Susan Alston M.S.
Fundraising Strategy, Best Practices, and Project Management for Nonprofits
Principal, Philanthropy Guild, Hampden, MA
www.philanthropyguild.com
Susan’s experience with marketing and fundraising dates back to the 1980’s when she began her career as the Assistant Director of Marketing at Bank of Boston (before it merged with Bank of America). Since then she has served as an Executive Director at a national nonprofit, and as a Vice President of Development and as President of a Foundation. These experiences have broadened her understanding of what it means to work with people in leadership who have diverse perspectives and expectations and to put those insights into action to maximize mission objectives and outcomes.
As the Principal and Founder of the Philanthropy Guild, a new organization that incorporates associates into the Guild based on their expertise in specific areas related to the sector’s marketing and fundraising requirements, these associates are teamed together to bolster the philanthropic intentions of not-for-profit clients, through best practice project management and advising.
Susan’s expertise encompasses:
• Comprehensive charitable fundraising - planning and implementation
• Strategies for major/leadership/sponsor prospect identification, cultivation and solicitation
• Database building, integrity and conversions
• Special events: annual meetings, fundraisers, conferences
• Annual appeals via direct mail, email, and social media
• Marketing mission to revenue sources, funders, general public
• Brand integrity
• Communications: newsletters, brochures, web site and social media content management, press releases
• Community/public relations: enhancing strategies & effectiveness
Susan has a recent Master’s Degree in Strategic Fundraising and Philanthropy from Bay Path University (2012) and is a member of: Advisors in Philanthropy, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Trustee at VERTIS Preparatory Charter School, Springfield, Mass., Women in Philanthropy-Western Massachusetts, Corporator at Mason-Wright Foundation.