Samuel Lowry

• Proactively engage a portfolio of 60+ prospects to increase private support for the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, with a focus on the ASU Art Museum, School of Art, and Department of Opera and Musical Theatre.
• Collaborate with Dean, ASU Foundation leadership, school/program directors, and team members to raise $7M in support of the Herberger Institute students, programs, and initiatives.

• Served as Assistant Director of Development, March 2021 - November 2022.
• Proactively engaged a portfolio of 150+ prospects to increase private support for W.P Carey with a focus on the department of Management and Entrepreneurship.
• Collaborated with Dean, ASU Foundation leadership, department chairs and team members to raise $30M in support of the W.P Carey students, programs, and initiatives.
• Secured $7.52M+ in new gifts and commitments to date (as of 3/24); 42% of total gifts from first time donors to ASU.
• Spearheaded the development and initial fundraising around four new curriculum-based programs at W. P. Carey.
• Travel extensively throughout the United States to qualify, cultivate, and solicit prospective donors including alumni, corporations, and community members on behalf of W.P. Carey.
• Member of the 2023 ASU Foundation Innovation Council.
• Serve as a mentor for the ASU Foundation ASPIRE program.

Company Overview: Arizona Opera (AZO) seeks to build community by producing world-class opera through the company’s 25 performances of five operatic offerings in two cities, and expansive education and community programs.

• Worked directly with the Board of Directors and executive staff to strategically advance the company’s fundraising goals through the development of strong relationships that support the company’s robust programming and community-based educational initiatives.
• More than doubled AZO’s institutional portfolio yielding $1.4M+ in total support, averaging 13.5% over goal each year, by stewarding and cultivating new donors in order to identify their organizations charitable goals and align them with programs that match their priorities.
• Secured $548K in institutional support in FY19 - 22% over goal, and more than double FY18 actuals.
• Founder and leader of the AZO Business Council, a committee of board members and area professionals who serve as AZO advocates committed to supporting the growth of the company’s Corporate Partnership program.
• Created AZO’s 'Corporate Night at the Opera', an immersive event welcoming area business leaders to an AZO performance spotlighting the economic impact of the arts and AZO’s role as an innovative and diverse economic engine.
• Oversee planning and execution of AZO’s annual 'Out at the Opera' event.
• Increased attendance by 50% and secured $5,000 in first-time annual sponsorship in addition to new media and publicity sponsors.
• Monitor progress and fulfillment of institutional commitments in partnership with programmatic staff.
• Implemented new streamlined systems that improve institutional. application.
• Report tracking, prospecting, and develop strategies to regenerate and expand institutional giving pipeline.
• Work with department leaders to create and implement informational tracking systems that more effectively measure program impact for institutional applications and reporting.
• Featured speaker for community talks.

Company Overview: Sarasota Opera annually produces five operas and 100+ concerts and engagement events true to the vision of the composer designed to entertain, enrich, and educate our communities, as well as patrons from across the state and around the world.

• As the first Director of Audience Development, I was responsible for communicating Sarasota Opera's messaging at local, national, and international platforms, as well as drove the development of educational and outreach programs designed to expand the Sarasota Opera audience.
• Increased community awareness of Sarasota Opera through expansion of outreach and speaker’s bureau program.
• 25–30 presentations annually throughout Sarasota/Manatee County.
• Successfully expanded Sarasota Opera’s public relations program resulting in annual coverage in print, on-line, radio and television regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• Organized and hosted two Music Critics Association of North America Winter Institutes (2014 and 2016) in partnership with Visit Sarasota County, yielding multiple articles in national and international publications both in print and on-line.
• Collaborated with the City of Sarasota and Manatee Educational Television to produce two 30-minute television programs on the Sarasota Youth Opera program.
• Developed the Sarasota Cultural Collective program, a community-wide young patrons group designed to introduce people between the ages of 21–40 to the arts.
• Secured 100 members, $7,000 in sponsorship and $32,200 in media sponsorship in the first year.
• Developed Sarasota Opera’s TOWN (The Opera Women’s Night) Club
• 41 members in first year (2017/18) including first time subscribers and new single ticket buyers..
• Launched Sarasota Opera’s Da Capo Society, Sarasota’s first young patrons group (21 – 45) exclusive to one arts organization expanding both Sarasota Opera’s subscriber and donor base. Secured $6,000 in first-time sponsorship.
• Oversaw the Sarasota Opera House tour program. Surpassed projected income goal by over 75% two years in a row.
• Worked closely with the Development department in the creation of programs designed to retain and expand Sarasota Opera’s donor base.
• Worked in partnership with the Marketing Department in the creation and execution of print and digital campaigns resulting in a 6.2% increase in single ticket sales over four seasons.
• Established and expanded Sarasota Opera’s social media program on several platforms including Facebook (78% increase), Twitter (71% increase), the Sarasota Opera Blog, Instagram, and Sarasota Opera’s YouTube page.
• Editor of Sarasota Opera’s quarterly newsletter Libretto, a donor benefit publication.

• Washington National Opera, Central City Opera, Oregon Opera Ensemble, Aspen Opera Theater, Bel Canto Northwest Music Festival, and extensive Oratorio and Recital work in the United States, Europe, and Central America

• Primary support to the Executive Director of Sarasota Opera
• Editor of Sarasota Opera’s biannual program book including securing $60,000+ in advertising sales.
• Primary point of contact to the Board of Trustees of Sarasota Opera
• Organized and executed the 2011 'Opera Trip' to San Francisco yielding $30,000 in donations for Sarasota Opera.
• Worked closely with the Executive Director in the development of a 'Working Professionals Board.
• Managed the Sarasota Opera intern program and front desk support staff.
• Assisted both the Development and Special Events departments in the creation and execution of annual fundraising events.