Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Kerri Stephen

Boston Heights,OH

Summary

Accomplished fundraising and sales professional with 10 years experience who is passionate about community change. A forward thinker who is dedicated to building up teams and moving organizations forward with a proven track record of revenue growth.

Overview

11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Chief Development Officer

United Way of Summit and Medina
04.2023 - Current
  • Oversight of all fundraising efforts for organization; $40.5M raised in 2022 (inclusive of corporate donations, individual donations, major gifts, planned gifts and grants).
  • Leads department of 9 team members.
  • Manages mixed portfolio of donors, foundations and corporate partners.
  • Attends average of 10 face to face appointments per week with C-Suite executives, high level donors, and prospects.
  • Leads strategy for fund development efforts around corporate giving, grants, planned giving and endowment.
  • Manages both the Fund Development and Data & Analytics teams.
  • Delivers presentations to C-Suite executives that showed their ROI in the community.
  • Works closely with Board of Directors on fundraising within their companies and network.
  • Identified and closed profitable new opportunities.
  • Inspired team members to meet business objectives by monitoring performance and motivating.

Vice President of Fund Development

United Way of Summit and Medina
11.2021 - 04.2023
  • Oversight of all fundraising efforts for the organization.
  • Lead a department of 9 team members.
  • Managed a mixed portfolio of high-level individual donors and corporate accounts.
  • Established revenue growth goals for the organization and create strategies for individuals, institutional and workplace giving through United Way Worldwide's best practices.
  • Delivered weekly report to CEO on fund development pipeline.
  • Advised stakeholders on planned giving opportunities to increase longevity of their support.
  • Cultivates relationships with corporate investors to align corporate volunteerism and philanthropic support around United Way's impact areas of education, financial stability, and health.
  • Lead professional fundraising staff of eleven to deliver on goals.
  • Responsible for implementation of the new StratusLive CRM database and online giving platform to create a more seamless and automated way to donate.
  • Attended an average of 10 face to face appointments per week with C-Suite executives, high-level donors, and prospects.
  • Delivered presentations to C-Suite executives that showed their ROI in the community.

Associate Vice President, Major Gifts and Strategy

United Way of Summit and Medina
04.2020 - 11.2021
    • Managed portfolio of 170 stakeholders valued at $4.2M in 2020 & 2021.
    • Decreased designated gifts from 68% to 12% over three years.
    • Resulting in more resources under management for the organization to allocate toward its direct service program areas.
    • Secured three $1M gifts from individual donors as a result of relationship cultivation over a three-year period.
    • Prior to this, the organization received two $1M gifts in its 104 years of existence.
    • Managed a department of three.
    • Lead the Strategic Planning Committee, a group of 18 board volunteers who assist in the strategic direction of organization.
    • During this time, created and implemented new strategies for
    • Attended an average of 10 face to face appointments a week with current stakeholders, C-Suite executives, and prospects.
    • Planned quarterly events for investors and Board Members with high profile speakers.

Director of Major Gifts and Leadership Giving

United Way of Summit and Medina
07.2018 - 04.2020
  • Managed portfolio of 170 donors valued at $3.2M.
  • Planned and implemented cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and retention strategies for United Way investors.
  • Collaborated cross departmentally to ensure stakeholders received meaningful engagement around United Way's work.
  • Engaged current and potential investors through one-on-one relationship building visits; must have an average of 10 face to face appointments per week.
  • Established goals and procedures for solicitation, funds management and disbursement.

Manager, Corporate Engagement

United Way of Summit and Medina
07.2017 - 07.2018
  • Planned and executed corporate campaigns through developing a strategic plan that aligns with the needs of the company and UWSM's Bold Goals around education, financial stability, and health..
  • Developed and maintained relationships with top donors in portfolio; Renewed these donors at 92%.
  • Built relationships with investors at various levels and delivered presentations to corporate partners.
  • Promoted involvement in Community Engagement events to campaign coordinators and individual donors.
  • Managed the New Account Development Committee. A group of board volunteers who assisted with seeking out new corporate partnerships.
  • Responsible for planning quarterly committee meetings for New Account Development, managing the committee prospect list, dashboard and attending new business meetings with our volunteers.

Membership Development Specialist

Cleveland Cavaliers
04.2015 - 06.2017
  • Managed client base of 500 unique accounts totaling $3 million in revenue.
  • Recognized by the NBA for the Full Season Renewal Award (Retained 97% of portfolio in 2016).
  • Established and maintained strong relationships with the client base that resulted in high client satisfaction/retention.
  • Generated over $400k in new business through upselling, cross-selling, and referrals.
  • Conducted data collection campaigns with clients to analyze and strategically plan personalized experiences to increase engagement and instill loyalty.

Membership Activation Specialist

Cleveland Cavaliers
01.2014 - 04.2015
  • Managed client base of 350 accounts for the Cleveland Monsters and Cleveland Gladiators.
  • Ranked #3 among sales team of 15 for the Cleveland Gladiators in new business revenue in 2014-2015.
  • Ranked #5 among sales team of 15 for the Cleveland Monsters in new business revenue in 2014-2015.
  • Aided in creation and implementation of the Gladiators Football Alliance and Monsters Hockey Club Membership programs and events.

Account Executive

Cleveland Cavaliers
05.2013 - 01.2014
    • Generated over $500k in ticket sales revenue through the sale of new memberships, groups, and suite rentals.
    • First to be promoted to a full-time position in my Inside Sales class of 12 account executives.
    • Successfully established and maintained relationships with clients which resulted in an additional $50k in revenue through cross-selling and upselling.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Communications, Sport Management

The University of Akron
Akron, OH
05.2013

Skills

  • Leadership
  • Effective communication
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Relationship Building
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Dynamics (CRM), StratusLive, Andar, Veritix, WealthEngine and iWave
  • Strategic planning

Accomplishments

    2023 Greater Akron Chamber '30 for the Future' award winner

  • Each year, the Greater Akron Chamber recognizes professionals between the ages of 25-39 who showcase dynamic leadership, diversity, and commitment to the region.

Certification

Veritus Group, Major Gift Academy

  • Completed ‘Academy of Major Gift Fundraisers' course online.


Heart to Heart Communications, Leadership from the Inside Out

  • 1-year leadership training course


Leadership & Co., The Leadership Core Program

  • 8-month long fellowship program that focuses on purposeful networking, effective collaboration, critical thinking and leading with agility and resilience.

Timeline

Chief Development Officer

United Way of Summit and Medina
04.2023 - Current

Vice President of Fund Development

United Way of Summit and Medina
11.2021 - 04.2023

Associate Vice President, Major Gifts and Strategy

United Way of Summit and Medina
04.2020 - 11.2021

Director of Major Gifts and Leadership Giving

United Way of Summit and Medina
07.2018 - 04.2020

Manager, Corporate Engagement

United Way of Summit and Medina
07.2017 - 07.2018

Membership Development Specialist

Cleveland Cavaliers
04.2015 - 06.2017

Membership Activation Specialist

Cleveland Cavaliers
01.2014 - 04.2015

Account Executive

Cleveland Cavaliers
05.2013 - 01.2014

Bachelor of Arts - Communications, Sport Management

The University of Akron

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Kerri Stephen