Austin, Texas, United States
I bring 22 years of nonprofit development and marketing expertise and a storyteller's instinct to every campaign, proposal, and donor relationship I build. I've raised millions, launched capital campaigns, and driven communications strategies that moved communities. I do all of this through a combination of strategic vision, writing craft, and data-driven discipline. Development & Fundraising Across my career, I've managed the full fundraising lifecycle, from donor cultivation and major gifts to federal grant administration and capital campaigns. I increased major gifts by 150%, grew a grants portfolio by 96%, and most recently closed out a $7.5M capital campaign to build a 9,200 sq. ft. food pantry facility. I launched a major gifts and VIP stewardship program, and co-founded a regional annual event for five years that benefited a local rural food pantry. I've written and administered grants from private foundations through federal agencies, consistently delivering transformative funding for mostly rural, mission-driven organizations. Strategic Communications & Marketing I architect multi-channel communications strategies that align with organizational goals and drive measurable results. I've doubled social media engagement, generated record-setting fundraising outcomes, and secured consistent earned media coverage for key campaigns, including one that raised $50,000+ in a week. My marketing toolkit includes content strategy, email marketing, paid digital advertising, annual reports, donor appeals, brand stewardship, and press relations. I set marketing budgets and metrics, ensure brand consistency across all channels, and serve as a strategic communications partner to executive directors, boards, and development teams. Writing Writing compelling copy is at the core of everything I do, from six-figure grant proposals to donor stewardship communications tocreatijg copy for CEOs and board leadership. That craft extends beyond the nonprofit world. I'm a USA Today Bestselling and award-winning suspense author (pen name: KM Hodge), published across eight series. Storytelling isn't a side pursuit, but rather the lens through which I approach every audience, every ask, and every campaign.
Develop and execute a comprehensive annual fundraising strategy aligned with organizational mission and budget goals. Cultivate and steward major gift prospects, individual donors, foundations, corporate partners, and community leaders. Serve as primary media liaison and external communications lead, managing the organization's public narrative across digital and print channels. Oversee production of all donor solicitation materials, newsletters, social media, and marketing content. Collaborate with the CEO and Board of Directors to build a culture of philanthropy; provide monthly development updates and engage board members as fundraising ambassadors. Partner with the Grants Coordinator on foundation and government grant applications and impact reporting. Plan and execute fundraising campaigns and community engagement events in collaboration with the Community Engagement Coordinator. Produce digital and print marketing content for programs and events in coordination with the Director of Programs. Track and analyze fundraising data and metrics to measure progress, improve donor retention, and inform future strategy. Support volunteer coordinator in expanding volunteer recruitment and retention efforts.
• Created and reviewed evaluations and budgets • Researched prospective funders and wrote successful grant proposals • Created marketing flyers, brochures and other dissemination materials (Bastrop County Food Pantry, MEELJ, Bastrop County Art Guild, CASA of Bastrop, Creative Art Austin, DACT,Foundation Communities and Holy Cross Church)
Suspense writer under the alias K.M. Hodge. The Syndicate Series (Evolved Publishing) 1) Red on the Run: www.kmhodge.com/rotr (Pinnacle Book Achievement Award-2016) 2) Black and White Truth: www.kmhodge.com/bwt 3) True Blue Son: www.kmhodge.com/tbs 4) The Sally Ride Chronicle www.amazon.com/dp/B077RBZFNN/ 5) Wanting Out (Splickety Magazine Flash Fiction) www.amazon.com/dp/B07H2QGLQ7/ Book Cellar Mystery Series 1) Walker Texas Wife: www.kmhodge.com/wtw 2) Texas and Tiaras: www.kmhodge.com/tt 3) Remember the Stiletos: TBA 4) Ladies, We Have a Problem: TBA Stand Alone: 1). Save the Date (included in Wedding Dreams Boxset- 2017). *Wedding Dreams Boxset- USA TODAY BESTSELLING
● Conceptualize and implement innovative strategic communications programs and fundraising communications plans in conjunction with development and program teams. ● Execute multi-channel campaigns that successfully bolster awareness and positively impact the development team’s messaging for raising funds. ● Work on new market campaigns to raise awareness and public donations through social media and traditional marketing channels. ● Create community awareness events and campaigns to increase brand awareness and raise food and funds through multi-faceted channels. ● Set marketing metrics, milestones, and budgets based on short- and long-term organizational goals. ● Ensure alignment between communication activities and BCEFP’s strategic plan. ● Support the Executive Director, Board Members, and volunteer board committees in their work to communicate accurate BCEFP messaging. ● Manage the communications budget, including marketing-focused event budgets, and create appropriate reports for the Executive Director, Board Members, and respective committees. ● Work with the Director of Development to plan and develop all written event letters and marketing materials. ● Manage creative and technical implementation of a robust schedule of email marketing and paid digital advertising campaigns and meet key dates for deliverables. ● Ensure messages and materials are in line with branding/tone of voice guidelines and standards through copy-edit and approval for all materials shared with the community, funders, and volunteers ● Provide content to and work with the web team to keep the site current and support all evergreen, recruitment and fundraising campaigns and outreach. ● Manage all email outreach; creation of newsletters, weekly e-blasts, and communications. ● Write/oversee compelling, memorable public content for the Executive Director and Board of Directors. ● Serve as primary liaison for the press; build and maintain media relationships
Director of Development & Marketing In 3.5 years, increased major gift donations by 200%, grew the grants portfolio by 96%, and expanded social media following by 65%. Fundraising & Development Developed and executed annual fundraising plans with clearly defined KPIs and budget targets Secured financial support from individuals, private foundations, and corporate partners Built and maintained major donor relationships in coordination with the Executive Director Designed and launched a strategy for sustaining a large base of annual individual donors Developed and tracked all grant proposals and funder reports for foundation and corporate giving Led a comprehensive capital campaign, raising transformative funding for organizational growth Managed the Little Green Lights CRM, overseeing staff responsible for data entry and gift processing Marketing & Communications Designed and implemented comprehensive marketing strategies to drive awareness among clients, donors, and community partners Managed all social media accounts and created a content calendar to maintain consistent, engaging presence Produced all marketing content for programs, events, and partnerships across digital and print channels