Heather Klein Olson

Hi, I'm Heather Klein Olson. Welcome to my profile!

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Accomplished professional with 10+ years proven experience in fund raising and marketing for small, mid-size, and large organizations. Career is rooted in arts and culture administration, with extensive practice of social service and higher education advancement. Key skill set includes: relationship cultivation and management / ability to manage multiple projects from brainstorming to implementation phases / developing fundraising plans and strategies designed to enhance revenue growth and meet organizational goals / skilled in diplomacy and crisis communication / guiding information technology strategy / delivering presentations to multiple levels of decision makers during face-to-face meetings / corporate and individual proposal writing

Associate Director of Major Gifts at Valparaiso University

September 2010 - January 2012

o Responsible for cultivating and soliciting annual gifts up to $49,999. o Secured multiple $50,000 scholarship endowment gifts. o Managed 150 relationships with prospective annual fund and major gift donors, which included qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding these donors toward ambitious institutional goals.

Director of Development and Communications at The Caring Place, Inc.

January 2009 - August 2010

o Researched, identified and cultivated prospective donors to broaden and strengthen donor base. o Launched endowment campaign in collaboration with the Porter County Community Foundation aimed at retaining major donors and acknowledging those who named the organization in their estate plans. o Coordinated all functions of external relations activity including press releases, public outreach, education seminars and special events. o Facilitated process with Board of Directors to prepare 3-5 year strategic plan with short and long-term fundraising goals. o Secured $50,000 in operating support from Anderson Foundation through grant proposal. Frequently wrote grants targeted at expanding corporate, federal and private foundation funding. o Organized highest grossing fundraising gala two years in a row.

Manager of the Annual Fund at Lookingglass Theatre Company

July 2007 - December 2008

o Stewarded individual donors through the process of donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgment, reporting and follow up. Raised $600,000 through annual fund solicitation. o Contributed to goal-setting of $2,000,000 annual fund budget, including corporate, foundation, government and individual contributed income. o Drafted Annual Fund acknowledgments, correspondence with individual supporters, and leadership giving proposals. o Managed donor attendance and involvement for all opening night celebrations, meet and greets, fundraising/cultivation events, receptions, open rehearsals, and performances. o Ensured the fulfillment of individual supporter benefits, including VIP level fulfillment. o Acted as speech writer for Executive staff and Board of Directors.

Donor Relations Coordinator at Chicago Shakespeare Theater

2005 - 2007

o Participated in overall strategic planning for annual fund renewal and acquisition mailings. o Designed and composed direct mail solicitations and renewals, as well as pulled together segment data for these mailings. o Coordinated Team Shakespeare Corporate Gala 2005. Raised $600,000 record-setting goal through solicitation of Board members and corporate partners. o Coordinated performance seating for 500 major donors and corporate partners for all opening night events and cast receptions in the 12 production season. o Assisted data consultant with conversion from Raiser's Edge to Tessitura software. o Managed donor recognition in BILL, the institutional magazine of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Executive Assistant to the Artistic and Executive Directors at Chicago Shakespeare Theater

2003 - 2005

Marketing Assistant Internship at Dance Kaleidoscope

2002 - 2003

Associate Director of Annual Giving, Law School at Valparaiso University

January 2012

o Achieved 120% of mid-year goal for the Law School Annual Fund; a 22% year-over-year increase. o Responsible for writing persuasive direct mail appeals in the voice of distinguished professors, deans, and alumni. o Developed and recruited first-ever national donor society chairperson who has responsibilities for supporting fund raising activities. o Created and implemented the Law School's first Law Firm Giving Challenge program - a competition that promotes participation in the Law School Annual Fund by alumni at leading law firms in Indiana and the Chicagoland area.

Northwestern University

2006 – 2008

Master of Science in Communication

Concentration: Corporate and Managerial Communication

Butler University

1999 – 2003

Bachelor of Science in Arts Administration

Concentration: Vocal Performance

Activities: Minor: Theater Performance