S. D. Yana Davis
3581 Springhill Road
Birmingham, AL 35223
(443) 745-8678
(205) 967-5767
ydavis2053@comcast.net
I seek a leadership position in a nonprofit organization or an emerging company that will make full use of my proven abilities to turn around under-performing organizations; to manage and motivate people in a “Steven Covey” fashion; to develop and successfully implement marketing and development plans, projects and activities that maximize revenue and community goodwill.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
EXPERTISE Accomplished nonprofit director/manager, development professional, fundraiser, community relations director and broadcaster. Skills demonstrated through assignments for successful nonprofit stations. Skilled in management, fundraising, program development, radio production, editing, writing, group speaking, presentation skills, producing in-depth proposals and reports, and business communications.
SKILLS Experienced in nonprofit strategic planning and management; consulting; public relations and media relations; project management; marketing; and board-level negotiations. Knowledgeable in computer operations and applications including word processing, desktop publishing, specialized database programs, membership database and other fundraising database programs, Allegiance, DARTS, and Internet.
REPUTATION Consistently noted by General Managers, station management, department heads, staff, listeners, and community members for superior detail-oriented management skills, ability to prioritize tasks to accomplish maximum results, timely completion of projects, and solving organizational problems with innovative solutions.
EXPERIENCE
The Cato Institute – Director of Sponsor Communications – August 1, 2005 to present
Washington, DC
• Responsible for annual giving and most communications and direct fundraising with Sponsors (donors) and potential Sponsors through direct mail, development publications including Cato’s Letter and Cato Monthly E Update; additional responsibilities include Annual Report, and other projects handled have included implementation and management of planned giving program, identification of potential major Sponsors from direct mail and other sources, planning and budgeting projects, assisting vice president, executive vice president and president in development-related activities, writing, and personal communications with Sponsors. In this position I have been directly associated with raising over $2 million through direct mail and a new major multi-year donor commitment.
Antioch University - Development Director, WYSO Public Radio 2001 to 2005
Dayton, Ohio
• Served as chief fund raising officer in charge of Development Dept. staff of 3, responsible for all individual, corporate, and foundation fundraising. Duties include directing the station’s annual giving (membership) direct mail, on-air solicitation and personal solicitations, major donor and corporate support efforts, and supervising employees and volunteers.
• Provide major input into station budget and financial planning with the general manager, and work extensively with the station board including attending regular meetings, fundraising planning, major donor recruitment, etc.
• Elected National Board Member of Public Radio Association of Development Officers, 2002-2003.
Southeast Missouri State University - Associate University Development Director – Development Director, KRCU Public Radio ; 1998 to 2001
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
• Responsible for all areas of fundraising, underwriting, marketing communications, and outreach for nonprofit radio station. Developed and implemented first business sponsorship solicitation program as well as public radio's 5-step giving path fundraising program.
• Initiated and implemented the first major donor giving club for KRCU, the Southeast Public Radio Circle, which earned $40,000 over the first 2 years. Directed the station’s annual giving (membership) direct mail, planned on-air solicitation and personal solicitations, and coordinated activities with the Foundation’s annual giving and alumni relations programs.
• Provided major input into the station budget and financial planning with the general manager. Attended station board meetings, planned fundraising events, and recruited donors.
Presented session on Major Donor Clubs for Small Market Stations, Public Radio Marketing & Development Conference, Portland, 1999.
University of Tennessee - Development Director – WUOT Public Radio; 1996 to1997
Knoxville
• Served as Development Director for a nonprofit radio station, responsible for underwriting, membership, and major giving. Duties included fundraising, marketing communications, outreach, and developing the sponsorship solicitation program.
• Supervised 2 full-time staff members as well as part-time student workers, identified and led management team to be trained in ContribuTrak membership software, provided input concerning budgeting and financial planning, and served as member of senior management team responsible for considering budgetary, personnel, and technical issues.
• Increased overall fundraising by approximately 80%.
Southern Illinois University – Corporate Support Manager – WSIU Public Television & Radio; 1991-1996
Carbondale, Illinois
• Responsible for fundraising from business, individual, and foundation sources, including on-air business sponsorships on both nonprofit public stations. Membership responsibilities included direct mail copy writing, participating in planning direct mail strategies, assisting in developing on-air pledge tracking software and pledge break production software, writing fundraising copy, serving as on-air talent, and producing pledge breaks in 10 fund drives.
• Functioned as Membership Director and On-Air Fundraising Director for FM in joint licensee situation in addition to corporate support duties. Additional duties included supervising 2 staff members and 3-5 student workers, providing budgetary and financial planning input, and working extensively with the station board on various financial matters.
• Served as alpha tester of proprietary software "MusicBase," & "PledgeMan," at Southern Illinois University.
• Assisted in increasing individual contributions to radio station by over 100%.
• Increased business and foundation fundraising for radio station by 300%.
Grew business fundraising for television station by 50%.
The Foundation for Women’s Health in Alabama – Account Director - J. Cunniff & Associates; 1988-1990
Birmingham
• Primarily responsible for fundraising, member relations, and print and broadcast communications for nonprofit women's health advocacy organization managed by a public relations agency. Additionally worked on other accounts of the agency as writer, producer and account supervisor.
• Functioned as de facto executive director for nonprofit Foundation for Women’s Health in Alabama, handling fundraising, board interface, public relations, and community partnership building.
The Birmingham Business Journal - Managing Editor; 1986 to 1988
Birmingham
• Responsible for helping to develop and implement the editorial policy of a metropolitan business newspaper, managing writers and graphic artists, acting as second-in-command to publisher, and writing editorials and features.
• Served as member of senior management team which considered editorial and financial budget issues, planned personnel and business development; and assisted publisher
J. Cunniff & Associates Marketing & Public Relations – Account Executive; 1985 to 1986
Birmingham
• Served as Account Executive, responsible for fundraising as well as print and broadcast communications for agency clients, including account management, writing, and production supervision. Clients included for-profit and nonprofit organizations, including nonprofit arts organizations such as Ballet Alabama.
University of Alabama-Birmingham – WBHM Public Radio - Promotions Director & Assistant Development Director; 1979 to 1985
Birmingham
• Responsible for public relations, monthly printed program guide, on-air fundraising, major donor identification, solicitation with development director, membership service support, editing program guide, and hosting classical music programs for nonprofit radio station licensed to the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Consulting and Freelance
J. Craig and Page T. Smith Scholarship Foundation – 2004-2005.
• Rewrote and edited projected book about life of J. Craig Smith, Real Integrity: Fabric of a Life – unpublished; assembled and edited book of quotes by J. Craig Smith, The Art of Integrity, wrote foreword, published 2005 by Arlington Press.
Public Radio International (PRI) - Fundraising Continuity Writer; 1997 to 2000
St. Paul
• Commissioned to write a series of fundraising continuity and solicitation announcements for programs for Public Radio International, the nation's 2nd largest public radio network, which included spots for "The World," a daily newsmagazine produced with the BBC and "A Prairie Home Companion," PRI's flagship live variety program. These spots were heard on approximately 200 public stations beginning in October 1997.
• Wrote over 100 short membership reinforcement spots for PRI’s approximately 400 affiliate stations in North America, issued on CD to stations and uplinked via satellite.
Southern Illinois University- WSIU Public Radio Independent Fundraising & Script Consultant; 1999
Carbondale
• Coordinated with a nonprofit radio station as part of the Spring New Member Campaign to secure funds and sponsorship from individual, corporate, and foundation sources. Duties included writing correspondence, community outreach, and program development.
Independent Syndicator and Producer of The World of Wine with Harry Bressler; 1980-1984
• Independently syndicated public radio program carried by over 90 stations in the US.
EDUCATION Continuing Education, Seminars & Conferences; 1991 to Present
• Public Radio Marketing & Development Conferences (Presenter, 1999)
• DEI Major Giving Institute
• PBS Underwriting Seminar
• SGI Leadership Conferences, Kansas City, KS, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 1994-1997
• Meeting & Conference Facilitation
• Personal Counseling Training
• Diversity Issues
• Personal Empowerment Techniques
• Conflict Resolution
• Youth Education
Post Graduate Studies; 1991 to 1992
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY; Carbondale, Illinois
Academic Progress: Completed various courses in the Master of Arts curriculum
Bachelor of Arts Degree; 1976
UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM; Birmingham, Alabama
Leadership Activities: Who's Who Among American College & University Students (1972 & 1973)
COMMUNITY & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
(Past & Current)
• National Board Member, Public Radio Association of Development Officers, 2001-2003
• Greater Dayton, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, 2001-2005
• Greater Dayton, Ohio Advertising Club, 2001-2003
• Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Chamber of Commerce, 1998-2001
• Jackson, Missouri, Chamber of Commerce, 1998-2001
• Special Events Committee, American Marketing Association, Knoxville Chapter, 1996-1997
• Public Relations Committee, American Red Cross, Birmingham Chapter, 1977-1983
• District Chief, Soka Gakkai International-USA, 1975-1980, 1985-1990, 1991-1994, 1997-1998
References Available Upon Request
Saturday, July 5, 2008
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