Valerie C. Venturo
Orchard Park
Summary
Experienced development and fundraising professional with a proven track record of increasing revenue through grant writing, corporate partnerships, strategic planning, donor stewardship, annual funds, and capital campaigns. Seeking a new opportunity in a different industry to utilize expertise and drive organizational growth.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder, Fundraising Consultant and Grant Writer
Venturo Fundraising Consulting
Orchard Park, NY
01.2010 - Current
- Independent fundraising consultant and grant writer working with nonprofit organizations to assist them in reaching their financial goals as well as helping to outline development initiatives for greater financial success.
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House 2021
- Chestnut Ridge Conservancy 2014
- Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus 2010-2011
- Orchard Park Presbyterian Church 2007-2009
Secretary to the Supervisor
Town of Aurora
East Aurora, NY
01.2023 - 09.2024
- Managed/input and processed payroll for town personnel.
- Handled sensitive information discreetly, maintaining confidentiality when managing personnel files or financial data.
- Answered multi-line phone system and enthusiastically greeted callers.
- Maintained daily report documents, memos and invoices.
- Scheduled appointments and conducted follow-up calls to clients.
Development Director
Aurora Waldorf School
West Falls, NY
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Company Overview: An independent, non-sectarian school serving the greater Buffalo and Western New York Community that provides a strong academic, artistic and practical curriculum to students grades K-8.
- Develop and implement strategic plan to meet budget goals
- Identify and cultivate potential donors and build connections for school
- Manage all aspects of fundraising activities which include:
- Annual Fund
- Artisan Auction
- Renewal of Education event
- Collaborate with Marketing to establish branding initiatives
- Collaborate with Board and Admissions to increase enrollment
- Manage restricted donations and related projects
- Manage SEFA (State Employees Federated Appeal), United Way and CFC (Combined Federal Campaign) applications and giving programs
- Develop a grant writing program and identify potential capital projects and funding prospects
- Research and identify software program to help improve efficiency, accuracy and communication within school
Grant & Partnership Coordinator
Child & Family Services
Buffalo, NY
01.2003 - 01.2009
- Company Overview: Child & Family Services is a $34 million non-profit organization and is one of the oldest human service agencies in the country. They provide over 41 programs and services at 19 locations throughout Western New York.
- Started as part of a 4-person development team with an annual goal of $400,000 that grew into a 7-person team with a goal of $800,000
- Integral part of agency’s first-ever $6.51 million capital campaign, exceeding its goal by 15%
- Secured over $560,000 in first year of employment which was $100,000 over goal
- Principal grant writer with grant success rate: 74.4%
- Awarded Kresge Foundation challenge grant
- Awarded NYS Department of Transportation grant
- Awarded largest grant to date given by Junior League of Buffalo
- Awarded grants from most large local foundations
- Developed corporate partnership initiative from initial concept to implementation
- Outlined moves management, donor cultivation program
- Contributing member of donor stewardship project
Director of Development
Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Company Overview: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo is a $3 Million agency that serves 8,000 youth between the ages of six and 18 and provide programs and activities at 5 clubhouses and 11 satellite locations throughout Buffalo.
- Managed an overall development budget of $200,000
- Member of agency senior level management team
- Supervised a staff of one grant writer
- Coordinated and executed major fund-raising gala, Legacy 2003
- Planned and executed fundraising golf tournament, held in Canada
- Analyzed agency’s current and future needs for recommendation and purchase of donor software package, Raisers Edge
- Generated five-year fundraising analysis for future fundraising development
Development Manager
Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara
Niagara Falls, NY
01.1998 - 01.2002
- Company Overview: Opportunities Unlimited is the Niagara County Chapter of the New York State Association for Retarded Children and is the largest not-for-profit organization in Niagara County providing programs and services to people with developmental disabilities.
- Managed and executed all agency and foundation special events
- Increased event revenue from $60,000 to over $100,000
- Completed assessment of annual fundraising activities and eliminated events that were not profitable
- Raised $40,000 through direct mail and corporate sponsorships for an annual holiday appeal campaign
- Awarded over $30,000 in grants through local foundations
- Developed agency’s first corporate solicitation program
- Assisted the Vice President with planning, coordinating and executing both agency and foundation public relations and fundraising publicity which included: TV appearances, news releases, community calendars, and P.S.A.’s
- Responsible for the conception and production of an agency newsletter
Supervisor of Events Marketing for Lotus Development Corporation
Concentrix Corporation
Pittsford, NY
01.1994 - 01.1998
- Company Overview: Concentrix Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX) has been recognized as one of the world’s leading outsourcing companies by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) in the 2009 Global Outsourcing 100 program.
- Principal liaison between Concentrix Corp., Lotus Development Corp, and Sun Microsystems
- Tracked daily development of 35 seminar types from inception to completion
- Coordinated registration of 12 Lotus symposia events with capacities of 1,500 per city, 3 consecutive years
- Worked on “Business Partner Events” in excess of 200+ events per year
- Collaborated on Lotusphere ’96 - Lotus’ 5-day technical trade show event in Orlando, FL
- Organized 30 paid technical events per year
- Authored the first company-wide seminar training manual, a 230-page instructional training manual utilized by all telemarketing representatives
Education
B.S. - Business Administration
Nazareth College
Rochester, NY05.1994
A.S. - Business Management & Marketing
Cazenovia College
Syracuse, NY05.1986
Skills
- Raisers’ Edge & Donor Perfect software
- Writing, researching and securing multi-year, large dollar grants
- Program development, coordination and management
- Moves Management and corporate partnerships
- Team leadership
- Ethics and integrity
- Project management
- Consulting
- Human resources
- Recruitment and hiring
Affiliations
Association of Fundraising Processionals (AFP) Since 1998
Timeline
Secretary to the Supervisor
Town of Aurora
01.2023 - 09.2024
Development Director
Aurora Waldorf School
01.2013 - 01.2014
Founder, Fundraising Consultant and Grant Writer
Venturo Fundraising Consulting
01.2010 - Current
Grant & Partnership Coordinator
Child & Family Services
01.2003 - 01.2009
Director of Development
Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo
01.2002 - 01.2003
Development Manager
Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara
01.1998 - 01.2002
Supervisor of Events Marketing for Lotus Development Corporation
Concentrix Corporation
01.1994 - 01.1998
A.S. - Business Management & Marketing
Cazenovia College
B.S. - Business Administration
Nazareth College