Richard Newcomb

Dynamic leader with a proven track record at Union Rescue Mission, where I doubled organizational size through strategic fundraising initiatives. Skilled in team leadership and critical thinking, I excel in building relationships and driving results, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance operational effectiveness and foster long-term partnerships.

Experienced with executive leadership and strategic planning. Utilizes innovative approaches to drive business growth and operational excellence. Track record of effective team collaboration and achieving results.

Professional leader with executive experience ready to drive impactful change. Proven ability to implement strategic initiatives and enhance operational performance. Valued for collaborative team leadership and adaptability to evolving business needs.

Top-notch [Job Title] with proven track record of success leading and growing organizations. Strong background in strategic planning, financial management and team development. Skilled in identifying opportunities and implementing practical business strategies with commitment to staying informed about latest trends, technologies and best practices.

• A former fashion industry executive and Union Rescue Mission Board member, who grew fundraising at URM by 70% over seven years as the VP of Philanthropy.
• Recruited and developed a team of fundraising professionals who were passionate and highly motivated to raise funds to fight homelessness.
• Grew URM's events from a single annual ballroom gala raising $800,000, into three major events raising nearly $6 million each year. This included turning the annual gala into an award-winning TV Special called Angels of Hope, which raised over $13.5 million on CBS 2 Los Angeles over five years. Richard won two Emmy Nominations as an Executive Producer for these shows in 2021 and 2024. In addition, the Angels of Hope 2024 TV Special was awarded Most Impactful Fundraising Event of the Year at the LA Business Journal's 2024 Annual Nonprofit Awards.
• Richard launched URM's annual 5K Event at LA Live as a URM Board Member in the spring of 2018. This event has now raised over $6 million under his leadership over the past eight years.
• Richard launched "Over the Edge" in 2019 for URM, which is an innovative peer-to-peer fundraising event where participants rappel off the 25-story Universal Hilton Hotel. This event has now raised over $8.5 million in the past seven years, and set a world record in September 2025 of $1.91 million for the two-day event.
• Helped grow URM's grant program with dozens of major Los Angeles area foundations, with many multimillion-dollar grants received under Richards' leadership.
• Built a robust Planned Giving Department at URM, and started a "Reserve Sustainability Fund" for the mission, which did not exist, but today is now approaching $40 million.
• Launched two major marketing campaigns to build awareness and grow the Union Rescue Mission brand throughout Southern California. The "Just Help 1" campaign messaging was included in all of URM's normal marketing channels, plus was rolled out on 168 billboards and busstop kiosks around the city, plus promoted on eight iHeart radio stations over the three months. The campaign included TV ads on most local LA stations, with a voice-over from actress Angela Bassett, a major URM supporter. The second campaign launched in the fall of 2025 and was called "The Way Home", with billboards, buses, and some radio to promote the fact that URM is much more than a place to just get off the street, but has life-transforming programs to truly help people find their way home.

Outstanding Professional Fundraiser of the Year for Greater Los Angeles 2025- Greater Los Angeles Association of Fundraising Professionals (November 2025). 

Emmy Nomination- Executive Producer, Union Rescue Mission's 2024 Angels of Hope TV Special on CBS 2 Los Angeles.

Emmy Nomination- Executive Producer, Union Rescue Mission's 2021 Angels of Hope TV Special on CBS 2 Los Angeles. 

LA Business Journal Nonprofit Awards- Most Impactful Fundraising Event of the Year 2024- Union Rescue Mission's Angeles of Hope TV Special 2024 (Raised $3,440,000).