Professional Experience
Line of Sight Professional Services, LLC
Founder August 2025-present
Provide editorial services—beta reading, copyediting, and proofreading—for nonfiction publications
Offer strategic nonprofit fundraising consultation
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
Vice President, Inspired Giving October 2023- December 2024
Led the organization’s individual giving program
Successfully launched the organization’s inaugural Giving Day, raising more than $15,000 in a single day
Collaborated closely with board members to engage their networks and contacts
Developed and began implementing a major giving program
Supervised the Data Strategy & Impact Coordinator
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Senior Major Gifts Officer May 2020-October 2023
Cultivated, solicited, and stewarded a portfolio of 80+ major gift donors and 120+ prospective supporters, including those with the capacity to make seven- figure contributions
Secured at least $2 million dollars annually
Served as the project manager and lead writer for several annual appeal letters and stewardship reports
Served as a member of the Development Department’s Joy Committee and the Workplace subcommittee Chair on the organization’s JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Council
Collaboratively supported my colleagues by serving as a valued thought-partner and sounding-board
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Associate Director of Development December 2018-April 2020
Secured $600,000 annually through the individual giving program and $850,000 annually through the institutional giving program
Solicited and stewarded donors who give between $1,000 and $10,000 annually
Led the organization’s major gift strategy meetings
Worked closely with board members especially the Development and Membership Chairs
Ensured the success of the organization’s annual gala, which raised approximately $700,000 annually
Served as Interim Director of Development for twelve weeks
Supervised the Grants Coordinator and Individual Giving Coordinator
After School Matters
Senior Manager of Individual Giving and Stewardship September 2017-November 2018
Directed the organization’s individual giving efforts to secure more than $250,000 annually
Developed and implemented strategies to increase revenue raised through individual gifts year-over-year (total individual contributions were 6% higher in FY2018 compared to FY2017)
Served as team captain for TEAM After School Matters, the organization’s endurance fundraising group, to support the participants and organize events throughout the year
Supervised the Development Coordinator
Manager of Special Projects October 2016-September 2017
Led the creation and implementation of the development department’s Moves Management system
Facilitated logistics for a variety of special initiatives related to development
Managed stewardship efforts for high-end donors and special partners
Prepared specialized donor communication for the Chief Development Officer and Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Run
Director of Development and Strategy March 2015-May 2016
Directed Chicago Run’s fundraising efforts including the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of current and prospective individual, corporate, and foundation donors
Led the execution of the 2015 end-of-year appeal, which surpassed its goal ($25,000) for the first time in the organization’s history
Worked with the Executive Director to meet the organization’s $920,000 annual fundraising goal
Supervised the Development Associate and the Team Chicago Run and Events Manager
Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL
Director of Institutional Giving & Government Relations October 2013-February 2015
Oversaw all philanthropic giving from foundations and corporations (approximately $1 million annually)
Secured grants from national and local foundations including the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, The Brinson Foundation, and The Field Foundation of Illinois, Inc.
Ensured donors received high-touch stewardship to demonstrate the impact of their gifts
Partnered with staff from five departments throughout the museum to craft complex, multi-year requests for large-scale projects
Managed the fundraising efforts for the second phase renovation of the museum’s Doane Observatory—a $5 million project
Collaborated with the Advancement Leadership Team to develop strategies to engage museum partners, government officials, and major gift donors
Led activities and relationships pertaining to government agencies and elected officials
Co-supervised the Assistant Manager of Corporate, Foundation & Government Relations
Associate Director for Foundation & Government Relations March 2012-October 2013
Managed a portfolio of more than 20 foundation donors
Staffed the museum’s president and trustees prior to donor visits and calls
Worked with staff throughout the museum to write proposals and reports (narrative and financial)
Manager of Foundation & Government Relations August 2009-March 2012
Managed the museum’s foundation and government portfolios under the direction of the Vice President for External Affairs
Launched the Adler’s Public Affairs e-newsletter
Organized the museum’s first Government Officials Day
Corporate, Foundation, and Government Coordinator October 2006-August 2009
Assisted the Director of Corporate Relations and the Director of Foundation & Government Relations with tasks such as compiling grant materials, research,completing mailing projects, tracking budgets, and entering data into the Raiser’s Edge database
Organized the Adler’s Annual Corporate & Foundation Luncheon
Performed various tasks at membership and high-end cultivation events
Skills
Strong experience utilizing MS Office Suite and the Raiser’s Edge (Database view and NXT)
Exceptional research and analytical skills
Proficient in written and oral Spanish
Education
Copyediting Certificate, UC San Diego’s Extended Studies Program
Master of Arts in Communication, University of Illinois Chicago
Bachelor of Science (Major: Media Studies, Minors: Women’s Studies, Spanish), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Professional Development and Community Involvement
Editorial Freelancers Association August 2025-present
Chicagoland Chapter Coordinator September 2025-present
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Chicago Chapter
Member Intermittently between 2006-present
Member, White Fundraisers Advocating for July 2020-present
Racial Equity (WFARE) Affinity Group
Peer Mentor October 2014-April 2019
Associate Board Member, Chicago Public Library Foundation May 2016-February 2020
Membership Chair (2017)
Development Leadership Consortium Management Fellow September 2015-June 2016
Workshop Presenter at the National Recreation Foundation’s September 2015
“Tell Your Story, Sell Your Story” Grantee Workshop
Young Leaders Fund, The Chicago Community Trust December 2014-May 2015
Board Member, Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) January 2007-December 2012
Development Committee Chair (2009-2012)
Nominating Committee Chair (2012)
Development Leadership Consortium Annual Fellow November 2007-June 2008