Jennifer L. Presley
Royal Oak,MI
Summary
I am a highly effective leader with over 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector. I have a proven track record of exceeding goals, and successfully managing people, projects, and events of various sizes. My skills include strategic planning and implementation, building strong relationships to enhance organizational strength, and collaborating with diverse audiences to achieve ambitious, yet attainable, objectives.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Major Gifts for the School of Social Work
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
11.2023 - Current
- Oversee fundraising initiatives for donors and prospects within the designated college or unit, aiming to meet annual receipt and commitment goals that align with the mission of the School of Social Work.
- Managing daily operations, ensuring optimal performance for the school.
- Strategic planning to enhance our operations and systems to boost our fundraising efforts and expand our presence in Metro Detroit.
- Execute and manage cultivation and stewardship strategies in support of fundraising campaigns and goals.
- Facilitated an organizational transformation within the school by creating strategies that assist faculty and staff in understanding the fundraising cycle.
- Establish new partnerships/prospects that align with our mission and increase our fundraising goals.
- Gift planning and major gift procurement.
- Donor relations and annual giving.
- Board development.
- Collaborating with community and corporate partners to support the mission of the School of Social Work.
Chief Executive Officer
The Backyard Beer Garden
Detroit, MI
10.2016 - 03.2024
- Providing visionary leadership, strategic direction, and overall management of the organization.
- Established long-term and short-term goals.
- Directed leasing and site location for the business.
- Managed partnership and strategic relationships by defining clear expectations and goals.
- Balance autonomy and alignment.
Sr. Development Manager
American Cancer Society
Detroit, MI
01.2022 - 11.2023
- Support the American Cancer Society's mission through priority relationships, pipeline development, account management, events, and fundraising activities.
- Ensures goal achievement through effective leadership.
- Empowerment and mobilization of diverse partners.
- Accountable for the achievement of a revenue target greater than $350,000 for a portfolio of priority relationships.
- Implements best practices for revenue growth, adjusting to customer experience survey results and feedback; drives and encourages creativity and innovation, resulting in new revenue opportunities.
- Actively collaborates with all development team members, marketing, cancer control, and ACS CAN staff to maximize success.
Manager of Partnership, Fundraising, and Events
Focus: HOPE
Detroit, MI
05.2019 - 01.2022
- Support the mission of Focus: HOPE through strategic and creative events and fundraising opportunities.
- Generate new partnerships, service existing partnerships, and donor relationships.
- Assist with the development and implementation of the annual fundraising plan.
- Provide communications support to donors and prospects.
- Maintain relationships with donors, corporate sponsors, vendors, and partners associated with the events and campaigns.
- Administer everyday fundraising operations for the organization, and develop all fundraising goals and objectives for monitoring and support groups for various events.
- Engage local businesses and national corporations in the mission of Focus: HOPE.
- Manage and facilitate two major annual events.
Director of Community Engagement
Strategic Community Partners
Detroit, MI
10.2018 - 05.2019
- Support mission-driven organizations rooted in education, equity, and justice. The primary focus included planning, organizing, and executing large-scale events for local and national organizations.
- Managed and led all large-scale events.
- Interfaced directly as a leader of the organization with partners.
- Managed day-to-day execution, ensuring on-track progress toward strategic goals with partners.
- Served as a leader in the organization, taking ownership and responsibility for our internal and external success as an organization.
Event and Cause Marketing Manager
Focus: HOPE
Detroit, MI
03.2016 - 01.2018
- Support the mission of Focus: HOPE through creative and impactful fundraising events around metro Detroit.
- Staying current to execute the latest marketing trends and thrive on taking projects from conception to implementation.
- Raised $350,000 of the $800,000 raised through the annual gala - Heroes for HOPE, and partnered in establishing sponsorship.
- Initiated the first-ever young professionals involved in the mission of Focus: HOPE, through creative events and marketing efforts.
- Nurtured and established new partnerships with local organizations to sponsor and support Focus: HOPE through in-kind donations.
- Engaged local businesses and national corporations in the mission of Focus: HOPE.
- Managed and facilitated two major annual events.
Education
Executive Master of Business Administration -
Howard University
12.2022
M. A. - Sports Management
Western Michigan University
12.2011
B.S. - Communication
Western Michigan University
04.2009
Skills
- Project management expertise
- Strategic planning and execution
- Leadership and team building
- Capacity development
- Change management
- Community engagement
- Fundraising proficiency
- Effective communication
Clubs And Boards
- Membership at the Detroit Athletic Club
- Howard University Alumni Club of Detroit
- Emerging Patron Council at MOCAD
Timeline
Director of Major Gifts for the School of Social Work
Wayne State University
11.2023 - Current
Sr. Development Manager
American Cancer Society
01.2022 - 11.2023
Manager of Partnership, Fundraising, and Events
Focus: HOPE
05.2019 - 01.2022
Director of Community Engagement
Strategic Community Partners
10.2018 - 05.2019
Chief Executive Officer
The Backyard Beer Garden
10.2016 - 03.2024
Event and Cause Marketing Manager
Focus: HOPE
03.2016 - 01.2018
Executive Master of Business Administration -
Howard University
M. A. - Sports Management
Western Michigan University
B.S. - Communication
Western Michigan University
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