Rebecca C. Ruiz
Aldie,VA
Summary
Rooted in Ignatian tradition, I am a seasoned executive with three decades of successful experience securing funding for non-profits through grant writing, donor cultivation, and strategic planning.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
President and CEO
The Berkhamsted Group
06.2025 - Current
- Executive leadership of consulting firm offering grant writing, business writing/editing, strategic planning, and fundraising services to nonprofits of all sizes from local food pantries and other community aid agencies to international humanitarian organizations.
Ignatian Spiritual Director & Retreat Facilitator
01.2019 - Current
- Adjunct, Loyola on the Potomac, Faulkner, MD - Ignatian Weekend Retreat Team
- Spiritual Reflector, Ignatian Volunteer Corps of the National Capital Region
- Have developed and presented retreats, seminar series, and mornings/evenings of reflection
Freelance Writer
01.2014 - Current
- Writer specializing in Ignatian Spirituality, Catholic Social Teaching, and the New Evangelization
- Loyola Press, Regular Contributor to www.IgnatianSpirituality.com, 2015 – present, Author page: http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/author/ruiz
- Contributed to various Loyola Press media and publications including the books, Sacred Space for the Advent and Christmas Season 2017-2018 and Sacred Space: The Prayer Book 2018
- Also published in Our Sunday Visitor, Holy Cross Magazine, the Catholic Diocese of Arlington Blog, Arlington Catholic Herald blog
Development Manager
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA
05.2024 - 06.2025
- Head grant writer for the US and foundations lead supervising a team of five development staff who were producing all annual outreach and appeal drives and events.
Fundraising Consultant
BJC Consulting
07.2017 - 07.2022
- 95% success rate with nonprofit grant proposals
- Authored communications materials including annual reports, white papers, brochures, fact sheets, posters, donor appeal and appreciation letters, resumes, applications, and other business and academic copy
Director of Communications and Development
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Migration and Refugee Services (CCDA MRS)
01.2007 - 01.2015
- Company Overview: an affiliate of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Office of Migration and Refugee Services Arlington, VA
- Wrote dozens of grant proposals to federal, state, foundation, and corporate funders garnering millions of dollars which allowed for maximization of organizational capacity
- Increased budget from $87,000/year to over $3,000,000/year
- Expanded services from one 30-day program to eight programs offering full-spectrum of resettlement services ranging from 30-days to five years
- Increased office sites from one to five
- Grew CCDA MRS from staff of three to twenty-eight
- Increased organizational service capacity from 100 to over 1,200 clients
- Supervised team of 3-5
- Researched and identified funding opportunities
- Developed strategies for funding diversification
- Produced annual Development calendar in conjunction with MRS’ Annual Action Plan
- Cultivated donors through annual fund, gala, direct-mail campaigns, donation drives
- Wrote donor appeal letters, donor appreciation letter template, handwrote notes to major donors
- Recorded all donations in donor database
- Spearheaded donor appreciation events
- Served on Management Team – managed office merger with Catholic Charities, participated in strategic planning process, assisted with personnel management (including interviewing and evaluating candidates for employment and conducting annual performance reviews), assisted with reporting and auditing preparation for annual State Department, USCCB, and Commonwealth of Virginia monitoring visits, annual Diocesan audit, and accreditation
- Managed all external and internal communications
- Authored fact sheets, brochures, newsletter, weekly donor update, and annual reports
- Secured grant funding for the USCCB funded “Parishes Organized to Welcome Refugees” Program and cultivated relationships with over forty parishes and facilitated over 50+ donations drives/year which yielded over $250,000 in new items and thousands of volunteer hours per year which enabled CCDA MRS to “Meet the Match” for federal Match Grant funding
- Authored 121 page “Adopt a Family” manual for parishes supporting refugee families
- Planned and prepared Community Advisory Board meetings and materials
- Conducted trainings at Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington All Staff meetings
Communications and Development Manager
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Migration and Refugee Services (CCDA MRS)
01.2003 - 01.2007
- Company Overview: an affiliate of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Office of Migration and Refugee Services Arlington, VA
- Joined office staff of two and worked with Director to build the program
- Created development materials – brochures, fact sheets, newsletter, weekly “Flash”
- Researched and identified funding opportunities
- Secured funding for and implemented USCCB grant funded “Parishes Organized to Welcome Refugees” Program, and submitted quarterly reports of outcomes
Resource Coordinator/Employment Specialist/Volunteer Manager
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Migration and Refugee Services (CCDA MRS)
01.2001 - 01.2003
- Company Overview: an affiliate of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Office of Migration and Refugee Services Arlington, VA
- Created donation management forms and donor database
- Initiated Annual Fund and periodic fundraising campaigns and composed all materials
- Organized and executed direct mail campaign
- Cultivated relationships with parishes, donors, and volunteers
- Procured and managed in-kind giving
- Wrote gift acknowledgements to all donors
- Organized donor appreciation events including gala dinners and brunches
- Recruited new volunteer base, created volunteer management forms and database, authored 32-page volunteer handbook
- Welcomed refugee clients at airport, prepared homes with donated items prior to client arrival, assisted clients in securing employment and becoming self-sufficient
Special Projects Administrator
Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, Office of the Dean of School
01.1999 - 01.2001
- Worked in partnership with Development Office to acknowledge alumni support
- Served as Dean’s office representative at alumni events
- Liaised with Board of Directors and strategic planning committee/consultants during strategic planning process
Faculty Assistant
Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Office of the President
01.1998 - 01.1999
- Assisted at alumni events including gala dinner, collaborated with researchers on Annual Report
Teaching Assistant
Boston College
1997 - 1998
Teaching Assistant
Tufts University
1996 - 1998
Student Liason to The Alumni of the College, Office of the President
College of the Holy Cross
01.1994 - 01.1996
Student Development Assistant, Office of Development
College of the Holy Cross
01.1992 - 01.1994
- Greeted donors at President’s Council Gala Dinner and Alumni Association events, welcomed visitors to President’s Office, made Annual Fund calls, prepared donor letters
Education
Certificate - Spiritual Direction Formation Program (Four Year)
Fairfield University
07-2023
M.A. - undefined
Tufts University
01.1999
B.A. - undefined
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA01.1996
Skills
- Proficient in use of SalesForce, Asana, MS Teams and Office Suite, Google Suite, Zoom, Social Media, DonorPerfect
- Spanish - College-level reading comprehension/limited working proficiency
- Latin – Advanced college-level
Accomplishments
Certificate, International Meeting: The Pastoral Project of Evangelii Gaudium, The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, The Vatican, September 2014 Arlington Diocese delegate - one of 12 attendees chosen to meet Pope Francis due to my work with refugees
Presenter, National Conference 2014, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Office of Migration and Refugee Services. “POWRPoint: Cultivating Abundance: Best Practices in Development through the ‘Parishes Organized to Welcome Refugees (POWR) Program”
Employee Appreciation Award, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Jan. 2014
Awards
Certificate, International Meeting: The Pastoral Project of Evangelii Gaudium, The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, The Vatican, September 2014 (was one of 12 attendees chosen to meet Pope Francis due to my work with refugees), Presenter, National Conference 2014, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Office of Migration and Refugee Services. “POWRPoint: Cultivating Abundance: Best Practices in Development through the ‘Parishes Organized to Welcome Refugees (POWR) Program”, Employee Appreciation Award, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Jan. 2014
Affiliations
- American Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
- Spiritual Directors International (SDI)
VOLUNTEERING HIGHLIGHTS
- World on Fire Spiritual Director Formation Program, Mentor August 2024-2025
- Ignatian Volunteer Corps Regional Advisory Council Member 2018 - 2022
- College of the Holy Cross Alumni Admissions Interviewer 1999 - Present
- Inova Health System Community Insights Committee Member 2020-2023
- American Christian Press Association, Judge, Best of the ACP Awards 2016
Languages
Spanish
Elementary
Timeline
President and CEO
The Berkhamsted Group
06.2025 - Current
Development Manager
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA
05.2024 - 06.2025
Ignatian Spiritual Director & Retreat Facilitator
01.2019 - Current
Fundraising Consultant
BJC Consulting
07.2017 - 07.2022
Freelance Writer
01.2014 - Current
Director of Communications and Development
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Migration and Refugee Services (CCDA MRS)
01.2007 - 01.2015
Communications and Development Manager
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Migration and Refugee Services (CCDA MRS)
01.2003 - 01.2007
Resource Coordinator/Employment Specialist/Volunteer Manager
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Migration and Refugee Services (CCDA MRS)
01.2001 - 01.2003
Special Projects Administrator
Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, Office of the Dean of School
01.1999 - 01.2001
Faculty Assistant
Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Office of the President
01.1998 - 01.1999
Student Liason to The Alumni of the College, Office of the President
College of the Holy Cross
01.1994 - 01.1996
Student Development Assistant, Office of Development
College of the Holy Cross
01.1992 - 01.1994
M.A. - undefined
Tufts University
B.A. - undefined
College of the Holy Cross
Teaching Assistant
Boston College
1997 - 1998
Teaching Assistant
Tufts University
1996 - 1998
Certificate - Spiritual Direction Formation Program (Four Year)
Fairfield University
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