Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Brenna Quinn

Chicago,IL

Summary

Versatile grant writer and Development Director with thirteen years guiding institutional giving projects to fruition. Owner of expansive development portfolio of more than 100 successful donor-facing requests each year. Keen to meet new challenges and old developmental obstacles with equal vigor. Talented at fostering exceptional development team performance through compassionate management and technical leadership.

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience

Work History

Director of Foundation & Government Relations

Center On Halsted
08.2022 - Current
  • Has secured more then 10 million dollars in private and government grant funds
  • Researches funding opportunities and writes and edits private foundation and government donor solicitations and stewardship reports.
  • Collaborates with grant-writing consultants and enhances organizational fundraising capacity in order to manage portfolio of more than 100 donors each fiscal year.
  • Guides Chief Development Officer in cultivating and leveraging relationships.
  • Manages funding compliance systems, including Raiser's Edge, for grant requirements.
  • Creates master calendar for donor cultivation and follow-up using Raiser's Edge.
  • Strategically plans annual foundation and government grant budgets which account for more than 45% of COH's annual budget.
  • Collaborates with Program Directors to inform operational and fundraising stability
  • Creates, implements, and evaluates plans to maintain and expand contributions.
  • Authors stewardship content for annual general operations reports used to steward donors.
  • Increased company revenue by streamlining processes and implementing cost-saving measures.
  • Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.

Manager of Foundation & Government Relations

Center On Halsted
10.2021 - 08.2022
  • Increased team productivity by implementing streamlined processes and effective communication strategies.
  • Achieved departmental goals by developing and executing strategic plans and performance metrics.

Freelance Grant Writer and Development Consultant

Self-employeed
11.2017 - Current
  • Secures funding for nonprofit organizations by researching and writing compelling grant proposals.
  • Collaborates with program staff to develop strong, outcomes-based grant applications that aligned with organization goals.
  • Increases awarded grants by identifying new funding opportunities and cultivating relationships with potential funders.
  • Streamlines the grant application process by creating templates and tools for consistent proposal content.

Manager of Development

Museum Of Contemporary Photography (MoCP)
01.2018 - 01.2020
  • Produced proposals, solicitation letters, acknowledgments, and reports.
  • Prepared leadership for donor site visits and grant application reviews.
  • Participated in setting fundraising goals and communicated progress.
  • Guided advancement strategy with organizational leadership and board of directors.
  • Managed institutional donor giving and optimized workflows.
  • Cultivated and strengthened donor relationships, resolving issues effectively..
  • Secured institutional and individual gifts for various projects.
  • Managed auxiliary groups and oversaw logistics for fundraising events.
  • Researched donor prospects and collaborated on grant materials.
  • Oversaw grant proposals, reports, and graduate student interns.
  • Managed membership and annual fund program and defined project scopes.
  • Monitored resource allocation, budget development, and project management for multiple curatorial and educational projects

Assistant Director, Foundation & Government Grants

The Art Institute Of Chicago
01.2015 - 01.2017
  • Solicited funds from corporate, government, and community leaders.
  • Managed fundraising goals and plans and wrote grant proposals.
  • Stewarded gifts via reports and facilitated donor site visits.
  • Researched, coordinated, and synthesized materials for grants.
  • Managed team and donor data in RE and assisted in grant writing and editing.
  • Advised on institutional giving strategies and supported prospect research

Devolopment Assistant

School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago (SAIC)
01.2011 - 01.2015
  • Supported Director in collating requests and conducting research
  • Wrote and edited letters of inquiry to institutional donors
  • Procured and managed donor information using Raiser's Edge.
  • Handled administrative requests, built relationships, and completed projects.
  • Administered community development programs and proposed fundraising opportunities in collaboration with academic departments.
  • Planned and implemented fundraising events and analyzed donor data,
  • Oversaw endowed scholarships and fellowships reporting and facilitated donor stewardship.

Faculty Instructor

SAIC and CPS, Arts Education Program
01.2011 - 01.2015
  • Co-taught college-level Advanced Placement courses and supported students.
  • Developed curriculum lesson plans and modified lessons for diverse learners
  • Communicated frequently providing feedback with parents, students, and faculty.
  • Increased educational expertise through workshops and reports.
  • Implemented writing workshops to support artist statements and college essay development
  • Fostered student curiosity and interest through creative hands-on activities and support of individual capstone projects

Education

Fulbright Independent Scholar
Vienna, Austria

Certificate - Major Gift Solicitations

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management
Chicago, IL

M.F.A - Painting and Drawing

School of The Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL

BFA - Fine Arts

School of The Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL

Double BA, Cum Laude - Visual Arts Management | Business & Studio Art

Chatham College For Women
Pittsburgh

Skills

  • Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook
  • Mac OS systems; Adobe CS
  • Raiser's Edge and PeopleSoft
  • Data Management
  • Budget Planning and Revenue Projections
  • Strategic Planning and Goal Setting
  • Project Management
  • Team Building
  • Grant Writing and Editing
  • Donor Relations

Timeline

Director of Foundation & Government Relations

Center On Halsted
08.2022 - Current

Manager of Foundation & Government Relations

Center On Halsted
10.2021 - 08.2022

Manager of Development

Museum Of Contemporary Photography (MoCP)
01.2018 - 01.2020

Freelance Grant Writer and Development Consultant

Self-employeed
11.2017 - Current

Assistant Director, Foundation & Government Grants

The Art Institute Of Chicago
01.2015 - 01.2017

Devolopment Assistant

School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago (SAIC)
01.2011 - 01.2015

Faculty Instructor

SAIC and CPS, Arts Education Program
01.2011 - 01.2015

Fulbright Independent Scholar

Certificate - Major Gift Solicitations

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

M.F.A - Painting and Drawing

School of The Art Institute of Chicago

BFA - Fine Arts

School of The Art Institute of Chicago

Double BA, Cum Laude - Visual Arts Management | Business & Studio Art

Chatham College For Women

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Brenna Quinn