Fundraiser, Music Educator    2000-2013
Fundraiser, Grants Writer, Music Educator
Omaha Conservatory of Music
  • Wrote successful grant proposals to foundation, corporation, and local and national governmental funding sources.
  • Increased giving from $79,000 (2009-2010) to $400,000+ (2010-2011; includes $200,000+ in gifts and pledges to move school for 3,300 sq. ft. facility to 17,000 sq. ft.); doubled active board membership.
  • Solicited Conservatory's first six figure gift; donor then raised $10,000,000+ to buy and refurbish building for conservatory, including 500 seat auditorium.
Institute of Continuing Conductor Education:
  • Founded, directed CT nonprofit to research professional development needs of music teachers; secured contract with NYC Department of Education: earned and contributed income 2002-2008: $2 million +.
  • Won $50,000 funding in three consecutive years from the Charles Dana Foundation to research the professional development needs of ensemble conductors, and develop a pedagogy that met those needs (pedagogy used by NYC BOE).

Author, The Foundation Center, New York    1996-99
Collaborated with nonprofit authority, Michael Seltzer, to revise and update “Minding Your Organization’s Business” (2nd edition, published by the Foundation Center, 2000).

L’Orchestra in the Berkshires, Great Barrington, MA     1988-95
Founder, Executive and Artistic Director
  • Raised over $2 million for startup in rural area from corporate, foundation, government and individual sources through written proposals, personal solicitations; strategized and implemented board and development committee solicitations;
  • Recruited Board, Advisory Board, Benefit Committees members for start-up operation;
  • Created L’Orchestra in our Schools program and founded Youth L’Orchestra, which performed at Tanglewood and at local hospitals and nursing homes.

Simon’s Rock College of Bard, Great Barrington, MA     1985-1988
Dean of External Affairs
  • Directed all development activities in successful $7 million Capital Campaign;
  • During first year of employment, closed college even on cash basis for first time in its 20 year history; increased Annual Fund by 200% over previous year, founded Alumni Association, and increased alumni giving by 600%;
  • Recruited new board and development committee members; several have become $1 million+ donors.
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New York University, New York, NY     1982 - 1985
Senior Development Manager: School of Continuing Education Center for Direct Marketing,  School of Public Administration, Gray Art Gallery & Study Center
  • Increased giving by 82% in one year for School of Continuing Education from corporate, foundation and individual gifts for capital, endowment and program campaigns to underwrite programs in Women’s Studies, Information Technologies, Law & Taxation, Real Estate, Telecommunications;
  • In one year, increased giving to Gray Art Gallery by 137% and 69% for Graduate School of Public Administration;
  • Strategized, launched, implemented, successful $1 million capital and endowment campaign to create Center for Direct Marketing; secured $250,000 Naming Gift from JC Penney and other gifts $5,000-$50,000 from AT&T, Avon, CBS, NY Telephone, Phillips-Van Heusen Foundation, RCA, Readers Digest, Young & Rubicam through written proposals and personal solicitations.

NYC Board of Education, New York, NY     1981-1983
Executive Director: Alumni & Friends of LaGuardia H.S.
  • Launched new alumni organization bringing together graduates of the HS of Music & Art, and the School for Performing Arts;
  • Raised $300,000 in first year from individuals, corporations and foundations;
  • Organized special fundraising events hosted by Erica Jong; Toby and Itzhak Perlman, Time Magazine, and others for corporate, foundation and individual prospects;
  • Launched campaign to locate thousands of  "lost alumni";
  • Convened Advisory Board including George Balanchine, Zubin Mehta, Leonard Bernstein, Erica Jong, Melissa Manchester, etc.;
  • Created PR campaign to establish partnership identity with Lincoln Center.

Soviet Émigré Orchestra, New York, NY     1977-1981
Founder and Executive Director
  • Raised over $1m in three years to create orchestra of Russian emigres;
  • Concerts broadcast live by Voice of America to the former Soviet Union;
  • Produced sold-out benefit concerts at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Kennedy Center, Academy of Music in Created Advisory and Fundraising Boards, involving prominent social, entertainment and philanthropic figures; created "Friends" chapters in NY, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

Ticonderoga Music Festival, Ticonderoga, NY     1979-1981
Founder & Executive Director                                                                    
  • Conceived, organized, directed summer music festival with strong educational program, now in 20th season;
  • Involved local businesses/government in ongoing sponsorship; directed all fundraising, concert, educational, and promotional activities;
  • In first year, created 23% surplus; increased revenues by 72% in second year in county with highest unemployment and welfare rates in NY State.

Lecturer & Consultant
  • Lecturer and Workshop Leader: Fourth and Fifth International Fundraising Conferences, The Hague, Netherlands: Lecturer and Workshop Leader: National Executive Conferences of   Hadassah/WIZO of Canada;
  • Consultancies include: American Chapter of World Hungarians Society, American Holocaust Committee; American Opera Theater; American Place Theatre, BIOLA University, Black Watch Council of Ft. Ticonderoga, Concordia Chamber Orchestra; Ecuadorian Government; Gauguin Museum of Tahiti; Hospice Memorial Foundation, Institute of Classical Architecture, International Leukemia Organization; Interstitial Cystitis Association, Multiple Sclerosis One to One Society, Music at Gretna, New York University, Ottawa Suzuki Strings, The Sir John Soanes Museum Foundation, and others.