Naomi Sheridan
Chicago,USA
Summary
A multi-faceted professional with extensive experience in non-profit leadership and administration - passionate about youth, arts, culture, education, social justice, and economic empowerment including
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Culture Festival Program Director
SGI-USA (Soka Gakkai International Cultural Organization)
Chicago, Illinois
01.2010
- Responsible for the logistics for the youth culture festival which attracted 8,000 people
- Stage managed the production of 2,000 performers
Senior Director of Development
THE CHICAGO CENTER FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Chicago, Illinois
01.2022 - 06.2025
- Operating Budget - $3.5 million, 20 staff
- Raised over $2 million through grants, individual/corporate giving and events
- Secured over ten new funders (grants – Government and Foundations)
- Acquired eight new partnerships (funding focus – corporate and community)
- Started Board hosted fundraising events – four in 2023, five slated for 2024/25 (raised $30K)
- Increased donor base by 70%
- Oversaw the database, the wealth search engine, and created donor reports
- Worked closely with the Board, started a Major Gifts Campaign
- Strategized with the Board - first fundraising event / November – Fashion Show
- Operated across all departments for funding needs, managed a staff of two
- Built out Donor Data base
Development Director
THE FIREHOUSE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER
Chicago, Illinois
01.2020 - 12.2021
- Operating budget - $2 million, 14 staff
- Raised over $1.6 million in 2020/21 through grants, individual/corporate giving and virtual events
- Increased donor base from 120 to over 500 active donors
- Increased Major Gifts by 50%, beginning the process of Planned Giving
- Started City College Scholarship Program Fund with one of the major donors (full year’s tuition)
- Increased grant donations by 80% with new funders
- Worked closely with the Board in fundraising for events including corporate sponsorships
- Created program partnerships with local schools in North Lawndale – yearly violence prevention program implemented at North Lawndale College Prep High School
- Managed a staff of three
- Note: Resigned due to the organization’s Covid protocol, many did not get the vaccine or wear a mask.
Executive Director
FRIDAY MUSICALE
Jacksonville, Florida
01.2016 - 01.2020
- Operating budget - $950K, 6 staff
- Increased revenue and concert attendance by over 48%
- Re-started the Planned Giving Program – Major Gifts went up by 30%
- Doubled grant revenue over the past two years from State and local funders
- Presented over 23 concerts last season – the largest season, with the most diverse music Genres presented ever. Executed the most successful fundraisers ever conducted for the organization / 80% increase
- Strengthened the organization’s visibility in the Jacksonville area, increased online presence, and developed media sponsors with Arbus, Jacksonville Magazine and The Resident
- Attracted over 2000 Duval County students and the Home School Network each year
- Expanded the Board with six new diverse members over the past two years
- Managed the rentals and maintained all three of Friday Musicale’s buildings (which they own)
- Began and organized a $100,000 Capital Campaign to build out the performance arena
Planned Giving & Endowment Director
UNITED WAY OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
Chicago, Illinois
01.2012 - 01.2016
- Operating budget, $35 million, 3 staff
- Re-launched all aspects of the Planned Giving & Endowment Campaign for the four Chicago Metro Area Member Offices, working in collaboration with the Major Gifts Team and United Way affiliates around the country
- Drafted Major and Planned Gift communication documents, including Tocqueville Leadership Society and Endowment recognition website
- Managed all Planned Giving & Endowment related events
- Established and maintained financial data management systems for Planned Gift and Endowment donors and prospects
- Maintained Andar, a database with over 100,000 entries, responsible for data integrity and ran data mining operations
Interim Executive Director
Camp of Dreams
Chicago, Illinois
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Operating budget $850K, 7 staff
- Wrote and developed a three-year strategic plan, in collaboration with Board and staff
- Created and implemented a development plan (annual appeal, grants, annual fundraising event)
- Organized Board and staff retreat focusing on re-branding the organization; implementation began in Fall 2011
- Resume Note: A number of the positions below are contract/consulting jobs, hence the shorter duration
Deputy Executive Director
URBAN GATEWAYS: CENTER FOR ARTS EDUCATION
Chicago, Illinois
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Operating budget $3.3 million, reported to the Board of Directors, staff of 15, 150 contracted artists.
- Overhauled systems, connecting all functions and departments to the new technology
- Expanded community partnerships with schools, external agencies, government related and non-profit arts partners
- Developed new policies and procedures for all areas of program development
Interim Executive Director
ART RESOURCES IN TEACHING (A.R.T.)
Chicago, Illinois
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Operating budget $1.8 million, reported to the Chairman of the Board, staff of 13, 38 contracted artists.
- Championed new procedures for fundraising, Board development, and operations
- Strengthened partnerships with funders, school administrators, like minded arts organizations and business associations
- Revamped artist training/recruitment, and redesigned the curriculum development strategy
Director, Special Events and Volunteer Services
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
San Francisco, California
01.2006 - 01.2008
- Operating budget $58 million, department budget $4 million, reported to the Chair of the Volunteer Council, Board of Governors, staff of 6, 1,400 volunteers.
- Orchestrated 8 major fundraising events per year as well as an annual gala that generated a net of over $1 million for the organization; all 8 events exceeded revenue projections by 25%
- Managed 10 volunteer Leagues (1,400 volunteers) as well as each of the Leagues’ annual fundraising events
- Held 3 annual events with attendance of over 2,000 at each event
Executive Director
BUSINESS ARTS COUNCIL
San Francisco, California
01.2003 - 01.2006
- Operating budget $850,000, reported to the Chairman of the Board, 8 staff
- Managed organization that got the business community involved in the arts; increased revenue and participation by 25% per year
- Collaborated with local governments on funding for the arts; increased grant revenue by 35%
- Organized annual awards event for the Bay Area’s arts and business communities (800 attendees, 100 volunteers)
Executive Director
LEAP...IMAGINATION IN LEARNING
San Francisco, California
01.1996 - 01.2003
- Operating budget $900,000, reported to the Chairman of the Board, staff of 10, 40 artists and 10 architects (independent contractors).
- Worked with 100 schools infusing visual and performing arts as well as architecture programs into their school curriculum
- Led strategy, finances, Board development, fundraising, special events, public and community relations, and program development
- Managed annual fundraising event (1,000 participants, 150 volunteers)
Director - Program Services & Marketing
URBAN GATEWAYS: CENTER FOR ARTS IN EDUCATION
Chicago, Illinois
01.1991 - 01.1996
- Operating budget of $5 million, 8 staff
- Oversaw programs, curriculum development, sales and marketing, conferences, market research, and performance metrics
- Worked with school administrators to infuse the arts into their school curriculum
Education
Master of Arts - Interdisciplinary Arts & Non-Profit Management/Administration
COLUMBIA COLLEGE
Chicago, IllinoisBachelor of Arts - Business/Marketing & Dance/Theatre
BARAT COLLEGE
Lake Forest, IllinoisSkills
- Executive & Fiscal Administration
- Community Partnerships
- Program/Curriculum Development
- Managing Staff/Volunteers
- Corporate & Foundation Development
- Events/Galas
- Board Member Relations
- Microsoft Suite
- Grant Writing/Donor Prospecting
- Leadership Development
- Major Gifts, Stewardships
- CRM, Donor Perfect and others
Timeline
Senior Director of Development
THE CHICAGO CENTER FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
01.2022 - 06.2025
Development Director
THE FIREHOUSE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER
01.2020 - 12.2021
Executive Director
FRIDAY MUSICALE
01.2016 - 01.2020
Planned Giving & Endowment Director
UNITED WAY OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
01.2012 - 01.2016
Culture Festival Program Director
SGI-USA (Soka Gakkai International Cultural Organization)
01.2010
Interim Executive Director
Camp of Dreams
01.2010 - 01.2012
Deputy Executive Director
URBAN GATEWAYS: CENTER FOR ARTS EDUCATION
01.2008 - 01.2010
Interim Executive Director
ART RESOURCES IN TEACHING (A.R.T.)
01.2007 - 01.2008
Director, Special Events and Volunteer Services
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
01.2006 - 01.2008
Executive Director
BUSINESS ARTS COUNCIL
01.2003 - 01.2006
Executive Director
LEAP...IMAGINATION IN LEARNING
01.1996 - 01.2003
Director - Program Services & Marketing
URBAN GATEWAYS: CENTER FOR ARTS IN EDUCATION
01.1991 - 01.1996
Bachelor of Arts - Business/Marketing & Dance/Theatre
BARAT COLLEGE
Master of Arts - Interdisciplinary Arts & Non-Profit Management/Administration
COLUMBIA COLLEGE
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Ingenuity Advisory Board – (2022-2024), Co-Chair Cultural Fusion, Jacksonville – (2018–2020), Duval County Arts Advisory Council Member – (2018–2020), State of Florida Teaching Artist Task Force Member – (2018 – 2020), Volunteer Lincoln Park Zoo (Guest Services), Chicago – (2008–2015), Chicago Opera Theatre – Education Committee – (2008-2014), Illinois Arts Council – Grant Panel (2008-2014), Chicago Culture Center - Building a Culture of Peace Task Force (2008-2015), National Endowment for the Arts - Arts Education Grant Panel (2002-2008), Volunteer (Events) San Francisco Zoo – (2001–2007), Arts Providers Alliance – Chair, San Francisco (2000-2005), Commonwealth Club - Speaker/Host Committee, San Francisco (2000-2007), California Board of Education - Model Arts Education Grant Panel (2000–2004), Brisbane Dance Workshop – Board Member (2002–2007), Federal Arts Education - Grant Panel (2002-2005), California Arts Council - Creativity Forum Task Force (2001-2003), SFUSD/Board of Supervisors - Arts Task Force (2000–2003), Herbst Pavilion (San Francisco) - Chair, Opening Committee, Linus Pauling Exhibit (1997-1998), California State Board of Education - Planning Committee for Business/Education Partnership Conferences (2001-2005)