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
Akron, OH
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
Akron, OH
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
Akron, Ohio
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
Akron, OH
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
Akron, OH
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
Cleveland, OH
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
Cleveland, OH
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
Cleveland,OH
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, OH05.2013
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
- Each year, the Greater Akron Chamber recognizes professionals between the ages of 25-39 who showcase dynamic leadership, diversity, and commitment to the region.
2023 Greater Akron Chamber '30 for the Future' award winner
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