Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Natalie Foster

Natalie Foster

Summary

A strategic nonprofit executive with demonstrated leadership, planning and problem-solving abilities focused on building a coalition of visionary leaders where there is potential for innovation to identify solutions that can make a social impact.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience

Work History

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

VIRGINIA READY
01.2022 - 06.2024
  • Lead an organization that partners with businesses across Virginia and Virginia’s Community Colleges through the FastForward Workforce Credential Program to equip Virginians with the skills needed for sustainable jobs in three high-growth sectors—healthcare, cybersecurity/technology, and manufacturing/trade skills
  • Manage the organization's financial resources ($2.5M budget) and operations to maximize efficiency and effectiveness
  • Create a collaborative environment that fosters innovation and encourages employee engagement through established core values
  • Secure funding from public and private sources through grant writing and 18 month business engagement plans
  • Led a rebranding campaign that promoted public awareness of our mission through outreach, advocacy and online presence
  • Recruit, train, mentor, evaluate, coach, and manage nine staff members to ensure success in achieving their goals
  • Develop a strategic direction through quarterly objectives and key results to ensure organizational growth and accomplish goals
  • Convene partners to join a talent development ecosystem designed to raise awareness about credentials and skills first hiring practices

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MENTOR VIRGINIA
08.2021 - 01.2022
  • Provide leadership, expertise, management, and coordination to the organization's strategic programmatic and funding relationships to promote quality youth mentoring programs across the state of Virginia
  • Responsible for the sustainability of a $500,000 operating budget through a diversification of fund development streams: fees for service, grants, corporate sponsorship, and individual donors
  • Led and coached a team of two full-time and six part-time staff to ensure operational efficiencies and quality programming
  • Developed a strategic statewide mentoring initiative through the management of a portfolio of AmeriCorp VISTAs and a VISTA leader
  • Recruited and supported a sixteen member board of directors
  • Ensured systems were in place to measure success and communicate impact to the board, funders, and community programs
  • Represented MENTOR Virginia at the affiliate level to MENTOR National and through VCU's Center of Community Engagement and Impact

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS & PARTNERSHIPS

MENTOR VIRGINIA
02.2020 - 08.2021
  • Created new training topics and executed trainings on workplace mentoring, risk management of mentoring programs and virtual mentoring both nationally and at the state level to include the following partners: Capital One, LinkedIn, Genentech, VCU, Mayor’s Youth Academy, Boys and Girls Club
  • Assisted with MENTOR Virginia’s regional expansion efforts, fundraising events, grant applications, and stewarding corporate and private donors
  • Established processes for, trained, and supervised team of trainers to support MENTOR Virginia’s mission and matched trainer to projects and programs that best fit their strengths
  • Shaped the organization’s strategy and mission, explored mentoring industry trends and suggested organizational evolution to meet changing needs

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

MENTOR VIRGINIA
12.2017 - 02.2020
  • Secured two new partners to deliver the Connect|Focus|Grow curriculum and train 200 youth and 150 supervisors through the Mayor's Youth Academy and Cristo Rey High School
  • Created customized pitches for clients interested in developing the mentoring mindset in the workplace
  • Set quarterly fundraising goals to exceed annual fund target of $50,000
  • Increased board contributions by 34.7%, individual contributions by 129.9% and special event income by 86.7%
  • Managed the migration of data to a new donor centric database while ensuring data integrity
  • Developed 25th Anniversary event sponsorship package, customized individual donor proposals and board pledge cards with opportunities to influence, make an impact, and invest
  • Built regional support throughout Virginia and collaborated with city governments, public school systems, businesses and higher education to make a collective impact in closing the networking gap with youth
  • Responsible for managing four trainers and providing feedback to monitor quality of training
  • Led and coordinated mentor advocacy initiatives at the federal level for the Virginia affiliate

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF RICHMOND
06.2016 - 11.2017
  • Annually developed a strategic fundraising plan for a 900-member volunteer organization
  • FY17 increased the average gift amount and successfully executed the annual fund campaign 134% to goal
  • Led social media peer to peer fundraising campaign, Little Black Dress Initiative, a poverty awareness campaign achieving 218% to goal - $25,819 raised in five days (FY17)
  • Built business cases for corporate partners to promote leadership development and request sponsorships based on impactful data
  • Cultivated major donors to develop a membership dues scholarship, fund community programs, and make legacy planned gifts
  • Facilitated fundraising training programs: Annual fund, Corporate Sponsorships, and Capital Campaigns
  • Developed strong media relations to promote advocacy around urgent community needs and market JLR's various entry points as a customer, event attendee, donor, or member
  • Worked with community advisory board committee members to promote community engagement

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

VIRGINIA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES
02.2014 - 06.2016
  • Integral member of the Institutional Advancement team supporting the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education's development plan to raise $5 million with a focus on unrestricted funds, scholarships, program funds, board campaigns, corporate and foundation giving and event sponsorships
  • Exceeded prior corporate sponsorship support by 23% using creative and strategic funding opportunities to attract new sponsors, increase multi-event sponsorships and ensure retention of current donors
  • Raised $186,000 for eight events
  • Developed proposals for major gifts ($25,000 - $1,000,000) to support workforce development, foster youth mentoring and coaching programs, and the Rural Virginia Horseshoe Initiative
  • Worked in collaboration with the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement for critical moves management to engage stakeholders from across the state
  • Contributor to the building community team that developed an idea generator/problem solving forum to unleash the talent of system office employees at Virginia's Community Colleges
  • Co-presented at Virginia's Community College's annual faculty conference with a session titled Helping Students Gain Employment Skills and Employment

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND PHILANTHROPY MANAGER

YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND
10.2013 - 02.2014
  • Provided strategic support to the CEO to build relationships with key volunteers, donors, and community partners
  • Generated fundraising reports using the donor database Raiser's Edge
  • Prepared, analyzed, and researched data related to strategic planning and development initiatives
  • Organizational ambassador for United Way's workplace speakers' bureau informing and motivating employees to give, advocate and volunteer through compelling stories
  • Led the special event coordination of a national author

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

SHADY GROVE FAMILY YMCA
07.2011 - 10.2013
  • Cultivated and solicited Fortune 500 companies, foundations, and individuals growing donor participation by 30%
  • Increased the seasonal sports sponsorship program dollars by 100% year over year
  • Managed all aspects of a $158,000 annual giving campaign
  • Provided support for a $4.5 million capital campaign
  • Assisted with grant research, application, and reporting
  • Managed administrative development function for three YMCA branches: gift entry, donor correspondence, queries, and bank deposits
  • Facilitated planning, preparation, and implementation of fundraising training for volunteer led campaign to include board members, staff, and teen leaders throughout the annual fund campaign
  • Coordinated corporate volunteer opportunities for the YMCA Bright Beginnings program
  • Responsible for the on-boarding and scheduling of department experiences of the summer internship program

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT

FAMILY LIFELINE
04.2010 - 06.2011
  • Increased staff average gift from $5 to $50 during the United Way Campaign
  • Expanded volunteer opportunities with the organization through posting on volunteer match websites
  • Maintained accurate data, processed donations, and generated custom reports

Education

MASTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT -

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION -

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK

Skills

  • Leadership and Operations Management
  • Staff Management, Training, and Development
  • Media Relations
  • Negotiation
  • Strategic Partnerships
  • Event Planning
  • Grant Writing
  • Business Development
  • Community Practices of Learning
  • Revenue Forecasting
  • Fundraising Expertise
  • Data Analysis

Timeline

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

VIRGINIA READY
01.2022 - 06.2024

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MENTOR VIRGINIA
08.2021 - 01.2022

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS & PARTNERSHIPS

MENTOR VIRGINIA
02.2020 - 08.2021

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

MENTOR VIRGINIA
12.2017 - 02.2020

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF RICHMOND
06.2016 - 11.2017

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

VIRGINIA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES
02.2014 - 06.2016

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND PHILANTHROPY MANAGER

YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND
10.2013 - 02.2014

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

SHADY GROVE FAMILY YMCA
07.2011 - 10.2013

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT

FAMILY LIFELINE
04.2010 - 06.2011

MASTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT -

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION -

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK

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