Lauren Partridge
Austin
Summary
Highly motivated and adaptable non-profit professional with a background in organizing, project management, and relationship building, with a passion for helping others. Demonstrated communicative and analytical effectiveness, and known for the ability to work under pressure while maintaining empathy and professionalism.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Wish Coordinator
Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas
Austin
08.2025 - Current
- Managed an extensive caseload of over 70 families, coordinating the logistics for domestic and international travel, including but not limited to lodging, transportation, and budgeting, by applying project management skills to ensure the seamless execution of every wish.
- Built and maintained relationships with professional sports organizations (MLS, NFL, Formula 1) to deliver impactful, athlete-focused experiences for wish children in a fast-paced environment.
- Managed the end-to-end process of the internship program, including recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding of interns.
- Oversaw Hawaii and international approval processes, ensuring compliance with requirements, and strict adherence to internal and external deadlines.
- Cultivated and nurtured relationships with wish families, resulting in impactful donor support, bringing over $40,000 to the foundation from 2023 to 2026.
Wish Coordinator
Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas
Austin
08.2022 - 08.2025
- Utilized Salesforce to manage onboarding for over 100 newly qualified wish families at a time, tracking cycle time to improve processes, and ensuring timely completion to meet national standards.
- Diligently monitored wish project finances by overseeing cash costs and securing in-kind donations, optimizing organizational resources to maintain wish cash costs under $5,500.
- Designed impactful program experiences for donors to increase revenue and support, fostering cross-departmental collaboration to drive organizational success, and enhance community engagement.
- Cultivated enduring partnerships with volunteers, medical personnel, and vendors to support the organization’s needs.
- Represented the organization at program and fundraising events to spread our mission and increase support.
Program Associate
Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas
Austin
06.2022 - 08.2022
- Assisted full-time wish coordinators with their own caseload, while handling a caseload of 50 wish families.
- Completed calls with medical professionals and prospective Wish families for new referrals.
- Updated constituent information and commonly used templates on Canva and Excel to optimize the wish process.
Make-A-Wish Program Intern
Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas
Austin
06.2020 - 08.2021
- Supported the Program Department with wish-granting efforts, including travel research and bookings, new vendor research, community engagement, etc.
- Assisted with enhancing each child’s wish experience, including creating wish itineraries, backpacks, icebreaker bags, and other enhancements, where applicable.
- Solicited discounts and donations from local vendors, and created thank-you notes for in-kind vendors and volunteers.
- Interacted with Wish Families face-to-face for Wish Interviews, Wish Send-Offs, Reveal Parties, etc.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Developmental Psychology
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL05.2022
Bachelor of Arts - Communication
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL05-2022
Skills
- Detail-oriented
- Family engagement
- Donor relations
- Analytical thinking
- Adaptable
Affiliations
- Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree in 2022
- Awarded Academic All-Big Ten by the Big Ten Conference in 2020, 2021, and 2022
- Demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and time management skills that can be applied to a career, and able to work with diverse populations and utilize varying communication skills
Timeline
Senior Wish Coordinator
Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas
08.2025 - Current
Wish Coordinator
Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas
08.2022 - 08.2025
Program Associate
Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas
06.2022 - 08.2022
Make-A-Wish Program Intern
Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas
06.2020 - 08.2021
Bachelor of Science - Developmental Psychology
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Arts - Communication
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign