Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Timeline
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Sara Gunn

Dutchess,US

Summary

Dynamic leader with extensive experience at American Cancer Society, specializing in grant writing and donor relations. Secured $1.6 million in fundraising, significantly improving team performance and community engagement. Proficient in project management and partnership development, driving initiatives that enhance organizational missions.

Overview

30
30
years of professional experience

Work History

Director, Community & Corporate Development

Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
01.2020 - Current
  • Contribute to revenue growth for special events through strategic planning
  • Facilitate property sales with a zero-rent lease-back plan, enabling smooth transition during warehouse construction
  • Cultivate robust partnerships with financial and food donors
  • Direct staff development through orientation, training, and ongoing support
  • Oversee onboarding process as HR liaison for new hires
  • Establish impactful partnerships with key stakeholders to advance the Food Bank's mission
  • Achieved $1.4 million in building sale proceeds
  • Strengthened Food Bank's image and functionality for sale by collaborating with external vendors
  • Managed Board of Advisors' activities, including recruitment and training
  • Raised $4,000K through effective coordination of staff and volunteer-driven Capital Campaign committee efforts
  • Established and maintained stakeholder connections across six Hudson Valley counties
  • Realized annual savings of $50,000 by forging a partnership with a composting facility.

Director of Mission Advancement

Sisters of the Presentation
01.2019 - 01.2020
  • Directed individual giving and alumni relations initiatives, achieving a $370,000 fundraising target encompassing annual, major, and planned giving
  • Spearheaded grant writing efforts and devised income development strategies, emphasizing grant identification and composition
  • Orchestrated public relations and communications activities, overseeing team efforts in bi-annual newsletter creation
  • Mentored Assistant Director of Mission Advancement, imparting skills in public speaking, PR, and business etiquette
  • Engaged in outreach with Sisters in communities across New Windsor and Massachusetts
  • Enhanced visual appeal and effectiveness by revamping holiday appeals and Annual Report design
  • Maximized donor engagement through the development of tailored strategies for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donor programs
  • Obtained a grant enabling 45 elderly sisters to access technology (iPad) for learning purposes
  • Documented oral histories of the Sisters for archival preservation
  • Engaged with a webmaster and a team of Sisters to rejuvenate the organization's website.

Director of Development

Ursuline Sisters of the Eastern Province, USA
01.2016 - 01.2019
  • Oversaw individual giving and alumni relations programs, driving strategic direction to achieve a $350,000 fundraising target across various initiatives including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and capital campaigns
  • Formulated effective strategies for donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship programs
  • Led all publicity and communications endeavors, including project management for the bi-annual 'Bylines' newsletter
  • Successfully managed the intricate migration from an outdated (DOS) donor database to the new Blackbaud system, encompassing 10,000 constituent records
  • Enabled digital engagement for Sisters aged 80+ through iPad initiative, facilitating tech instruction & device donation
  • Captured oral histories via video documentation for all sisters, fueling a vibrant social media presence across multiple platforms
  • Improved organizational outreach/accessibility by modernizing the website, integrating social media, and optimizing functionality
  • Grew sales revenue by 15% and obtained $30K in grants through successful grant writing in calendar year 2019
  • Achieved notable success in securing grants and cultivating major gift prospects by leading a Development Assistant in implementing income development strategies.

Senior Director, Special Events

American Cancer Society
01.1995 - 01.2016
  • Managed a comprehensive Income Development/Special Events Department, achieving a $1.6 million revenue plan in 2016
  • Acted as a representative for the American Cancer Society at community events, effectively communicating its mission and principles
  • Secured grant funding to support regional patient services and income-generating initiatives
  • Formulated a regional sponsorship strategy for 18 special events within the Mid-Hudson region
  • Contributed to the Innovation Council, initiating the development of a smartphone volunteer application based on my idea
  • Achieved a record-breaking $1.6 million fundraising milestone in 2016 for Hudson Valley's Relay for Life by strategically realigning and effectively managing a regional staff of seven
  • Served as a member of the division planning team for the $20 million revenue plan for 2016
  • Manager, Special Events
  • Recruited and supervised a team of four staff and interns on an annual basis
  • Engaged in numerous public speaking engagements for educational, marketing, and fundraising objectives
  • Collaborated internally and externally to coordinate events and secure sponsorships within the community
  • Boosted annual revenue from $500,000 to $1 million
  • Fostered and sustained collaborative partnerships across the business and civic sectors to bolster various special events such as Relay for Life, Step into Spring breast cancer fashion show, Daffodil Days, and a golf tournament.

Education

Master of Arts in Religious Studies -

Felician University
Lodi, NJ

Bachelor of Science in Marketing -

Empire State University
Saratoga Springs

Associate of Science in Business Administration -

Dutchess Community College
Poughkeepsie, NY

Skills

  • Donor Relations & Stewardship
  • Project & Program Management
  • Grant Writing & Fundraising
  • Event & Campaign Management
  • Business Process Improvement
  • Policy & Program Development
  • Donor Relations & Stewardship
  • Project & Program Management
  • Grant Writing & Fundraising
  • Event & Campaign Management
  • Business Process Improvement
  • Policy & Program Development
  • Business Development & Analysis
  • Financial & Budget Administration
  • Team Training & Development
  • Client Engagement Management
  • Problem Solver & Decision Maker
  • Nonprofit Governance & Compliance
  • Business Development & Analysis
  • Financial & Budget Administration
  • Team Training & Development
  • Client Engagement Management
  • Problem Solver & Decision Maker
  • Nonprofit Governance & Compliance

Timeline

Director, Community & Corporate Development

Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
01.2020 - Current

Director of Mission Advancement

Sisters of the Presentation
01.2019 - 01.2020

Director of Development

Ursuline Sisters of the Eastern Province, USA
01.2016 - 01.2019

Senior Director, Special Events

American Cancer Society
01.1995 - 01.2016

Master of Arts in Religious Studies -

Felician University

Bachelor of Science in Marketing -

Empire State University

Associate of Science in Business Administration -

Dutchess Community College

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