Special Gifts Officer

CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG

* ******** ****** *** ***, Norwalk CT 06854• 203-***-**** • adx1lx@r.postjobfree.com EXPERIENCE

University of Michigan

Special Gifts Officer, Spectrum Center March 2019 – Present

§ Served as the University’s first gift officer focused on engaging LGBTQ and allied major donors ($50,000 and above), securing total donations of $2.5 million in FY 2020.

§ Crafted and executed a fundraising strategy geared towards building an active LGBTQ donor base, with a blueprint to sustain the long-term engagement of private donors, foundations, and corporations.

§ Oversaw multiple project teams – marketing, event planning and fundraising – in support of the planning for the 50th Anniversary of the University of Michigan Spectrum Center, the first LGBTQ+ higher education student center in the nation.

§ Responsible for recruiting and managing the Host Committee for 50th Anniversary, whose total contributions fully funded the 50th Anniversary celebration.

Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network Personal Storytelling Project April 2017 – March 2019

§ Through a partnership with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), spoke to youth groups and Universities to promote bullying prevention for LGBTQ youth and to help foster environments of respect for all students.

§ Leveraged my personal story of LGBTQ harassment and successful court case to develop storytelling assets for partner organizations, including videos, op-eds, and social content. Small Business Majority

Director of Partnerships & Government Affairs August 2014 – March 2017

§ Served as Small Business Majority’s (SBM) primary liaison to the White House, Administration, Capitol Hill, and national partner organizations; worked on healthcare, online lending, LGBTQ equality and other issues affecting small businesses and entrepreneurs.

§ Developed strategic engagement plans to develop stronger relationships with national partner groups to advance national progressive policy goals.

§ Developed the program for SBM’s inaugural Small Business Leadership Summit, overseeing the event fundraising as well as the recruitment of over 50 speakers and panelists for a national, three-day leadership conference in Washington, D.C. Organizing For Action

Deputy Director of Strategic Partnerships October 2013 – June 2014

§ Oversaw partnership engagement and management for Organizing For Action (OFA) issue campaigns, helping to mobilize action on key Obama Administration priorities ranging from healthcare to LGBTQ equality.

§ Developed and oversaw the process of expanding OFA’s state healthcare coalition partnerships during the Administration’s first ever open-enrollment period.

§ Oversaw management of OFA’s state issue campaign process, aiding decision-making on state policy advocacy programs. White House Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force

Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs, Staff Assistant February – September 2013

§ Oversaw outreach to and engagement with Members of Congress, non-federal elected officials, and other stakeholders in support of the White House’s Hurricane Sandy rebuilding strategy; coordinated activities centered on key policy developments.

§ Developed proactive Congressional, state, and local government engagement plans regarding the distribution of $50 billion in federal supplemental assistance geared toward recovery and rebuilding in five states.

§ Managed political components of Task Force principals’ trips to the affected region. 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee

Staff Assistant – Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) December 2012 – January 2013

§ Served as liaison to the White House Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) State & Local Division and assisted with the management of seven staff members within the division.

§ Developed and executed process for managing and vetting all incoming requests from over 500 state and local elected officials for the inauguration and distributing packages and tickets to invited Governors, Mayors, and other appropriate state elected officials. EDUCATION - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

§ Bachelor of Arts, Sociology with Honors, conferred in May 2011. GPA: 3.7

§ Michigan Student Assembly, Student Body President 2010-11 HONORS & AFFILIATIONS

§ Board member, University of Michigan’s Spectrum Center

§ OUT Magazine’s OUT 100, the 100 Out Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People who influenced 2010

§ Recognized by the Huffington Post as one of 2010’s “Top College Role Models”

§ Recognized by The Michigan Daily as U of M “Student of The Year” 2011

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