NIAKIA M. CHEESE
Summary
A highly creative and results-driven non-profit management professional with fundraising passion, drive and vision. More than 10 years’ experience and expertise generating revenue and increasing support bases for expanding national and local non-profit organizations.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Equity and Inclusion
Mercy High School
Baltimore, MD
08.2020 - 07.2024
- Led the Mission and Equity Committee of the Board of Trustees, planning and leading quarterly meetings.
- Worked in collaboration with the Principal and Dean of Students on discipline actions for students in violation of the school's code of conduct.
- Assured marketing materials were an accurate reflection of the school culture, and the images were not biased or promoted microaggressions, as it relates to print, television, or social media.
- Responsible for school-wide cultural celebrations, displays, announcements, and activities.
- Planned the yearly Martin Luther King Day celebration and Black History Month celebration assemblies for the school.
- Worked with the communication department on social media posts for Facebook and Instagram surrounding cultural celebrations.
- Served as the moderator for the Black Student Union, helpings the students plan for meetings, activities, and trips.
Director of Development
Mercy High School
Baltimore, MD
08.2015 - 07.2024
- Work closely with the president and the board of trustees to develop, implement and manage a strategic development plan, with an emphasis on annual fund and major gifts, to guide the efforts of the Development and Alumnae Relations Offices
- Manage and increase the portfolio of major donors, including cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, in conjunction with the president and the Development Committee of the board of trustees
- Enhance institutional funding capacity through foundations, corporations and individuals, including identification of new sources of support, community and business partnerships, grant proposals, personal solicitations and planned giving activities.
- Serve as the Development liaison to the Mothers’ and Fathers’ Clubs and to the Alumnae Association, supporting them in their efforts to raise funds for the school and its programs.
- Plan and implement effective annual fund campaign through personal solicitations, appeal letters and special events.
- Develop, implement, manage and evaluate the student fundraiser, the dinner dance/gala, and all other special event activities for the Development Office.
- Organize, maintain and analyze data, including generating reports, from the donor database (Raiser’s Edge).
- Prepare and oversee the annual budget of the Development Office, achieving and analyzing revenue goals and managing expenditures.
- Recruit, lead, train and supervise Development and Alumnae Relations staff.
- Conduct mid-year and end-of-year performance-based evaluations which tie individual goals to organizational strategy.
Assistant Director of Development
The SEED School of Maryland
10.2012 - 10.2014
- Assisted with the development, implementation and evaluation of the foundation and corporate relations strategy, which generated $631,900.
- Maintained the major prospect pool by regularly identifying, rating, and qualifying likely sources of funding, generating $356,000 in individual support.
- Managed an individual donor portfolio of 30 donors/donor prospects while managing the annual giving campaign yielding 270 new donors.
- Managed the faculty and staff annual fund, generating $14,500 in annual support.
- Assisted with special projects, events and development activities such as the building grand opening, school tours and formal gatherings with the head of school.
- Maintained and monitored school-wide procedures for proposal preparation and submission, assisting with the review of all faculty and staff proposals prior to submission, and obtaining appropriate institutional signatures and authorizations.
- Developed SEED’s first crowd-funding campaign, raising $10,586 in two weeks, yielding 95 new donors.
- Assisted with the stewardship of corporate, foundation and individual donors through regular reporting and recognition activities.
- Effectively communicated the school’s case for support and built relationships with prospects and donors through personal visits, phone calls and social media.
- Helped manage all social media accounts increasing Twitter followers from 309 to 551 and Instagram followers from 16 to 128.
- Managed the SEED online e-blasts and mentor newsletter, providing copy for all communications and publications.
- Provided assistance to school’s Parent Teacher Organization with parent and volunteer fundraising.
- Managed the operations manager and community engagement coordinator positions.
Annual Fund Manager
Girl Scouts of Central Maryland
Baltimore, MD
01.2008 - 10.2012
- Managed all aspects of the SHARE (annual giving) Campaign, including direct mail, phonathons and direct solicitations, yielding $469,303 over a four-year period.
- Developed and managed a donor portfolio of 50-75 people, directly cultivating, soliciting and stewarding assigned donors and donor prospects.
- Assisted with state-wide special events, yielding nearly $200,000 annually.
- Managed all aspects of staff giving campaign, increasing participation from 47% to 91% participation, yielding $43,938 over a four year period.
- Managed Girl Scouts’ workplace giving program, including United Way and Combined City, State and Federal Charity Campaigns, representing Girl Scouts as a designated speaker, yielding $90,000 in donor designations on an annual basis.
- Created and managed the annual fund budget, goals, and action steps with measurable outcomes.
- Provided copy for fund development marketing materials, promotional campaigns, direct mail pieces and newsletters.
- Worked with the membership department and service unit managers to identify, recruit and train volunteers in respective service units to act as volunteer leaders to promote the Annual Fund Campaign, increasing donor participation from 20% to 34% over four years.
- Trained and managed more than 40 volunteers to convey GSCM’s fundraising message to external audiences.
- Responsible for the on-going cultivation of volunteer leaders, marketing materials and campaign kick-off events, resulting in a 75% retention rate among annual fund volunteers.
- Responsible for annual fund statistical data, providing accurate monthly updates to Council Leadership, membership staff and volunteer leaders.
Program Manager
Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland
Baltimore, MD
08.2000 - 05.2006
- Developed and managed numerous member programs that increased marketability of BBB memberships to local businesses.
- Increased non-dues income from $50,000 to $290,000 over a six year period.
- Performed media planning and buying services as well as prepared press releases on behalf of the BBB.
- Collaborated with media sales managers and advertising executives to identify marketing opportunities to expand membership and formulate profit plans and financial controls.
- Worked directly with the president and director of public relations to plan and coordinate all special events including the 78th to the 83rd annual meetings, Torch Awards and Ben Hogan golf tournaments.
- Planned, developed and implemented the BBB’s annual Auction for Action, which generated $62,000 in revenue.
- Executed promotions and co-op advertising programs that increased revenue growth and exceeded income expectations for three consecutive years.
- Assisted in acquiring sponsors and donations for all special events, generating more than $140,000 on an annual basis.
- Created and designed brochures, fliers, billboards, mailings, and direct mail pieces, which yielded increased visibility for the BBB.
- Provided members with a complete overview of all BBB products and services and made marketing recommendations to maximize exposure with minimal costs.
- Delivered sales and project presentations to the board of directors and executive committees.
- Re-designed company web site to increase user-friendliness, aesthetics and information flow.
- Sold directory ads for the 2001-2003 Consumer Guides, yielding more than $45,000 annually.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Mass Communications: Public Relations & Advertising
Towson State University
Towson, MD08.2000
Skills
- Donor Stewardship
- Strategic Planning
- Grant Writing
- Marketing Communications
- Major Gifts Officer
- Program Development & Management
- Customer Service
- Media Planning & Advertising
- Direct Mail Marketing
Computer Skills
- Windows 95-00/XP
- Microsoft Word
- PowerPoint
- Access
- Excel
- Adobe Acrobat
- Photoshop
- Microsoft Publisher
- MIS
- Microsoft Outlook
- Raisers’ Edge
- CES
- GiveSmart
- GiveLively
Professional and Civic Affiliations
- Taytay Outreach, Inc., Board Member, 2017-Present
- Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, Member, Troop 259, 2009-2016
- Northwood Community Association, Member-at-Large, 2004-Present
- Hamilton PTO, Board Member, Secretary, 2011-2012
- Hamilton PTA, Board Member, Event Coordinator, 2009-2011
Selected Achievements
- Leads a team of fundraising professionals tasked with building a culture of philanthropy throughout the school, increasing membership in the Sr. Michelle Carroll giving society (donors over $1,000), increasing participation in the staff giving campaign from 64% to 92%, and increasing participation in the annual student fundraiser from 38% to 83%. (MERCY HIGH SCHOOL)
- Helped raise $991,000 in restricted and unrestricted gifts from foundations, corporations and individuals, integrating social media and crowd funding initiatives. (THE SEED SCHOOL)
- Helped secure $1.4 million dollars annually through effective gift solicitations, creative sponsorship opportunities, donor cultivation, events and annual fund appeals. (GIRL SCOUTS OF CENTRAL MARYLAND)
- Built strong partnerships with leading Fortune 400 & 500 companies, community-based organizations, government agencies and educational partners to deliver programs and train volunteers on fundraising and program delivery techniques. (BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU)
Timeline
Director of Equity and Inclusion
Mercy High School
08.2020 - 07.2024
Director of Development
Mercy High School
08.2015 - 07.2024
Assistant Director of Development
The SEED School of Maryland
10.2012 - 10.2014
Annual Fund Manager
Girl Scouts of Central Maryland
01.2008 - 10.2012
Program Manager
Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland
08.2000 - 05.2006
Bachelor of Arts - Mass Communications: Public Relations & Advertising
Towson State University
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