Jennifer Colten
Harlingen
Summary
Professional in advancement with strong focus on strategic planning, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement. Proven ability to lead teams, foster collaboration, and achieve measurable results. Adept at adapting to changing needs and driving organizational growth through innovative initiatives. Known for building trust, reliability, and delivering impactful outcomes.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Interim Assistant Director of Creative Services
01.2018
- Creative oversight of print and digital advertising for four regions statewide
- Supervision and coach for three direct reports/graphic designers
- Managed project timelines for all marketing collateral for ten campuses
- Principle external advertising creative for digital and print campaigns
- Negotiated on behalf of college with vendors for promotional items
Graphic Designer
01.2013
- Created and executed creative briefs for all internal and external communication and marketing supporting all areas of the college
- Designed print and digital materials, including brochures, advertising, logos, web banners, social media content, event signage
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to create advertising content: print vendors, photographers/videographers, etc.
Statewide Director of Advancement Operations, The TSTC Foundation
Texas State Technical College
08.2022 - Current
- Launched Giving Day at TSTC; have raised $100,000 in supplemental funding for statewide food pantries
- Team transformed scholarship administration and programming increasing scholarship distribution by 7 times
- Served as chair for a college-wide alumni relations task force responsible for research and development of a brand new department
- Led the statewide business operations team for a 50M+ education Foundation supporting the skilled trades in Texas
- Directed all functional areas of the operations team: constituent management, gift administration, prospect research and management, gift accounting, donor relations
- Automated multiple components of business operations for scale increasing efficiency
- Implemented dashboards in Salesforce Nonprofit to track multiple key performance indicators to strengthen the donor experience
- Launched TSTC’s digital Giving Day resulting in more than $21,000 in new recurring donations
- Developed the department’s strategic plan with measurable outcomes increasing cash gifts by 10%
- Oversee all marketing and communication materials for TSTC Foundation including annual report
- Managed internal and external relationships with the College, donors and industry partners
- Interim 2021-2022
Statewide Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations
The TSTC Foundation
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Managed donor communications for more than 400 individuals and organizations resulting in a 39.5% retention rate for FY21
- Coordinated media recognition in four regions for FY21 gifts totaling $15.4M
- Facilitated recovery of 110 lapsed donors through strategic mail solicitations
- Built the statewide stewardship and donor recognition program from the ground up utilizing the Four Pillars of Donor Relations model
- Developed a yearly strategic communication plan with twelve touchpoints for four targeted donor segments
- Managed the design, content and installation of a $237,000 donor recognition wall for TSTC in Fort Bend County including the extensive request for proposal process
- Created individualized donor engagement events for top tier donors
- Implemented a full-scale giving society for prospective donors resulting in a 15% increase of corporate donors
- Copywriting/graphic design for all TSTC Foundation communications
Education
Master of Arts - Strategic Communication and Innovation, Summa Cum Laude
Texas Tech University
01.2021
Skills
- Adobe Creative Cloud (Graphic design)
- Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification
- Visual Identity Design and Brand strategy
- Art Direction and Campaign Development
- Strategic planning
- Creative direction
- Staff management
- Team operations
- Operations management
- Budgeting expertise
Accomplishments
- Achieved seven-time increase of donor funds spent by introducing Awarded Software for TSTC Foundation scholarship administration tasks.
- Collaborated with team of 9 in the development of the Alumni Relations departmental framework for the institution.
Timeline
Statewide Director of Advancement Operations, The TSTC Foundation
Texas State Technical College
08.2022 - Current
Statewide Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations
The TSTC Foundation
01.2019 - 01.2021
Interim Assistant Director of Creative Services
01.2018
Graphic Designer
01.2013
Master of Arts - Strategic Communication and Innovation, Summa Cum Laude
Texas Tech University
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Greater Harlingen Chamber, Board of Directors, The DRG Group Distinguished Leaders, Cohort 1, Leadership Harlingen Steering Committee, Literacy Center of Harlingen Board of Directors, Chair
RELATED EXPERIENCE
- Freelance Graphic Designer, Marketing Strategy
- Jennifer Colten 2013-Current
- Specialties include visual identity services for small businesses, rebrand services, creative direction and marketing strategies for local political races
- Notable projects include visual identity for national franchise Sugar Sugar
- Curves Products
- International Marketing Creative Lead
- Creative lead responsible for look, feel and messaging for retail/promotional campaigns for six eCommerce markets worldwide (Australia/New Zealand, US/Canada, Mexico, Spain, France, UK)
- Lead a team of six graphic designers and two web developers to create the look and feel of print and digital marketing campaigns worldwide for more than 10,000 franchisees
- Drove creative vision for retail clothing marketing campaigns including hiring professional fashion photographers and hiring models in the Dallas metroplex
AWARDS
Best of CASE District IV, Publications – Annual Report 2022, Chancellor’s Cornerstone Award, TSTC 2019, TSTC Leadership Institute Spirit Award 2015