LYNN VALLE

Joined Bennington's Institutional Advancement leadership team during a period of significant organizational transition. Served as a senior partner in advancing fundraising priorities while supervising annual giving and alumni engagement programs and managing a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects.

Leadership Highlights

• Provided leadership and strategic oversight for the College's Annual Fund and Alumni & Constituent Engagement programs, helping align fundraising and engagement efforts across the division.
• Managed a portfolio of leadership and principal gift prospects through every stage of the donor lifecycle, from qualification and cultivation through solicitation and stewardship.
• Collaborated with senior advancement leadership to establish fundraising priorities, strengthen portfolio strategy, and improve frontline fundraising metrics.
• Mentored advancement professionals while encouraging stronger collaboration among annual giving, alumni engagement, and major gift colleagues.
• Worked closely with institutional leadership during a presidential transition and subsequent organizational restructuring, helping maintain continuity in donor engagement and fundraising operations.
• Represented the College with alumni, parents, volunteers, and friends through regional travel, cultivation events, and individual donor engagement.

Promoted to lead the Academy’s Leadership Gifts program while serving on the Advancement senior leadership team. Directed Leadership Gifts, Prospect Research, and Donor Relations, partnering closely with the Chief Advancement Officer and Head of School to strengthen campaign strategy and philanthropic engagement.

Leadership Highlights

• Personally secured more than $5 million in annual and capital commitments during FY24.
• Led a Leadership Gifts team that exceeded annual fundraising goals by 223%.
• Guided the integration of Prospect Research and Donor Relations into Leadership Gifts following organizational restructuring, strengthening collaboration and donor strategy.
• Oversaw strategy and execution for leadership-level campaign cultivation events supporting scholarships, faculty endowment, and capital priorities.
• Supervised and mentored professional staff while building a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Partnered with the Chief Advancement Officer and Head of School on campaign planning, volunteer strategy, presidential travel, and principal gift opportunities.

Managed a national portfolio of leadership and principal gift prospects while partnering with the Head of School, senior administrators, trustees, and campaign volunteers.

Leadership Highlights

• Led strategy and fundraising for the Academy’s $3 million Morsman Tennis Pavilion campaign.
• Secured numerous six-figure commitments supporting endowment, unrestricted priorities, and capital initiatives.
• Successfully engaged younger alumni as first-time major donors through thoughtful relationship building and personalized solicitation strategies.
• Balanced annual, campaign, and endowment fundraising priorities while consistently achieving ambitious fundraising goals.

Managed a regional portfolio of major gift prospects during the College's Women for the World campaign, collaborating with the President, trustees, and volunteer leaders to secure philanthropic support for institutional priorities.

Cultivated and solicited major gifts for scholarships, academic initiatives, and institutional priorities; managed relationships with alumnae and volunteers to enhance support.