SHEILA O'BRIEN
Summary
Development professional with expertise in donor relations, stewardship, strategic communications, and digital marketing. Experienced managing high-value donor portfolios, developing personalized stewardship strategies, and creating compelling impact communications that strengthen philanthropic relationships. Brings a strong foundation in client relationship management and entrepreneurship as the co-founder of a digital marketing agency, combining strategic thinking, creativity, and relationship building to advance organizational goals.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate/Assistant Director, Donor Relations
Boston College
02.2022 - 03.2026
- Directed stewardship strategy for a portfolio of 300+ donors whose philanthropic commitments ranged from $25,000 to more than $5 million.
- Managed the end-to-end production of highly customized impact reports for leadership, major, and principal gift donors, partnering with advancement officers and campus stakeholders to deliver compelling stewardship communications.
- Partnered with gift officers on donor cultivation and stewardship strategies that contributed to a $500,000 philanthropic commitment.
- Coordinated donor engagement and events, ensuring accurate data and reporting while executing strategic initiatives effectively.
- Maintained stewardship records and donor engagement data in university CRM, ensuring accurate documentation and compliance with stewardship standards.
- Advanced from Assistant Director to Associate Director, assuming greater responsibility for stewardship strategy and donor engagement.
Co-Founder/Digital Campaign Manager
SheilaGrace Agency
01.2022 - Current
- Co-founded a boutique digital marketing agency, partnering with businesses to develop customized marketing strategies that increase brand awareness, customer engagement, and business growth.
- Consult with business owners and organizational leaders to understand their goals, identify marketing challenges, and recommend strategic digital solutions tailored to their needs.
- Build and manage long-term client relationships by serving as a trusted advisor, providing strategic guidance, proactive communication, and ongoing campaign optimization.
- Identify prospective clients through networking, referrals, and business development efforts, preparing customized proposals and marketing recommendations that address organizational objectives.
Account Manager/Account Coordinator
Boston Magazine
07.2019 - 02.2022
- Managed client relationships representing $3.6M in annual advertising revenue, consistently delivering exceptional service while identifying opportunities for account growth and long-term retention.
- Managed integrated marketing campaigns for portfolio of regional and national clients across multiple publications, providing strategic guidance from development through execution and reporting to ensure campaign effectiveness.
- Analyzed campaign performance and prepared client reporting, using data and insights to optimize marketing strategies and strengthen customer relationships.
- Collaborated with sales, editorial, creative, and production teams to deliver high-quality campaigns while effectively balancing competing deadlines and meeting client expectations.
- Promoted from Account Coordinator to Account Manager in recognition of strong performance, client service excellence, and success managing high-value advertising accounts.
Education
B.A. - Communication
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts05-2018
Skills
- Donor Stewardship Strategy
- Donor Impact Reporting
- Relationship Management
- Event Planning
- Project Management
- CRM Database Management
- Data Analytics
- Campaign Performance Analysis
- Multi-channel Marketing
- Content Strategy
- Storytelling
- Portfolio Management
Timeline
Associate/Assistant Director, Donor Relations
Boston College
02.2022 - 03.2026
Co-Founder/Digital Campaign Manager
SheilaGrace Agency
01.2022 - Current
Account Manager/Account Coordinator
Boston Magazine
07.2019 - 02.2022
B.A. - Communication
University of Massachusetts Amherst