clients include women’s and LGBTQ rights organizations: Women’s Link Worldwide, Legal Voice, QLaw Foundation, Gen Pride, GSBA; immigrant rights advocacy and health care: Entre Hermanos, Colectiva Legal, Northwest Health Law Advocates, Coalition on Homelessness, Feest, and government: City of Edmonds Diversity Commission.
- Interim Leadership: Lead teams to optimize fundraising efficiency, identify gaps in plans, exceed fundraising goals, and implement best practices. Lead team through difficult transitions, work to build a new team culture and complete million-dollar campaigns.
- Annual Fund & Major Gift Planning: Develop scalable fundraising plans and programs, resulting in increased giving, sustainable structures, and clear priorities.
- Communications Planning: Develop effective and ethical storytelling strategies to better describe the impact of advocacy work, segmented lists and messaging with corresponding social media marketing and website design.
- Leadership development: Work with boards and leaders to demystify fundraising and build a fundraising culture based on generosity. I prioritize building strong communities and supporting teams through leadership transition.
- Event Management: Supported 15+ events, including anniversary celebrations and annual events. Built and managed corporate sponsorship programs, securing record-breaking support. Conducted board training and stewardship, and led pre-event asks totaling over $750K. Supported a team in raising over $1M in a single event.
Instructor
Nonprofit Management & Fundraising Certificate programs, UW
04.2013 - Current
- Develop and deliver engaging fundraising and communications curricula, emphasizing nonprofit-community relationships and resource development through diverse channels such as annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, grants, events, corporate sponsorships, and ethical storytelling.
- Promote current on industry trends in strategic communications, social media, and evolving philanthropic culture.
- Ground my approach in the historical context of philanthropy and its intersection with social justice.
Director of Development
Cascade Bicycle Club & Washington Bikes
10.2019 - 01.2021
- Oversaw a record-breaking year-end campaign, raised $100K at the start of the pandemic, and pivoted a major event to a successful online format, generating $150K.
- Streamlined donor stewardship and gift processing to ensure better quality data during staff reductions, and stewarded donors and gifts during special fundraising efforts.
- Facilitated scenario planning and budget forecasting for organizational resilience, securing $1M in sustaining revenue with minimal programming thought major gift asks and corporate support.
Director of Development
Legal Voice
02.2008 - 10.2019
- Develop and execute an extensive annual fundraising and communications plan, growing the operating budget to $2M in 2019.
- Lead and engage a dynamic board of directors and staff, making fundraising an integral part of the organization’s culture.
- Led a $1M capacity-building campaign, averaging $30K per gift, while growing the annual fund by 10%+ annually.
- Launch our first planned giving program and developed a program template to support other nonprofit organizations in launching their own program.
- Grew participation in GiveBIG community fundraising campaign since inception, progressively raising 20% more each year, totaling $305,000, engaging 1,000+ new and returning donors.
- With staff and volunteers, produced two major fundraising events which raised more than $400,000 in net revenue with 10% increases annually, while building a dedicated and engaged community. The events have doubled participation to more than 450 attendees at each event.
- Mentored the development team and provided strategic guidance to the executive team and guided coalition committees.
Leadership Gifts Officer
Planned Parenthood of Western Washington
11.2005 - 02.2008
- Cultivated and stewarded donor portfolios, securing $483K in direct mail campaigns.
- Led a mini-online campaign raising $32K.
- Recruited and managed the Board of Advocates, cultivating 300 major gift donors with 88% retention.
- Wrote stewardship pieces and managed advocacy campaigns for Planned Parenthood Action Network.
Education
Certified Fund Raising Executive -
B.A. - Theatre Arts (playwriting) with Honors
University of Iowa
Skills
- Fundraising strategy
- Event management
- Donor stewardship
- Ethical storytelling
- Team leadership
- Major gift planning
- Budget forecasting
- Corporate sponsorship
- Communications planning
- Community engagement
- Strategic planning
- Data analysis
- Training development
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Project management
- Coaching and mentoring
- Problem-solving
- Relationship building
Accomplishments
- I've twice joined thousands of cyclists, biking 450+ miles across the state of Iowa for the iconic Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI).
- For eight years, I competed in roller derby, traveling extensively and facing teams from across the United States.
- I’m a produced playwright.
Awards
Mentor of the Year Award, Association of Fundraising Professional Advancement Northwest 2024, Number Retired, Jet City Roller Derby 2014, Most Inspiring, Jet City Roller Derby 2012, Player of the Year, Jet City Roller Derby 2011, Captain of the Year, Jet City Roller Derby 2009
Timeline
Director
Ultimate Rainbow Consulting
02.2021 - Current
Director of Development
Cascade Bicycle Club & Washington Bikes
10.2019 - 01.2021
Instructor
Nonprofit Management & Fundraising Certificate programs, UW
04.2013 - Current
Director of Development
Legal Voice
02.2008 - 10.2019
Leadership Gifts Officer
Planned Parenthood of Western Washington
11.2005 - 02.2008
Certified Fund Raising Executive -
B.A. - Theatre Arts (playwriting) with Honors
University of Iowa
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