My Nonprofit Story
​​​​I am driven by a calling to help the greater good. The generosity I have experienced throughout my life, starting with an undergraduate, full-tuition and housing scholarship from Towson University, has galvanized my efforts to support service-based organizations.
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As a new graduate in 2001, I joined the marketing department of the corporate law firm White & Case. My communication and organizational skills were put to use to expand their client networking and educational events roster. I learned to balance directions from the law firm partners and administrative leadership while creating a special experience for the guests. It was rewarding to help bring larger and more involved events to life and, after five years working in the legal services industry, I knew exactly how to do that.
With these skills, I felt pulled to do more for the greater good. A new and growing organization, Autism Speaks was committed to making a difference for people with autism, and I wanted to be part of it. It was a marathon working for Bob Wright, who had run NBC for 20 years, and his powerhouse autism advocate spouse Suzanne. My job was to make sure events met their fundraising and awareness-building goals. The more money that was raised, the more science they could fund and services they could provide.​
I worked on more than 50 events that year, from Los Angeles to Qatar. My role crossed over into donor development, public relations and executive administration. My growth there was exponential, but I knew I could help more causes – and therefore more people – if I started my own event planning company. Autism Speaks remained a client for years. Now my skills and advice could also reach healthcare organizations like Vibrant Emotional Health and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and social justice organizations like Public Interest Projects, along with more than a dozen other charities over the next 11 years.​​​
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From my seat at the table, I saw the bigger pictures that these organizations were trying to address. There is so much more to charitable work beyond events. Leaders must build consensus between board members, staff, donors and volunteers, develop programs that align with the mission, and raise funds through numerous pipelines. Organizations are tasked with pursuing innovative ways to accomplish change and make a greater impact. More than ever, there is an urgency for strong leaders who make smart decisions for those in need.
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So I decided to close my event business and further my education in nonprofit management by attending Johns Hopkins University and delving into governance, financials, institutional fundraising, reporting, resource development, and strategic planning, culminating in receiving the program’s Outstanding Capstone Award for my “Study of Causes of and Mitigation Strategies for Burnout in Nonprofit Employees.”
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While pursuing my master’s degree, I put my learnings to use as Director of Development for ThinkGive, a nonprofit providing its social and emotional learning programs to under-resourced youth, creating a 3-year development plan and implementing new individual donor lifecycle procedures and processes, while improving their corporate sponsorship program.
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My foundation of knowledge in the nonprofit sector includes finding solutions to challenging problems, managing people, and creating and overseeing budgets. I am adept at sifting through the informational clutter to research, evaluate, and execute best practices. I look forward to the opportunity to help more organizations make a lasting, positive difference in the world.
Past Client List
14th Street Y
Adaptive Sports Foundation
American College of Environmental Lawyers
Autism Science Foundation
Autism Speaks
Foundation Fighting Blindness
Homefirst
Kidsbridge
Manhattan Childrens Center
Mental Health Association of NYC /
Vibrant Emotional Health
National MS Society
Public Interest Projects (now Neo Philanthropy)
StreetWise Partners
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (now Blood Cancer United)
The Libra Foundation
UN Women for Peace
Youth INC