Melissa Pieslak Curry
Dracut,MA
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Development and Community Outreach
Hill View Montessori Charter School
01.2021 - 01.2024
- Restructured and created outreach and development initiative for the school
- Created, built, and maintained constituent relationship management systems (Little Green Light)
- Engaged in Prospect research and portfolio management
- Facilitated Grant writing and tracking
- Reconnected and maintained relationships with school alumni and stakeholders
- Acted as a liaison with the Development Committee
- Facilitated outreach efforts to greater Hill View community
- Conducted corporate outreach
- Kept the greater school community informed about upcoming events and fundraising opportunities.
Grant Writer
Alternative House
01.2014 - 01.2021
- Researched and identified funding opportunities that match the programs offered by Alternative House
- Prepared and submitted proposals to appropriate funders
- Researched and sought new funding sources on a regular basis
- Developed and maintained relationships with grantors
- Managed proposal process from inception to completion
- Prepared grant reports for funders
- Worked with the agency's Executive Director, staff, and volunteers to identify needs
- Met regularly with the Executive Director to examine grant and other fundraising opportunities for the agency.
Grant Writer
YMCA of Greater Nashua
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Researched and identified funding opportunities that match the programs offered by the YMCA
- Prepared and submitted proposals to appropriate funders
- Researched and sought new funding sources on a regular basis
- Developed and maintained relationships with grantors
- Managed proposal process from inception to completion
- Maintained grant calendar
- Worked with staff and volunteers to identify needs, identify potential funders and prepare proposals
- Attended meetings as needed for grant proposal development.
Grant Writer - Contract
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Billerica
01.2005 - 01.2007
- Research and identify funding opportunities that match the programs offered by the Boys and Girls Club
- Prepare and submit proposals to appropriate funders
- Research and seek new funding sources on a regular basis
- Develop and maintain relationships with grantors
- Manage proposal process from inception to completion
- Attend conferences and other meetings as needed for grant proposal development.
Membership & Grants Director
Merrimack River Watershed Council, Inc.
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Responsible for all aspects of the membership program
- Created a corporate membership/sponsorship program
- Created materials for and processed direct mailings to current and potential members and donors
- Strengthened communications with current members and donors
- Designed new membership brochure
- Worked closely with local businesses and attractions regarding membership promotions
- Updated acknowledgement process
- Developed and implement all membership department promotions and programs
- Develop, coordinated and handled logistics for membership events
- Produced monthly renewal and appeal reports
- Maintained membership database
- Processed memberships and gifts
- Converted all donor data from MS Access to a more advanced fundraising database (GiftMaker Pro)
- Maintained donor database
- Provided research assistance, analysis of data and prepared reports
- Handled monetary transactions
- Maintained grant schedule
- Assisted with the research, development and submission of grants.
Consultant
Merrimack Valley YMCA
01.2002 - 01.2004
- Assisted the Director of Financial Development with the development of procedures, protocols for and design of the organization's donor database
- Created the procedure and protocol manual for use with the donor database (Raiser's Edge)
- Assisted with the research, development and submission of grants
- Assisted Director of Financial Development with various database and donor tracking issues.
Campaign Operations Manager / Database Administrator
United Way of Merrimack Valley
01.1999 - 01.2002
- Maintained and oversaw the donor database
- Designed the database to fit the needs of the organization
- Designed and produced all reports
- Responsible for the organization's direct mail solicitation
- Oversaw and tracked pledge card scanning process
- Provided all necessary information to Community Investment department regarding donor designations
- Responsible for research and information regarding potential, present and past donors
- Tracked and maintained information regarding annual leadership societies
- Analyzed data to determine method of solicitation
- Produced information for the annual leadership register
- Determined how donations were tracked
- Responsible for donor recognition and acknowledgement
- Maintained the organization's computer network
- Assisted with the development and tracking of special events
- Staffed annual allocation committees
- Made presentations to employee campaign donors
- Met regularly with campaign volunteers and donors
- Acted as campaign manager for the Greater Lowell region when needed
- Assisted with various campaign activities
- Worked as an information resource for donors, staff and member agencies.
Membership/Development Associate
New England Aquarium
01.1998 - 01.1999
- Assisted with the development and implementation of Membership department promotions and programs
- Developed, coordinated and handled logistics for Membership events
- Produced weekly member card reports for mailings
- Produced monthly renewal and appeal reports
- Maintained membership database
- Processed memberships and gifts
- Provided research assistance, analysis of data and prepared reports
- Handled monetary transactions
- Worked closely with Membership department vendors
- Worked in conjunction with the entire Development office staff
- Worked closely with all Aquarium departments
- Member of Aquarium's 30th Birthday Committee.
Program Associate
John F. Kennedy Library & Museum
01.1994 - 01.1998
- Assisted with the development and implementation of various Education department programs
- Provided research assistance, analysis of data and preparation of reports
- Handled logistics, drafted letters and designed promotional materials for public programs
- Coordinated a variety of special events
- Provided information and assistance to speakers, program participants and the general public
- Assisted visiting school groups
- Assisted and acted as a contact for some of the Library's distinguished guests, board members and major donors
- Designed and monitored volunteer projects
- Coordinated annual Elderhostel program
- Maintained Education department database
- Provided part-time assistance with the Library's youth service group (JFK Library Corps)
- Member of Library's Technology Advisory Group and New Frontier Society.
Timeline
Director of Development and Community Outreach
Hill View Montessori Charter School
01.2021 - 01.2024
Grant Writer
Alternative House
01.2014 - 01.2021
Grant Writer
YMCA of Greater Nashua
01.2006 - 01.2007
Grant Writer - Contract
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Billerica
01.2005 - 01.2007
Membership & Grants Director
Merrimack River Watershed Council, Inc.
01.2003 - 01.2005
Consultant
Merrimack Valley YMCA
01.2002 - 01.2004
Campaign Operations Manager / Database Administrator
United Way of Merrimack Valley
01.1999 - 01.2002
Membership/Development Associate
New England Aquarium
01.1998 - 01.1999
Program Associate
John F. Kennedy Library & Museum
01.1994 - 01.1998