Jennifer L. Hemmerlein
Freehold
Summary
Accomplished and entrepreneurial Executive Director and fundraising professional. Experienced with strategic planning, budgeting and financial management, and community engagement. Utilizes collaborative approach to drive organizational excellence. Strong record of effectively managing resources and navigating complex challenges to deliver sustained growth.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director
Mountain Top Arboretum
06.2023 - Current
- Responsible for running all non-horticultural operations of a 200-acre public garden in the Catskills, including creating and implementing programs, community outreach and visitor services, grant writing and development, board relations, budgeting and financial reporting, building maintenance, and human resources/staff recruitment and supervision.
- In less than one year, raised nearly $100,000 in grants, including a $35,000 Catskills Smart Growth grant from the Department of Environmental Conservation and a capital grant with New York State valued at nearly $63,000.
- Expanded our programs to include other perspectives and voices, including indigenous and African American voices in history and horticulture. We have also expanded our public programs to include more children and families.
- Created and implemented the first fundraising event ever held at the Arboretum, raising $27,000 ($4,000 more than our goal and more than other non-profits in the area).
- Led the effort to recruit new donors and members; in 2024 the Arboretum experienced a 152% increase in the number of new members and donors from the previous year.
- Serve as a key member of the organization’s master planning committee and co-led the organization’s branding efforts.
- Implement the goals of the 5-year strategic plan.
Executive Director
Friends of Clermont State Historic Site
01.2017 - 06.2023
- Ran all aspects of our organization with an annual budget of $230,000-$300,000, including administration, new program development and implementation, fundraising, marketing and communications, relationship building and outreach, volunteer recruitment and management, finance, human resources, and retail.
- Initiated several new and innovative community outreach programs, including a workshop series spun off from our largest educational program, a free outdoor concert series focused on the Americana music tradition, free outdoor yoga and meditation, art workshops that link Clermont’s landscape and history to artistic skills, and more.
- Wrote and was awarded a nearly $200,000 historic preservation grant to restore the exterior of Clermont Mansion.
- Grant was one of only three historic preservation grants funded in our region (out of at least 15 applications) and is the largest single current gift in the organization’s history.
- Expanded the number served by our “Harvesting History” community outreach program for children 2-18 from 300 in 2016 to 1,975 in 2022.
- Oversaw the implementation of several new related programs, including the Harvesting History Family Workshop Series, the Harvesting History Food Collaborative, and our activity kits program.
- Expanded the program to work with area low-income senior citizens.
- Raised the funds necessary to expand our garden and build a new fence.
- Created our first planned giving recognition society and marketing program.
- Rewrote several organizational policies, including our conflict of interest, sexual harassment, and anti-discrimination policies.
- Created and implemented appropriate financial controls.
- Serve as primary liaison to state-employed historic site staff at the local and regional level.
- Supervised a full-time Program Coordinator, a garden educator, and our bookkeeper.
Chief Advancement Officer
Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways
02.2016 - 11.2016
- Created first development and communications strategic plan for 26-county council.
- Rebuilt annual fund direct mail program and increased response rate of direct mail appeal program from less than 2% to 20%.
- Solicit major gifts from corporations, foundations, United Ways, and individuals.
- Created corporate sponsorship and donor recognition programs from scratch.
- Serve on council’s 5-person leadership team.
- Serve as the council’s primary ambassador to constituents around our council.
- Supervised a team of 5 development and marketing professionals.
- Position was eliminated in November 2016 due to changes at the national level.
Director of Development
Geer Foundation
09.2015 - 02.2016
- Served as only staff member and built fundraising program from scratch, including events, annual fund, database and records management, and planned giving. Raised over $100,000 in five months.
Assistant Director of Development
Camphill Village USA
01.2011 - 09.2015
- Led all aspects of our Annual Fund, including creating an ambitious and comprehensive plan, crafting all appeals, managing the personal solicitation program, and coordinating all internet and telephone fundraising initiatives. I also managed our department’s budget.
- I raised nearly $7 million in operating support and surpassed my Annual Fund goal three out of four years.
- I successfully solicited donors for gifts each year of $1,000-$50,000.
- Our number of active Annual Fund donors increased from 685 to over 1,400 in four years.
- I significantly increased giving from local businesses and vendors through the creation of our “Fountain Hall Fellows” program and expanded our individual donor base.
- I also initiated an Annual Fund program for our eldercare sister facility, Camphill Ghent, and exceeded the fundraising goal in its first year.
- Provided comprehensive reporting and statistical analysis on Annual Fund and events performance.
- Led the Village’s Event Program
- Resurrected the legendary “Anne Ratner Concert Series” a salon concert series in NYC, which garnered over $80,000 in six concert events.
- First three Bowl-a-Thon fundraisers raised $210,000 in Annual Fund support.
- Led an inaugural concert in the Boston area that raised $52,000.
- For each event, I worked with a volunteer committee of 3-15 people.
- Served on capital campaign steering committee
- I successfully solicited several planned gifts and major gifts for our $15 million capital campaign in the range of $10,000-$50,000.
- Provided oversight and training to Development Assistant and temporary development workers/interns, including oversight over Raiser’s Edge database and other records management issues.
Director of Funds and Events
The Doane Stuart School
03.2010 - 01.2011
Major Gifts Officer
Guidestone Central Ohio
03.2009 - 02.2010
- Built a development operation in Central Ohio from scratch.
- Raised over $1 million in government grants/contracts and foundation grants in less than seven months.
Director of Development
Methodist Theological School in Ohio
02.2007 - 03.2009
- Solicited annual fund contributions and created direct mail and e-mail solicitations designed to increase both participation and revenue.
- Alumni participation in the annual fund increased by 30% in less than two years.
- Solicited planned gifts, built a charitable gift annuity program, and instituted a planned giving marketing program.
- Solicited and closed the largest planned gift in MTSO’s history, a $500,000 deferred charitable gift annuity.
- Served on the President’s Administrative Council, which worked in conjunction with the President to evaluate policies, create the strategic plan, and provide overall leadership to the school.
Director of Prospect Research
Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services Foundation
05.2002 - 02.2006
- Created prospect research program in preparation for $77 million Ohio-wide comprehensive capital campaign.
- Identified and qualified over 2,000 new donor prospects for statewide capital campaign.
Education
Master of Arts - English
Ohio State University
Bachelor of Arts - English (honors in American literature)
Colgate University
Skills
- Fundraising
- Grant writing
- Budgeting and financial management
- Community Engagement
- Strategic and master planning
- Staff management
- Program development and leadership
- Public speaking
- Relationship building
Timeline
Executive Director
Mountain Top Arboretum
06.2023 - Current
Executive Director
Friends of Clermont State Historic Site
01.2017 - 06.2023
Chief Advancement Officer
Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways
02.2016 - 11.2016
Director of Development
Geer Foundation
09.2015 - 02.2016
Assistant Director of Development
Camphill Village USA
01.2011 - 09.2015
Director of Funds and Events
The Doane Stuart School
03.2010 - 01.2011
Major Gifts Officer
Guidestone Central Ohio
03.2009 - 02.2010
Director of Development
Methodist Theological School in Ohio
02.2007 - 03.2009
Director of Prospect Research
Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services Foundation
05.2002 - 02.2006
Bachelor of Arts - English (honors in American literature)
Colgate University
Master of Arts - English
Ohio State University