Donor Relations/Grant Advocate

Christina Matarese

Columbia, SC ***** • 239-***-**** • *****************@******.***

Summary: As I make Columbia, South Carolina my home, I am seeking to expand my leadership career in being a philanthropic sherpa, bringing the following experience, skills, and attributes; ability to recognize areas of opportunity, analyze and develop a plan of action to achieve the most desirable results; team player with a mature outlook, and an outgoing, energetic personality; possess advanced customer service experience with strong written and verbal communication skills, ability to adapt quickly and multi-task in an everchanging philanthropy industry; I strive to be a role model for my teammates by leading with the Servant Leadership Style. I have a proven track record of using my excellent personal, communication, and organization skills to lead and improve the donor, volunteer, and recipient experience; high quality of work, driven and highly self-motivated. Strong negotiating skills, business acumen and able to work independently.

E xperience

OCTOBER 2022 – PRESENT

Donor Relations Coordinator Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation Remote Employee Works with our team to cultivate relationships with passionate alumni and friends who make donations to fund scholarships, leadership programs, and housing projects. Enters and acknowledges all gifts (checks, ACHs, stocks, wires), pledge payments, major gifts, and legacy gifts to the Educational Foundation and is the primary contact for donors. Reviews and approves disbursement requests for scholarships, program sponsorships, and educational portions of housing needs for over 200 chapters. Manages all aspects of stewardship for donations coordinating with the Board of Trustees and Chief Executive Officer. Manages the National Scholarships process for headquarters. Effectively and efficiently assists in planning and executing successful Founder’s Day of Giving, raising over $1.1 million, on track to exceed that in 2024. Works with chapters to consolidate their funds to ensure the greatest impact at the local level.

JULY 2022 – AUGUST 2022

Account Manager Team Hired Remote Employee

Maintained and updated client accounts. Networked to generate new business and leads. Met production goals and KPIs by cross-selling additional services. Nurtured and fostered relationships to ensure client retention. Interviewed potential employees for clients, including group interviews. MAY 2022 - JULY 2022

New Business Development Express Employment Professionals Savannah, GA Maintained and updated client accounts. Worked with new businesses and companies to generate leads to fill job vacancies.

NOVEMBER 2020 – APRIL 2022

Donor Relations Coordinator Love A Child Inc Fort Myers, FL Worked directly with donors processing gifts over the phone. Processed mail including checks, money orders, and cashier’s check. Responded to donor letters written to the owners of Love a Child on their behalf, ensuring their correspondence was received. Prayed with donors over the phone when asked. Stewarded the youngest of donors by creating award certificates for giving.

JANUARY 2019 – NOVEMBER 2020 (COMPANY CLOSED)

Chief Operations Officer Fempassioned Marco Island, FL Designed and implemented business operations. Established policies that promote company culture and vision. Oversaw operations, Business Acumen. Wrote and submitted reports to the CEO. Participated in expansion activities, Managed relationships with partners, clients, and vendors. Created content schedules for all Social Media Platforms, Created copy content and graphics for all social media Platforms, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. Worked in Keap-Infusionsoft (CRM): Created campaigns; including the stages and prompts, the corresponding emails at each stage of the client journey. FEBUARY 2017 – JANUARY 2019

Promoted-Business Office Manager/Student Services Coordinator II Florida Career College Miami, FL

Complied with all federal, state, accreditation and institutional policies and procedures. Directly responsible for the budgeting and inventory fulfillment of all campus book and supply orders, usually in excess of tens of thousands of dollars per month. Responsible for accounting variance to budget for all book and supply orders. Managed and budgeted for all on-site campus facilities issues and had primary responsibility for interacting with the third-party property management company related to short, medium and long-term facilities maintenance, management, repairs. Human Resources: New Hire path- Created requisitions and offer terms and letters using the company's Applicant Tracking System. New Hire Paperwork adhered to State and Federal Laws, Processes all Change of Status requests at the assigned campus, Created and maintained confidential employee files. Conducted a confidential pre-employment process for employees, including background check submittal, requisition submittal, offer terms submittal, and pre-hire paperwork completion. Completed the on-boarding of the employee, including new hire paperwork review and new hire orientation. Created accounts for new employees in the pay tracking system. Dotted-line vertical reporting responsibilities to the Director of Financial Planning and Procurement and the Chief Financial Officer, contributed to team effort by accomplishing related results. Student Services: Provided access to government and local resources available for our students based on their need, Carpool, Food Pantry, Clothes Closet, Facilitated student licensing. Partnered with Publix for weekly donations for students in need. Campus Bookstore: Directly responsible for the budget and inventory fulfillment of all student books and uniforms. Student Events on and off-campus; Monthly events such as Pinning Ceremony and Student Appreciation, weekly events include feeding the homeless students and families. Submitted purchase orders for all campus departments to the Purchasing department; received and verified all incoming and outgoing shipments. Student Ambassador Program: Partnered with local businesses to assist in community, campus events, and employment opportunities. Student Accounts: Collections through relationship building with all campus departments and students. Conducted general campus management and accounting functions, including the review and analysis of special reports, summarizing information and identifying trends. Accounting: Weekly and Monthly Cash Reconciliation, Full accountability for miscellaneous cash receipts and petty cash: safeguarding, distributing funds, reconciling, requesting replenishment. Accountability for campus cash advances, gas cards, and bus ticket reconciliations. Performed Campus accounting functions as follows: Codes all purchase orders/invoices/credit card statements/expense reimbursement forms and submitted to the Accounting department; performed monthly inventory count reconciliations and variance analysis. Worked closely with all directors for enrollments, attrition, and placements. Maintained office services by organizing and creating office operations and procedures; designed filing systems; reviewed and approved supply requisitions, ordered for the campus (instructors, faculty, staff, and students). MARCH 2017 – DECEMBER 2017

Professional Admissions Representative Florida Career College Miami, FL Received inbound inquiries and conducted outbound phone calls to prospective students. Developed and implemented a plan for generating referrals and developing leads, including but not limited to, current students, every phone contact and every interview, Assess and interview prospective students to determine their needs and goals.

S k i l l s

• Understanding of business functions such as Finance, HR, Salesforce, Marketing, social media, etc. • Competency in strategic planning and business development • Working knowledge of data analysis, performance, and operation metrics • Working knowledge of Business infrastructure and MS Office • Outstanding organizational and leadership abilities • Excellent interpersonal communication • Aptitude in decision-making and problem-solving Education

GRADUATED: APRIL 2021

Master’s in Public Administration Florida International University Online GRADUATED: DECEMBER 2018

Bachelors in Applied Science in Supervision and Management Miami Dade College Miami, FL Certificate: Business Management: Business Specialist Certificate: Business Management: Business Operations