To Whom It May Concern:

I have just completed a temporary Director of Development position at the American Heart & Stroke Association’s Utica NY chapter, where I was responsible America’s Greatest Heart/Run Radiothon and supported two Go Red for Women Luncheons, National Go Red Day events, and a Debut Art for Heart event. I also stewarded a portfolio of Corporate Sponsorship Partners and supported the Heart/Walk/Run Director with Walk/Run registration and lead-up events, such as Healthy Expo, Oneonta Indoor Walk, Rome Indoor Walk, Senior Walk and Children’s Obstacle Course.

Before my position at the Heart association, I was employed at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica NY as Director of Development. The Institute consists of the Phillip Johnson-designed Museum of Art, Fountain Elms, a Historic House Museum, with a collection of Victorian furnishings and decorative art, the Community School of Art, a Performing Arts and Film Program, and PrattMWP, a branch of the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. I oversaw Corporate Sponsorships, Grants, Annual Fund, Major Gifts, Membership, Scholarships, Student Giving, Alumni Giving and Planned Giving. I also provided leadership and helped to complete the Capital Campaign of $75K to mark the Institute’s 75th anniversary.

I have more than 25 years of Development/Membership/Fundraising/Events/Arts experience, first as Executive Director at the Smithy-Pioneer Gallery and Pottery School, then as Development/Patron Programs Manager at The Glimmerglass Festival, and then as Director of Development at MWPAI.

At The Smithy, I started from scratch with fundraising, events, bulk mailing, outreach, website etc., and at Glimmerglass I worked with Joan Desens, who taught me a great deal about “Fundraising Best Practices.” At both Glimmerglass and MWPAI, I managed a portfolio of major gift, individual, corporate, government and foundation donors; and I implemented creative fundraising initiatives, which produced significant philanthropic revenue growth. I expanded constituency bases, researched and elevated a pipeline of prospects to major gift and Board levels, managed sponsorships and assisted patrons with memorial scholarships and planned giving. At MWPAI, I managed a staff of two and a half, plus interns and volunteers, completed the capital campaign and implemented a successful Alumni/Parent giving program.

I have spent many years serving on the boards of regional environmental stewardship and social/educational/cultural/economic development organizations. I have developed a large network of contacts in the Northeast, including individuals, public and private foundations, and government agencies. I am creative and enjoy working collaboratively My successful fundraising experience has involved making friends by listening to and telling stories, then finding an angle or project that a donor can feel passionate about; subsequently, keeping the donor up to date regarding the ways in which their donation has made a difference.

I continue to serve on several committees for MWPAI, serve as Development Advisor at the Otsego Land Trust; and this spring and summer I coordinated the silent auctions of three fundraising galas for: The Otsego Land Trust, Historic Hyde Hall and The Glimmerglass Festival Guild (at which we raised $17,000 from the Silent Auction alone).

I look forward to speaking with you soon. Please contact me at 607-***-**** or at ac4ird@r.postjobfree.com should you have questions or need additional information.

Sincerely,

Tara Sumner

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-sumner-604140102

TARA SUMNER • 607-***-**** • ac4ird@r.postjobfree.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

The American Heart & Stroke Association, Utica, NY 2017

Director of Development, Go Red for Women and Heart Run/Walk (Temp)

Responsible for Go Red for Women Luncheons and Campaign and National Go Red Day events

Responsible for America’s Greatest Heart/Run Walk Radiothon

Stewardship of a portfolio of Corporate Sponsorships

Support for Heart/Run Walk & Expo plus lead-up events

Support for Circle of Red Leadership Partners

Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, NY 2013-2016

Director of Development

Responsible for Major Gifts, Annual Fund and “Fountain Elms Society” (Upper level Members)

Oversight of Development Manager, Membership Coordinator, Data Base Coordinator, Interns and Volunteers

Stewardship of Planned Giving, Corporate and Private Foundation Sponsorships

Responsible for PrattMWP Alumni and Parent giving and MWPAI School of Art Alumni giving

Researched and prioritized prospects, created lists for Senior Staff and Board solicitation

Oversight of grants coordination: Private Foundations, NEA, NEH, Oneida County and REDC (NY Regional Economic Development Corporation)

Responsible for development event planning and oversight of Membership and Young

Membership events

Co-creator of MWPAI Friday Night! a fun, free social and arts educational event, with live music, to welcome the community to THEIR MUSEUM and promote Membership

Increased contributed income by 35% over three years

The Glimmerglass Festival, Cooperstown, NY 2008-2013

Development Manager

Gifts Officer for a portfolio of one-quarter of Glimmerglass donors

Managed corporate funders. Initiated new Business Council, including Women in Business off-shoot

Stewardship of Planned Giving, creation of Planned Giving pages in season Program Book

Selection of interns; management of volunteers, assignment of prospect research to interns

Creation of weekly in-season Summer Patron Engagement Plan. Follow-up with “Instant Campaign”

Off-season cultivation events coordinator including significant support for annual Spring Gala in NYC

Development Events Travel Manager for staff and artists

Liaised with Public Relations and Marketing Departments, served as Photograph Manager for department

Editor and writer for twice yearly donor magazine Fanfare, patron e-letter: From Francesca’s Traveling I-Pad; Young Artists and Intern Programs Sponsorship brochures and Annual Report

Grant writing and preparation of images and work samples for: NEA, NYSCA and private foundations

Manager of patron concierge services: provided assistance with tickets and local accommodations

Coordination of multiple ancillary income events, including curating annual Marketplace/Trunk Show at the Otsego Resort Hotel plus numerous site specific installations on the Glimmerglass Campus

The Smithy-Pioneer Gallery Foundation and Pottery School, Cooperstown, NY 1992-2008

Executive Director

Developed pre-computer age small family foundation into a vibrant community resource, which engaged people of all ages. Expanded mailing list and donor database, implemented annual fund drive and community fundraising events, including the Annual Auction at Brookwood Garden, Bowl Party Opening Night Dinner and Fiddlers’ Three Concert

Responsible for designing and curating sixteen summer exhibits in three galleries and Sculpture Garden (five staff, two interns, 150 artists) each year

Founded and managed year-round Pottery School (five instructors, 70 students per semester)

Oversaw design committee and extensive renovations to create new Pottery Studio

Wrote grants, including successful $135,000 grant to renovate adjoining warehouse building and purchase furnishings and equipment to house new Pottery Studio; and secured $260,000 grant to repair buildings on the National Historic Register

Bassett Medical Center Research Institute, Cooperstown, NY 1990-1992

Data entry for Meharry-Hopkins Heart/Aspirin Study and freelance design work

Created graphics for David Blask MD and others to facilitate presentations of Breast Cancer Tamoxifen/Melatonin research for medical conferences

Freelance Fashion Design and Fine Art 1980-1990

Jewelry and textile design for collections of Geoffrey Beene, Adrienne Vittadini, others

Murals, faux finishes, painted furniture, signs, logos

Access Magazine, New York, NY 1978-1980

Layout, Paste-up, Mechanicals

Metropolitan Museum of Art/Cloisters New York, NY 1975-1978

Admissions, Membership

Landscape/Garden Painting 1980-present

EDUCATION

Parson’s School of Design, New York, NY 1974-78

BFA, Major: Illustration Design, Minor: Art History

Philanthropy Leadership Advancement Nexus, MIT Endicott, Dedham, MA 2014

Master Gift Officer Immersion Training Certificate of Completion

New York Public Library, Development Intern 1975

Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Certificate 1995

AFFILIATIONS/VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Historic Hyde Hall, Gala Committee 2016

Advocates for Springfield, Vice President, 2000-present

Glimmerglass Opera Guild, Development Committee 2013-present

Cooperstown Art Association, Member 1992-present

Otsego County Land Trust, Brookwood Garden Volunteer, Development Consultant 2005-present

OTSEGO2000, Board Member, Nominating Committee Chair 1995-2011

Otsego County Arts Partnership, Marketing Chair, 1992-2013

Cooperstown Farmer’s Market (Co-founder and Board Member, designed logo) 1995-present

Brookwood Montessori School, Cooperstown, NY, Founding Board Member 1993-1996

SKILLS

Extensive knowledge of “best practices in development”

Technical proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe, Excel, Power Point

Pro Platinum (Iwave), Wealth Engine, Patron (Sales Force), Raiser’s Edge

Publisher, InDesign, Abila, Choice Ticketing, Constant Contact, Social Media

REFERENCES

Bridget Rigas, Director of Development MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA, 413-***-**** ac4ird@r.postjobfree.com

Joanne Tobey, Director of Development Operations, Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network, Cooperstown, NY, 607-***-****, ac4ird@r.postjobfree.com

Mary McLean Evans, Managing Director, The Committee of 200, Chicago, IL, 312-***-**** X101, 312-***-****, ac4ird@r.postjobfree.com

James Barton, Glimmerglass Festival Board Treasurer, 444 Farms Road, Greenwich, CT 06831

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