Cheryl D. Price
Chicago,USA
Summary
Highly accomplished and results-driven Major Gift Officer with six years of progressive experience in higher education and non-profit fundraising. Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward five, six, and seven-figure gifts, demonstrating a strong understanding of planned giving vehicles and donor motivations. Passionate about connecting philanthropic interests with institutional priorities to drive impact. Adept at building lasting relationships with donors in collaborative environments.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Gift Officer
Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Tech
01.2022 - Current
- Manage a portfolio of 100–125 major gift ($25,000-$1000,000+) prospects and donors, conducting 80-100 strategic visits annually and consistently exceeding fundraising goals by an average of 10% over the past three years.
- Successfully closed gifts totaling over $5,000,000 over past 3 years, including six and seven-figure commitments that involved bequests and other planned giving vehicles.
- Develop and implement personalized cultivation and stewardship plans for each donor, leading to increased donor engagement and retention for current and future philanthropic commitments.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with the dean, senior leadership, program staff, and board members to develop and execute fundraising strategies and compelling proposals, including donor visits and discussions around planned giving vehicles and long-term impact.
- Organize and execute high-impact donor events, cultivation meetings, and personalized stewardship activities, ensuring exceptional donor experiences.
- Utilize Raiser's Edge NXT (Blackbaud product) for donor tracking, gift processing, and comprehensive reporting, ensuring data integrity and effective donor management, including legacy gift documentation.
Director of Mission Engagement & Major Gifts
Ignite
01.2019 - 01.2022
- Led the agency's mid-level and major gift program, including donor qualification, personalized donor touchpoints, and revenue goal setting, contributing to the overall sustainability of the organization.
- Secured 15 new mid-level and major gifts ($1,000 - $25,000) and five new multi-year gifts ($10,000 - $60,000) in the midst of the pandemic.
- Oversaw the agency's corporate giving program, including soliciting and securing event sponsorships and program donations, preparing corporate grants and impact reports, and developing corporate employee engagement strategies.
- Planned and implemented all virtual and in-person fundraising events, managing special events communications, and securing corporate sponsorships and donations.
- Prepared client stories and content for online fundraising campaigns and drafted annual appeal letters.
Director of Volunteer Services
Ascend Justice
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Conducted outreach, built networks, and nurtured relationships with business and legal leaders critical for managing a multi-faceted volunteer program.
- Collaborated directly with the development department to raise $100,000 annually from law firms, demonstrating experience in securing support from professional entities.
- Managed the Domestic Violence Pro Bono Project, involving 20+ law firms and 80+ attorneys and provided ongoing support to volunteer attorneys.
- Recruited, trained and scheduled 50+ volunteers per semester for the agency’s Emergency Order of Protection Clinic. Significantly increased number of volunteers and coverage through effective organizational skills and outreach initiatives.
- Used litigation skills to represent domestic violence victims in Order of Protection cases.
Director, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center
DePaul University College of Law
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Revitalized and expanded family law fellowship program, rebuilding relationship with sponsoring law firm.
- Rebuilt and managed 20+-person Alumni Advisory Board and deepened Board’s engagement with and connection to the College of Law through events and activities.
- Assisted the University Advancement Department with fundraising initiatives, including identifying prospects and relationship nurturing. Managed all family law grants and endowments.
- Leveraged an extensive public and private sector network to match students and alumni with employment.
Director, Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative
DePaul University College of Law
01.2010 - 01.2015
- Fostered relationships with community and legal aid agencies, serving as liaison for law students and the broad non-profit sector.
- Initiated and managed signature volunteer programs, including the Neighborhood Legal Assistance Project and annual 1L Service Day.
- Increased law student annual service hours by over 25% through improved marketing, programming, and the creation of an innovative online tracking system.
- Advised students seeking public interest employment and connected them with non-profit employers.
- Coordinated annual service awards reception, recognizing students and alumni for their service work.
Education
Juris Doctor -
Loyola University School of Law
Chicago, ILBachelors of Art - Political Science & History
Miami University
Oxford, OHSkills
- Planned & Major Gifts: Legacy Gifts, Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs), Charitable Trusts, Gifts of Securities & Assets, Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), IRAs, Bequests, Pipeline Development, Donor Cultivation, Solicitation & Stewardship, Annual Giving Campaigns, Corporate Sponsorships & Grants
- Relationship Management: Donor Engagement, Board Relations, Volunteer Coordination, Collaboration
- Project Management: Event Planning & Logistics, Volunteer Committees
- Communication & Technology: Verbal & Written Communication, Presentations, Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook), Raiser's Edge NXT (Blackbaud)
Community Service
DePaul’s Woman of Spirit and Action Award, Illinois Legal Aid Online’s Faces of Justice Nominee, Pro Bono Attorney, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Guardian Ad Litem for Minors Project, Volunteer, Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, Lawyers in the Classroom Program, First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple, Endowment Fund Trustees Committee and Children’s Education Ministry Committee, First Church Evanston United Methodist Church, Membership Committee
Affiliations
- The Development Leadership Consortium, 2022-23 Senior Management Fellows Program
- AFP Peer Mentoring Group, Protégé, Fall 2020 Cohort
- AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising Certificate
- Veritus Group Major Gift Academy’s Connecting to Donors in the Midst of a Crisis Course
Earlier Career Highlights
- Associate, Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., Student Group
- Associate, Schiff Hardin, LLP, Litigation Practice Group
- Judicial Law Clerk, The Honorable Richard Nygaard, Third Circuit Federal Court of Appeals
- Child Welfare Social Worker, Lutheran Social Services
Timeline
Gift Officer
Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Tech
01.2022 - Current
Director of Mission Engagement & Major Gifts
Ignite
01.2019 - 01.2022
Director of Volunteer Services
Ascend Justice
01.2017 - 01.2019
Director, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center
DePaul University College of Law
01.2015 - 01.2017
Director, Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative
DePaul University College of Law
01.2010 - 01.2015
Bachelors of Art - Political Science & History
Miami University
Juris Doctor -
Loyola University School of Law
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