BOBBI SILVER
Advancement
Georgetown,KY
Summary
Self-motivated development professional well-versed in individual, corporate and foundation fundraising techniques to advance organizational mission. Excellent track record of utilizing collaborative engagement in development, alumni relations, external affairs, grants management and marketing.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Development
Diocese of Lexington
04.2019 - Current
- Direct the organization’s fundraising efforts from a centralized location, including capital campaign execution, major gift solicitations, annual fund execution, and develop policy
- Supervise a small in-house staff as well as coach leadership and local fundraising staff at 59 locations
- Advise, assist and work collaboratively to counsel locations about their fundraising efforts, including capital campaign preparation and assessment of annual performance
- Plan and execute annual fund appeal to raise $1.1+ Million
- Travel frequently throughout a 50-county region in central and eastern Kentucky to visit with donors, prospects and with parishes
- Initiate moves management and prospect research to identify potential major donors
- Create structure and build a newly formed development shop by assessing the organization’s needs, priorities and growth opportunities
Vice President of Philanthropy
YMCA of Central Kentucky
02.2015 - 11.2018
- Supervise staff of three people including Director of Annual Giving, Director of Sponsorships and Grants and administrative support staff; dotted line supervision to seven branch Executive Directors to form major gift portfolios
- Instituted significant structural change so that philanthropy was implemented year-round instead of a very short time during the year
- Established the first ever moves management metrics and portfolio management for all employees with fundraising responsibilities
- Created structure for new capital campaign to build three new facilities
- Successfully secured multi-million dollar and below contributions for various capital projects including a brand new YMCA
- Directed significant change in gift processing methods to be more transparent and donor centered including the implementation of a new donor database
- Created the first ever multi-year campaign case statement encompassing capital, annual and endowment campaigns
- Trained volunteers and staff on how to make fundraising asks
- Increased Annual Giving revenue each year as well as increased total fundraising revenue by 33% over budget in 2016 and 30% over budget in 2017
- Recruited prospective board members for the organization as well as mentored and engaged current board members to raise funds
Director of Development and Major Gifts
College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky
02.2014 - 01.2015
- Identified and solicited major gift prospects with potential of $25,000 or more including the cultivation of a $20 Million facility naming opportunity
- Facilitated new processes to provide better scholarship fulfillment
- Traveled frequently to meet with donors and prospects with the Dean of the College
- Established the College’s first Hall of Fame
Assistant Director of Development and Advancement
Gatton College of Business & Economics, University of Kentucky
11.2010 - 01.2014
- Successfully procured over $3 Million in donations for the Gatton College Capital Campaign in 2013
- Established the Women Business Leaders program to identify and cultivate successful female business leaders to work with Gatton College students
- Identify, cultivate and solicit major gift prospects for gifts of $25,000 or more on an ongoing basis
- Travelled frequently across the United States to meet and steward Gatton College donors and to serve as an ambassador for the University of Kentucky
Director of Major Gifts
Transylvania University
03.2008 - 11.2010
- Cultivated potential donors to solicit major gifts for a small, private liberal arts institution
- Travelled frequently across the United States to visit with University alumni and friends
- Served as a lead researcher for a small development shop
- Coordinated efforts with the alumni office to engage alumni and friends with the University
- Solicited gifts of $10,000 or more for various programs at the University
Development Officer
Robinson Scholars Program, University of Kentucky
01.2005 - 01.2008
- Cultivated potential donors to solicit gifts ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 to fund student scholarships to first-generation students from eastern Kentucky
- Travelled frequently to the eastern Kentucky area to cultivate friends for the program
- Created and facilitated the program’s Board of Ambassadors, a development and community outreach Board of 10 to 15 people from various regions in Kentucky
- Assisted with the program’s annual giving efforts with the formation of an alumni giving program
Annual Giving Manager
Kentucky Children’s Hospital
01.2005
- Orchestrated donor activity and cultivation through direct mail campaigns
- Planned events such as Telethon and Radiothon while working closely with local television and radio stations to raise funds for the hospital
- Worked closely with hospital physicians and staff on projects from improving child life while in the hospital to changing the hospital name and logo
- Added new ideas to increase financial investment of hospital staff and outside donors
Director of Corporate Support
WEKU, Eastern Kentucky University
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Created sales packages and presented them to area business and organizations to obtain on-air corporate announcements for a non-profit public radio station
- Used extensive cold-calling and sales service practices to gain new clients and meet fundraising goals
Education
Master - Public Administration
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KYBachelor of Arts - Political Science and History
McDaniel College
Westminster, MDTimeline
Director of Development
Diocese of Lexington
04.2019 - Current
Vice President of Philanthropy
YMCA of Central Kentucky
02.2015 - 11.2018
Director of Development and Major Gifts
College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky
02.2014 - 01.2015
Assistant Director of Development and Advancement
Gatton College of Business & Economics, University of Kentucky
11.2010 - 01.2014
Director of Major Gifts
Transylvania University
03.2008 - 11.2010
Development Officer
Robinson Scholars Program, University of Kentucky
01.2005 - 01.2008
Annual Giving Manager
Kentucky Children’s Hospital
01.2005
Director of Corporate Support
WEKU, Eastern Kentucky University
01.2003 - 01.2005
Master - Public Administration
Eastern Kentucky University
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science and History
McDaniel College