Mecca Billings
Pasadena,CA
Summary
Expert fundraising professional with an outstanding track record guiding successful multimillion dollar capital campaigns, closing major and principal gifts and grants from individual and institutional donors, persuasively articulating the case for support, and leading and inspiring teams and board members to aim high and believe.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director of Advancement
Venture Leadership Collective (VLC)
01.2023 - Current
- Provide comprehensive fundraising and strategic communications support to multiple VLC clients through interim CDO engagements and capital campaign counsel.
Founder and Principal
Billings Consulting Group
03.2011 - 01.2023
- Comprehensive fundraising consulting firm that supported more than 30 nonprofit client organizations with capital campaign planning and management, annual fund and major gifts fundraising, strategic planning and executive searches.
- Counsel helped clients secure more than $50 million for capital and annual fundraising campaigns and special projects.
- Client engagement highlights: The Marine Mammal Center (capital campaign in Hawaii), Muttville (capital campaign), WildCare (capital campaign and interim director of development), Slide Ranch (capital campaign), San Francisco SPCA (interim development leadership), the National Institute of Flamenco (interim development leadership), the Redford Center (fundraising counsel for documentary film project), and Dartmouth Films/Raindog Films (fundraising counsel for documentary film project).
Director of Development and Capital Campaign
The Marine Mammal Center
07.2006 - 03.2011
- Secured over $14 million for the capital campaign over a three-year period.
- Reinvigorated and staffed the board Capital Campaign Committee and created a new culture of philanthropy on the board.
- Increased annual operating fund revenue from $4 million in 2006 to $6.1 million in 2011.
- Chaired interdepartmental Marketing Team.
- Produced special events, including Ribbon Cutting and a week-long series of special grand opening events for the Center’s new facility in June 2009 (total attendance over 1,000) and the annual gala.
- Chaired interdepartmental Marketing Team and managed up to eight staff members.
Director of Development
Bar Association of San Francisco Foundation
03.2004 - 05.2006
- Developed and executed annual fundraising plan to support the Foundation's charitable programs that included a partnership with the San Francisco 49ers.
- Raised $3.2 million in annual contributions from individuals, law firms, foundation grants and special events.
- Managed three staff members and one consultant.
Director, Annual Fund, Walter A. Haas School of Business
University of California, Berkeley
03.2001 - 03.2004
- Developed and executed comprehensive annual fundraising plan.
- Created a Class Gift Committee, recruited 120 alumni as class agents.
- Managed two staff members.
Director of Development, College of Letters and Science
University of California, Berkeley
03.2001 - 03.2004
- Developed cultivation and solicitation strategies for prospects in major gifts portfolio.
- Formed synergy partnerships with the central development office.
Director of Development, College of Letters and Science
University of California, Los Angeles
06.1998 - 09.1999
- Worked with the Deputy Vice Provost to create a new and innovative venture fund to support the College.
- Planned and executed a major fundraising event in Silicon Valley to commemorate UCLA’s role in the birth of the Internet; raised $500,000 in corporate and individual sponsorships.
Associate Director of Development
Harvard College Fund
09.1992 - 06.1997
- Managed a $25,000,000 capital campaign that received a $2,000,000 challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation; personally solicited gifts in the $100,000 to $5,000,000 range; created marketing materials, case statement and campaign newsletters.
- Created and managed a program to increase the presence of the Fund on the West Coast; produced 27 new special events; identified 1,500 new major gift prospects.
- Managed class gift committees and supervised two staff members.
Education
B.A. -
Harvard College
Cambridge, MA06.1992
Skills
- Leadership
- Capital Campaign Strategy and Management
- Major Gifts Strategy, Engagement, Solicitation, and Stewardship
- Board Management and Motivation
- Sponsorship/Underwriting Strategy and Implementation
- Writing and Strategic Communications
- Fundraising Case for Support Design and Articulation
- Overall Development Systems and Processes
Volunteer Experience
- Board Chair, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company, San Francisco, CA (2018-2022).
- Volunteer and Board President, Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA (2015-2018).
- Advisory Board Member, Na Kama Kai, Honolulu, HI (2016-2018).
Hobbies and Interests
- Student of Spanish Flamenco Music and Dance since 2007
- Performing Arts
- Travel
- Oenology
- Photography
Timeline
Senior Director of Advancement
Venture Leadership Collective (VLC)
01.2023 - Current
Founder and Principal
Billings Consulting Group
03.2011 - 01.2023
Director of Development and Capital Campaign
The Marine Mammal Center
07.2006 - 03.2011
Director of Development
Bar Association of San Francisco Foundation
03.2004 - 05.2006
Director, Annual Fund, Walter A. Haas School of Business
University of California, Berkeley
03.2001 - 03.2004
Director of Development, College of Letters and Science
University of California, Berkeley
03.2001 - 03.2004
Director of Development, College of Letters and Science
University of California, Los Angeles
06.1998 - 09.1999
Associate Director of Development
Harvard College Fund
09.1992 - 06.1997
B.A. -
Harvard College
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