Linda House
Baltimore,MD
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
VP, Strategic Partnerships
Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Inc.
Baltimore
01.2021 - Current
- Manage business development team responsible for fundraising, execution of business events, and building optimal promotion strategies, while ensuring team program objectives align with the organization’s strategic plan and short and long-term revenue goals
- Cultivate strategic relationships with private corporations, government entities and civic organizations to advance Downtown Partnership’s purpose, vision, and financial goals while simultaneously strengthening the downtown community
- Develop and implement strategies to reach annual $1.3M - $1.6M fundraising goal through member retention and recruitment, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and grants, while overseeing partner communications, benefit fulfillment, and ROIs
- Direct fundraising strategies for special projects, in close coordination with internal economic development, marketing, and operations teams
- Create compelling presentations to educate stakeholders about proposed projects, program scope, and expected outcomes
- Identify and develop new revenue opportunities, such as program-specific campaigns, Downtown Partnership Foundation activation efforts, and a five-year plan to secure voluntary contributions from tax-exempt properties located within a special benefits district managed by Downtown Partnership
- Develop and oversee corporate partnerships to increase unrestricted contributions, establish first-ever multi-year commitments, and foster sustainable alliances
- Create meaningful stakeholder engagement and lead negotiations to improve downtown’s physical spaces, including capital improvements, placemaking efforts, and public activations through targeted communications and community outreach efforts
- Developed procedures for Board of Directors, including onboarding process, compliance, tracking participation levels, and developing interactive Board management platform through CRM
- Produce annual business events that attract an average of 1,300 Baltimore-area corporate and civic leaders representing more than 300 organizations
- Curate unique events to facilitate collaboration and program participation among Board members, key partners, and senior leadership
- Design and implement volunteer programs for corporate partners that align their goals and resources with transformational downtown projects
- Lead collaboration efforts across internal departments to ensure alignment on programs and events
- Oversee implementation of new CRM application to streamline stakeholder and member data, communications, meetings, event participation, and financial records
- Oversee team outreach to more than 200 members annually to determine issues that will affect future initiatives of the organization
- Report findings to senior leadership quarterly
- Solicit and assess input on Downtown Partnership initiatives from diverse populations of stakeholders, industries, financial supporters representing a broad giving range, and constituents that include employees, residents, and visitors and compare against organizational resources, prioritize projects and maximize relationship support to achieve measurable outcomes.
VP, Parks, Programming & Special Projects
Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Inc.
Baltimore
01.2016 - 01.2020
- Managed team responsible for outdoor space maintenance, beautification efforts, safety patrols, and activation of public spaces in downtown Baltimore
- Created and directed fundraising efforts of over $1M to support the organization’s business events, consumer programs, and special projects
- Developed strategic partnerships to transform underutilized downtown parcels, increase pedestrian traffic, and offer new services and amenities
- Directed placemaking efforts, including pop-up shops, creative lighting installations, public art, and live performances in public spaces, while working with property owners, consultants, small businesses, and Baltimore City
- Produced outdoor events that included a farmer’s market, live concerts, resident and pet-centric park activations, and programs to benefit community partners and non-profit organizations
- Oversaw fundraising for special projects, including demolition of McKeldin Plaza Fountain and installation of new turf and lighting, installation of irrigation system in Preston Gardens, decorative tree lights and Bocce court in Hopkins Plaza, artistic lighting installation at Center Plaza, and annual holiday lights along Pratt Street
- Developed partnerships with professional service providers to offer workforce development opportunities for team members.
VP, Business Development
01.2009 - 01.2016
- Managed team responsible for fundraising and producing business events for current and prospective members
- Directed fundraising strategy for a $1M annual membership campaign to support the organization’s core programs, while increasing revenue from $660,000 in 2009 to more than $1M in 2016
- Planned and produced the organization’s annual meeting, an event that attracted over 600 of the Baltimore area’s corporate and civic leaders
- Produced annual Holiday Monument Lighting event in Mt
- Vernon, including fundraising and coordination with City and private partners
- Helped lead efforts to build a plan for a free downtown transportation system, which led to the launch of the Charm City Circulator.
Director, Business Development
01.2003 - 01.2008
Membership Manager
01.2001 - 01.2003
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism & Communications
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SCAffiliations
- Board of Directors, Baltimore Public Markets/Lexington Market
- Member, Governance Committee, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore
- Member, International Downtown Association
- Member, Association of Fundraising Professionals
- Member, Urban Land Institute
- Member, Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs
- Volunteer, Women's Committee, Ronald McDonald House Charities
Timeline
VP, Strategic Partnerships
Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Inc.
01.2021 - Current
VP, Parks, Programming & Special Projects
Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Inc.
01.2016 - 01.2020
VP, Business Development
01.2009 - 01.2016
Director, Business Development
01.2003 - 01.2008
Membership Manager
01.2001 - 01.2003
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism & Communications
University of South Carolina