Jocelyn McDowell
Peoria,IL
Summary
Motivated Development Professional skilled at increasing organizational funds through events, donor outreach strategies and marketing campaigns. Persuasive and open communicator with good planning, problem-solving and conflict resolution skills. Offering 20 years of related experience.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Southern Illinois University, Speech Communication
01.2002
Development Coordinator
Peoria Park District
04.2019 - Current
- Build and execute the first strategic and comprehensive fundraising program in the Park District’s history
- This includes establishing Annual Giving, Planned Giving, Online Giving, and Individual Major Gift programs
- Increase annual donations by over 700% over three years
- Partner with the Executive Director to promote and grow the Legacy Endowment Fund, resulting in an increase of 35% in funds raised in a two year period
- Manage a portfolio of over 75 Individual and Corporate donors, resulting in an increase of 85% in corporate support over a three year period
- Cultivate relationships with Community Partners to drive forward the Partner mission and vision through Park District events
- Create and implement a comprehensive donor stewardship efforts including writing and mailing gift acknowledgements/thank you letters, securing meaningful appreciation gifts, and providing impact reports to donors
- Create fluid channels of communication between staff, patrons, community members, and donors in partnership with Executive Leadership team
- Provide regular reports to the Park District Board of Trustees as well as other volunteer advisory boards and committees across the District
- Responsible for answering all donation requests that came into the District
- This includes reviewing the request, the requesting agency, and determining if said request fit within the District’s scope of mission, outreach, and community enhancement
- Manage the Foundation’s website to provide program updates, identify specific giving opportunities within the District, and to promote corporate partners
- Ensure the District’s donation page is user friendly to improve the donor experience
- Create and grow the Foundation’s social media presence to connect with donors and volunteers
- Partnering with key Park District Staff, help implement and execute a memorial and tribute program to streamline processes and be strategic with memorial gift requests
Director of Constituent Relations
Bradley University
03.2016 - 10.2018
- Partnered with the Annual Giving office to restructure their outreach, including the introduction of a new Crowdfunding fundraising campaign
- Developed marketing materials for the Bradley Fund, the University’s annual giving campaign
- Created and implemented the University’s first Student Giving Week, overseeing all aspects of the week from marketing efforts to onsite event management in order to raise money for student scholarships from the students
- Student participation exceeded a 50% growth in the second year
- Cultivated and foster the relationship with community leaders, corporate donors, and other key constituents to educate them on events happening on Bradley’s campus
- Planned and executed the annual Scholarship Donor Luncheon, an event that honors scholarship donors and recipients and has over 500 guests in attendance
- Assisted in creating the Student Alumni Association, a new student organization that is an extension of the Alumni Office, including revamping the program structure and providing oversight of a student committee
- AttendedAlumni events to help strengthen the alumni relationships with the university
- Developed and oversaw the creation of thank you videos for the various colleges for donors
- Assisted with the second annual #GivingTuesday fundraising campaign in partnership with several key campus departments
- Wrote quarterly donor thank you letters to donors of the University on behalf of development officers and the University President
- Served as grant writer for the university, submitting grants on behalf of the various colleges.
Director of Development
Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
12.2014 - 02.2016
- IPMR Foundation
- Helped IPMR create a brand new Concussion Management Program through securing program funding through a corporate partner
- Secured a $25,000 gift from a private foundation to revamp a patient program, resulting in the purchase of VST Balance for the Cancer Rehabilitation program
- Implemented the Foundation’s first Annual Giving program and grateful patient giving program, resulting in a 100% increase of gifts and donors tof the Foundation
- Fostered and cultivated relationships with 150 individual and corporate partners
- Managed the Foundation marketing materials including updating and managing the Foundation website
- Partnered with Institute and Department leadership to determine funding priorities for the Institute
- Staffed the Foundation Board of Directors
- Served as Foundation Grant Writer, including the successful submission of a grant proposal resulting in a gift of $10,000 for breast cancer patients
- Implemented a stewardship program including donor impact reports.
Manager
Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois
, Greater
12.2012 - 08.2014
- Planned, managed, and implemented all aspects for two Walk to End Alzheimer’s events with an attendance of over 1,000 walkers, and over $100,000 raised across both walks, resulting in an increase of 15% in dollars raised from the previous year
- Marketed the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in several counties with methods including but not limited to: personal meetings; distributing marketing materials to key community businesses; calling past attendees; email and social media campaigns
- Solicited and secured 8 sponsors through personal presentations for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s resulting in $13,500 in sponsorship gifts for both Walks
- Secured and trained over 50 volunteers for each walk
- Fostered and cultivated relationships with community leaders to further spread awareness.
Development and Alumni Relations
Johns Hopkins University
04.2003 - 12.2012
- Development and Alumni Relations
- Partnered with the, for the School of Medicine and CEO of Johns Hopkins Hospital to plan 2 Biennial Medical Conferences and School of Medicine Alumni Weekends
- Managed 14 regional alumni chapter committees consisting of groups of 2-20 alumni volunteers across the country and planned over 50 events across all chapters annually
- Oversaw all aspects of the Phonathon Program, including management of Assistant Phonathon Coordinator, management of 8 student leaders and resulting in a $500,000 increase in a 12 month period
- Assisted with restructuring the regional communities program transitioning from office led initiatives to a volunteer driven model in an eight-month period
- This includes but is not limited to: conceptualizing the new model, outlining the steps required for successful implementation, writing and creating all materials, and educating alumni volunteers and fellow colleagues in the form of written and oral presentations
- Created marketing materials for regional community events in the form of email invitations, paper invitations, online event postings, and social media tools
- Successfully planned and implemented 73 alumni events nationwide
- Ran committee meetings in 10 cities several times a year both in person and via conference calls
- Planned and participated in the annual Leadership Weekend including attending meetings and planning sessions of the Alumni Council Executive Committee and partaking in other related activities
- Managed and coordinated the School of Medicine Scholarship Stewardship campaign
- This included revamping a process involving 250+ scholarship donors, student recipients and creating and implementing a communication plan
- Planned the annual Medical Student Match Day brunch and the annual Graduation Reception, with over 200 guests in attendance at each event
- Assisted in staffing the Medical and Surgical Association Board of Directors.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Public Relations, Marketing, Speech Communication
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL 05.2001 -
Skills
Computer SkillsWordPress; Google Suite, Social Media, Microsoft 2010 Office Suite; Desktop Publisher; Website Content Management System
Grant writing
Relationship building and management
Strategic planning
Fundraising
Controlling fundraising
Implementing mission
Administrative support
Overseeing partnerships
Developing campaigns
Operations management
Public speaking
Process evaluation and enhancement
Affiliations
Junior League of Peoria; Association of Fundraising Professionals;
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
swipe to browse
Quote
Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Timeline
Development Coordinator
Peoria Park District
04.2019 - Current
Director of Constituent Relations
Bradley University
03.2016 - 10.2018
Director of Development
Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
12.2014 - 02.2016
Manager
Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois
12.2012 - 08.2014
Development and Alumni Relations
Johns Hopkins University
04.2003 - 12.2012
Southern Illinois University, Speech Communication
01.2002
Bachelor of Science - Public Relations, Marketing, Speech Communication
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
05.2001 -