Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Accomplishments
Websites
Timeline
Receptionist
Carly Plate

Carly Plate

Wesley Chapel,FL

Summary

Seasoned donor relations professional with a proven track record of cultivating meaningful relationships and securing vital support for mission-driven organizations. Passionate about curating exceptional experiences and implementing comprehensive donor stewardship programs, fostering impactful connections and driving philanthropic success.

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience

Work History

Director, Donor Relations & Stewardship

University of South Florida Foundation
Tampa, FL
06.2022 - Current
  • Provide strategic vision, leadership and oversight of the Office of Donor Relations & Stewardship to include a Stewardship Officer and Donor Relations Coordinator
  • Ensure an institution-wide, comprehensive stewardship system comprised of timely and meaningful acknowledgements, endowment reporting, pledge reminders, quarterly e-newsletters, university-wide recognition of first-time donors as well as annual, lifetime, consecutive and planned giving individuals and engagement through exceptional events and strategic communications
  • Collaborate with the Development team to cultivate and foster lasting relationships between the university and its constituents; partner with in-unit/college development officers and central fundraisers on stewardship initiatives that lay the framework for future giving
  • Manage the USF Foundation's ThankView account and oversee a Super User team of 18; review and approve all stewardship campaigns, develop unique communications and update the Executive Leadership Team monthly on our usage
  • Curate bespoke experiences that demonstrate the impact of philanthropic giving to include suite hospitality at USF Football games and Tampa Bay Lightning hockey events, annual appreciation gatherings, major gift announcements, naming dedications and presidential-level stewardship
  • Manage the handling of university-wide donor inquiries, complaints and issues while providing the highest level of customer service, ensuring donor satisfaction is achieved at all levels.
  • Formulate, approve and implement an annual budget of $125K

Assistant Director, Donor Relations & Stewardship

University of South Florida Foundation
Tampa, FL
01.2019 - 06.2022
  • Managed all programmatic logistics for tiered university-wide recognition program with a mission to retain loyalty, provide exceptional donor experiences and increase donor satisfaction for the university’s most valued supporters
  • Oversaw the planning and execution of all recognition program appreciation events; responsible for event budget, run-of-show, invitations, pre-event reminders, RSVPs and post-event stewardship
  • Developed marketing materials and special communications to include athletic ticket offers, event invitations, holiday greetings and stewardship videos in concert with the Advancement Communications & Marketing team
  • Conceptualized and implemented the first-ever donor focused e-newsletter featuring upcoming events, exclusive opportunities, inspirational giving stories and donor spotlights
  • Managed the university's VIP donor gift program to include monitoring inventory, purchasing new gift items, tracking gift recipients and distributing items to development officers and/or donors
  • Assisted the Director and Assistant Vice President in developing strategic plans to meet organizational goals and objectives

Stewardship Officer

University of South Florida Foundation
Tampa, FL
05.2013 - 01.2019
  • Oversaw the daily logistics of our donor recognition program to include membership welcome packets for annual and lifetime donors, special communications and appreciation events
  • Responsible for the organization, coordination and execution of the First-Time Donor Acknowledgement Program to increase donor retention
  • Assisted the Director with administration of the suite hospitality program to include football and basketball ticket transfers, preparing briefing documents, attendance reports and follow-up communications to donors and prospects
  • Supported the Assistant Director in implementing and organizing Grateful Bulls Day - an initiative designed to engage students in expressing gratitude to the donors whose support makes an impact on the university community
  • Participated in regular meetings with upper management regarding stewardship process updates on current and best practices

Project Assistant, Major Gifts

Saint Barnabas Medical Center Foundation
Livingston, NJ
01.2012 - 05.2013
  • Worked in conjunction with the marketing firm to gather analytical reports of donor and patient data to solicit prospects in surrounding service areas
  • Assisted in writing constituent vignettes for the annual report
  • Acted as point person for various donor recognition projects for gifts of $10K+; built and maintained relationships with major donors and stakeholders
  • Supported the Director and Vice President by compiling analytical donor
    and financial reports and queries from Raiser’s Edge
  • Assisted with the implementation of the fundraising web portal, Donor Drive, and aided donors in creating their own personal fundraising pages
  • Coordinated direct mail campaigns,
    and assisted the Director of Special Events with donor experiences including walkathons, golf outings, award ceremonies and the annual
    Gala

Marketing Department and Foundation Intern

Children’s Specialized Hospital
Mountainside, NJ
12.2010 - 01.2012
  • Wrote, edited and executed the bi-annual newsletter mailing to 15,000 donors, assisted in coordinating a grand-opening ceremony for a new outpatient center, created an on-line merchandise store and executed it’s rollout to employees,
    updated the organization’s website, participated in brainstorming sessions for new brand imaging and upcoming marketing strategies, and aided in meetings with the organization’s web site designers and advertising agency

Education

Bachelor of Science - Marketing

Roger Williams Univeristy
Bristol, RI
05-2011

Skills

  • Bespoke Donor Stewardship
  • Relationship Cultivation
  • Project and Program Management
  • Experienced Supervisor
  • Communications and Marketing
  • Team Development
  • Customer Service
  • Strategic Planning and Implementation
  • Hiring and Retention
  • Budgeting and Forecasting

Affiliations

  • Member of the Donor Relations Group Leadership Experience (LX) second cohort
  • Member of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals and CASE

Accomplishments

2nd place winner in the 2023 ADRP International Stewardship Awards for a new digital pledge reminder process. This innovative way of reaching donors through ThankView has increased the number of pledge payments received, reduced our carbon footprint and enhances stewardship efficiency.

Timeline

Director, Donor Relations & Stewardship

University of South Florida Foundation
06.2022 - Current

Assistant Director, Donor Relations & Stewardship

University of South Florida Foundation
01.2019 - 06.2022

Stewardship Officer

University of South Florida Foundation
05.2013 - 01.2019

Project Assistant, Major Gifts

Saint Barnabas Medical Center Foundation
01.2012 - 05.2013

Marketing Department and Foundation Intern

Children’s Specialized Hospital
12.2010 - 01.2012

Bachelor of Science - Marketing

Roger Williams Univeristy
Carly Plate