Brooklyn, New York, United States
Development is about building and maintaining a community of invested stakeholders that can support, guide, and transform your organization. I believe in mission-based fundraising that centers what your community truly wants and needs. To achieve this, we need honest engagement with our beneficiaries, supporters, and all staff members. Most importantly, we need to be open to the changes we seek. As institutional and individual support wanes across many sectors, our strength is in our relationships and passion for our evolving missions. I have over 10 years of development experience in the arts and social services - and I can help lead narrative change in partnership with your communities. My skill set includes proposal writing, creating and delivering presentations, cultivation, and leading successful teams as well as the careful stewardship of large portfolios. Together, we can forward our goals and inspire new support.
• Evaluate the foundation and government grant strategies with the goal of tapping into a broad range of prospective partnerships at the local, regional, and national level • Develop and execute a multi-year strategy for expanding foundation and government philanthropic revenue • Work with Finance and Programming to ensure organizational compliance with grant terms • Manage, cultivate and steward existing portfolio of foundation and government partners • Create customized solicitation strategies matching the objectives of the organization and interests of the prospect • Facilitate high level meetings with decision makers at foundations and government entities • Write and edit compelling proposals and presentations • Cultivate and foster relationships with funders, Board members, volunteers, government and community leaders • Maintain and articulate a deep understanding of Performance Space’s mission, vision, values, and history and effectively communicate these priorities
This position began in Individual Giving, but with the departure of the Foundations and Government Manager, I took over the management of the institutional portfolio. Some individual giving responsibilities continued including: Spring and Fall Appeal Solicitation and Follow Up Support of the Gala, Auction Items, and Visionary Leadership Award Luncheon Boilerplate for the Website, Corporate Proposals, and Appeal Letters Updating the Donor Database, Tax Letters / Thank Yous Creating 3-year budget models and updating current budget projections
Two classic radio plays — Gunsmoke and Ray Bradbury’s The Zero Hour— transformed the Cabaret into a 1950s broadcast studio. Featuring live Foley artists and musicians, Radio Hour offered an evening of nostalgic western legends, spine-chilling science fiction, and the mad dash of a lost art. http://www.newhavenreview.com/index.php/2013/11/the-art-of-the-airwaves/
I have directed and assistant directed many productions. Please see my theatre resume for details. My website is www.paulabennett.net.
Assisted Director Joseph Haj as part of the SDC Observership Program