Development professional
Resume:
SUSAN BENDER
*****.**********@*****.*** https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-bender-35136323/ DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
●Comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of
development: major gifts, capital and
endowment campaigns, planned giving,
feasibility studies, special events, institutional positioning.
●Demonstrated success soliciting and securing
up to eight-figure gifts from individuals,
corporations, foundations.
●Experience raising over $20 million annually.
●Established and restructured several
development organizations.
●Experience working with both domestic and
international organizations and partnerships.
●Proven, sophisticated relationship-building
skills enabling the development and
maintenance of complex networks in
government (domestic & foreign), the arts,
academia, foundations, NGOs, and corporations.
●Served as a thought partner to CEOs and senior
management of multiple organizations.
●Conceptualized and developed numerous
innovative programs, services, and products in
both the non-profit arena and in the finance
industry
CONSULTING ENGAGEMENTS 2015-2023
New York Academy of Sciences, 2018-2019
●Served as the Special Representative to the President.
●Designed, enhanced, and implemented fundraising plans for the Academy’s Global STEM Alliance, including:
●NY STEM City, a program to provide STEM instruction in New York City public schools
●1,000 Girls 1,000 Futures, a program to mentor girls ages 11-14 in STEM
●Junior Academy, a worldwide program for exceptional youth 13 to 18 years old to compete in international teams solving challenges through a totally online experience.
Volcker Alliance, 2017
An organization founded by Paul A. Volcker, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, to restore and advance public trust in government.
●Served as the Director of Development.
●Spearheaded the implementation of Raiser’s Edge management solutions system. Orchestre Nationale de France, 2015-2017
●Developed fundraising strategy and execution for their North American tour. 2
JCC ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA, New York, New York 2012-2014 Umbrella organization of the JCCA serving 350 Jewish Community Centers, camps, and agencies across North America.
Senior Vice-President, Chief Development Officer
●Brought on to restructure the development program and to provide greater outreach.
●Increased annual campaign by 54% to $850,000, including expansion of Board-giving categories to include new $25,000 tier.
●Raised $600,000 from two large foundation grants for a new project.
●Instituted multiple Board changes: revitalized the Development Committee; recruited a new Chair; created new initiative in planned giving by hiring a top consultant to work with the Board; increased annual Board member gift from $5,000 to $25,000.
●Rejuvenated the Jewish Welfare Board initiative through re-organization of its Board and the creation of a $5,000 annual minimum gift.
●Professionalized and expanded annual seminars presented to the agencies. Developed training programs for Directors and Executives of individual JCCs to upgrade their skills and solicitation capability.
●Converted traditional mail appeals program to an email system. BERNSTEIN GLOBAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT/BANK OF AMERICA/ MERRILL LYNCH (all in New York, New York) 2007-2012 Financial Advisor, Wealth Management
●Advised individuals, foundations, and non-profits on wealth management.
●Created a program together with two attorneys (in the private client and trusts-and- estates fields) tailored to address unique financial planning challenges faced by women. YESHIVA UNIVERSITY, New York, New York 2006-2007
Senior Principal Gifts Officer
●Managed a portfolio of major and principal donor prospects for the University at large as well as the Law School, College of Medicine, Sy Syms School of Business, Stern College for Women, and Ferkauf Graduate Center.
●Cultivated and secured six- and seven-figure gifts.
●Worked with the SVP for Advancement to help prepare the university for a $1 billion capital campaign.
MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC, New York, New York 1997-2005 Vice President, External Affairs
●Restructured and expanded the development office to a team of sixteen development, marketing, and communications staff.
●Evaluated feasibility study and $15 million capital campaign and increased goal to $50 million comprehensive effort by expanding campaign priorities.
●Conducted the largest solicitations with the President and Chairman.
●Recruited high-net-worth Board members and set guidelines for selection process.
●Created a 12-member International Advisory Council with a minimum annual gift of
$25,000.
●Served as the government relations liaison and interfaced with community leaders, community board, the mayor’s office, Columbia University, and other neighborhood institutions.
●Implemented Raiser’s Edge management solutions system. 3
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT 1992-2008
Provided development and strategic planning consulting to domestic and international clients, including:
●International Mendelssohn Stiftung EV (Leipzig, Germany)
●World ORT Union (London)
●St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Russia), Yuri Temirkanov, Music Director
●Orchestre Internationale de France, Kurt Masur, Music Director
●Beethoven Haus (Bonn, Germany); consulted the Director for the planned acquisition of the original score for Missa Solemnis
JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AMERICA, New York, New York 1989-1994 Assistant Vice President, Development
●Partnered with the Senior Vice President to provide leadership for twenty-six team members and eight 8 offices nationwide.
●Led the planning and execution of special events, include the Louis Marshall Dinner, the Seminary’s major fundraising event in New York. Increased revenues to over $1 million net, a dramatic growth over previous years.
●Increased visibility of the institution through the dissemination of special library materials from the world-renowned JTS Library.
●Identified and recruited sixteen new high-net-worth Board members nationwide. AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA New York, New York 1981-1989
Founding Executive Vice-President
●Established the organization with Zubin Mehta, Chairman and Fredric Mann, President, to raise philanthropic support in the U.S.
●Planned and successfully implemented numerous national fundraising event series and local committees.
●Successfully developed and led a team that raised over $5 million as well as personally soliciting many of the capital gifts.
●Identified and recruited sixteen Board members nationwide. EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania B.A., History of Art and B.A., Romance Languages (double major) ASSOCIATION AND BOARD MEMBERSHIPS
●American Association of the Mendelssohn Foundation – Founding Trustee and Treasurer
●Friends of the Budapest Festival Orchestra – Board Member
●Opera Olimpico – Advisory Board Member
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