Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
COMPETENCIES
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic

ERICA M. DUROUSSEAU, MBA

New Orleans,LA

Summary

Transformational nonprofit executive with 20+ years leading teams, fundraising, strategic planning, financial budgeting, and community-centered initiatives for mission-driven organizations. Proven track record in revenue diversification, stakeholder engagement, and operational leadership, securing multi-million-dollar growth while fostering exceptional development and team performance through compassionate management and technical leadership. Adept at collaborative leading, financial sustainability, and systemic solutions. Tech-savvy innovator with hands-on experience in emerging technologies, with a passion for continuous improvement.

Overview

2026
2026
years of professional experience

Work History

Chief Development Officer

Healthy Gulf
01.2024 - Current
  • Spearhead comprehensive fundraising strategy, securing $2.3M annually through grants, major gifts, and corporate partnerships.
  • Collaborate with Executive Director & Board to align development initiatives with mission impact and long-term sustainability.
  • Lead high-performing development team, fostering a culture of philanthropy, accountability, and professional growth.
  • Oversee donor stewardship, achieving 18% increase in membership giving and 15% donor base growth through targeted engagement.
  • Develop strategic communications, elevating brand visibility and donor engagement via digital campaigns, events, and storytelling.
  • Advance fundraising capabilities, ensuring equitable access to funding for marginalized Gulf Coast communities.
  • Develop and implement strategic fundraising initiatives to enhance organizational revenue streams.
  • Cultivate partnerships with local businesses and stakeholders to advance community engagement efforts.
  • Optimize CRM systems (Salesforce, EveryAction) for data-driven donor cultivation and reporting.

CEO/Executive Director

Foundation for Science & Mathematics Education
01.2022 - 01.2024
  • Designed and executed strategic plan, securing grants for underserved Latino and disabled student populations.
  • Cultivated partnerships with government and community leaders, expanding program reach by 40%.
  • Managed $1.8M annual budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and sustainable resource allocation.
  • Launched thought leadership initiatives, positioning the organization as a STEM equity advocate.
  • Led board development, recruiting diverse leadership to guide long-term mission alignment.
  • Enhanced operational efficiency, streamlining programs to maximize impact per dollar spent.
  • Engaged with community leaders to raise awareness of STEM initiatives and their impact on students.
  • Led fundraising efforts to secure grants and sponsorships for educational projects.
  • Developed and implemented strategic initiatives to enhance STEM education programs.
  • Fostered partnerships with educational institutions to promote collaborative learning opportunities.

Director of Development & Marketing

New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute
01.2019 - 01.2021
  • Built comprehensive development strategy, increasing individual giving by 35% and corporate partnerships by 50%.
  • Mentored and led a cross-functional team, improving grant writing success rate to 75%.
  • Stewarded major donor portfolio, securing 6-figure gifts through tailored cultivation.
  • Oversaw brand storytelling, enhancing visibility via digital marketing, PR, and events.
  • Collaborated with Board, aligning fundraising with strategic priorities and community needs.
  • Launched membership program, driving recurring revenue growth.
  • Integrated CRM (Raiser’s Edge), improving donor retention by 20%.
  • Developed and implemented fundraising strategies to secure financial support for culinary programs.
  • Collaborated with community partners to enhance training opportunities and industry connections for students.

Senior Annual Fund Officer

Dillard University
01.2018 - 01.2019
  • Led strategic annual fund campaigns, increasing institutional giving by 44% through data-driven donor segmentation and targeted outreach—directly applicable to GBRFB’s need for sustainable revenue growth.
  • Recruited and trained 50+ volunteers for multi-site fundraising events, fostering community engagement and capacity-building (mirroring GBRFB’s reliance on volunteer networks).
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams (finance, communications) to align campaigns with university priorities, demonstrating interdepartmental leadership akin to food bank operations.

Development Officer/Corporate Relations

Dillard University
01.2015 - 01.2017
  • Drove corporate giving growth by 46% through strategic partnerships (e.g., local businesses, national brands)—a scalable model for GBRFB’s corporate engagement.
  • Secured 35% increase in matching gifts, demonstrating expertise in maximizing existing revenue streams (key for food bank sustainability).
  • Managed a portfolio of 120 major gift prospects, cultivating long-term relationships—directly transferable to GBRFB’s major donor program.

Development Associate

Dillard University
2013 - 2015
  • Assisted in drafting grant proposals to secure financial resources for initiatives.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to implement community engagement strategies.
  • Supported project development through research and analysis of funding opportunities, increasing revenue from UNCF Walk for Education by 35%.

Education

MBA - Finance & Entrepreneurship

Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
05.2016

BA - Broadcasting & Communications

Grambling State University
Grambling, LA
12.2001

Skills

  • Fundraising Tech: Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, DonorPerfect, EveryAction
  • Financial Management: QuickBooks, Budget Development, Grant Compliance
  • Leadership Tools: Board Governance, Strategic Planning Frameworks
  • Corporate sponsorships
  • Government relations
  • Organizational leadership
  • Executive leadership
  • Risk management
  • Strategic visioning
  • Ethical leadership
  • Public relations

COMPETENCIES

  • Strategic Planning & Execution | Fundraising & Revenue Diversification | Operational Excellence
  • Major Donor & Corporate Partnerships | Board & Stakeholder Engagement | DEI Advocacy & Community-Centered Leadership
  • Financial Management & Budget Oversight | Team Mentorship & High-Performance Culture | Public Policy & Systemic Change

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

  • Board Member, Waldorf School of New Orleans (Advocacy for equitable education)
  • Founding Board Member, Elan Academy Charter School (DEI in K-12 leadership)

Affiliations

  • Board Member, Waldorf School of New Orleans (Advocacy for equitable education)
  • Board Member, Tremè For Tremè (Community resilience)

Timeline

Chief Development Officer

Healthy Gulf
01.2024 - Current

CEO/Executive Director

Foundation for Science & Mathematics Education
01.2022 - 01.2024

Director of Development & Marketing

New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute
01.2019 - 01.2021

Senior Annual Fund Officer

Dillard University
01.2018 - 01.2019

Development Officer/Corporate Relations

Dillard University
01.2015 - 01.2017

Development Associate

Dillard University
2013 - 2015

MBA - Finance & Entrepreneurship

Loyola University New Orleans

BA - Broadcasting & Communications

Grambling State University

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE