Andrew G. Schmidt

1170 Virginia Avenue NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30306
404 - 939 - 1170
agschmidt@gmail.com

CAREER SUMMARY

Experience with higher education, arts and culture, and humanitarian organizations has provided me with the knowledge and expertise to be a well-rounded nonprofit professional. Fundraising duties have included annual fund mailings, database management, face-to-face solicitations, major gift fundraising, event planning, and donor stewardship.

EXPERIENCE AND RELEVANT SKILLS

  • Successful major donor solicitation of gifts over $10,000 and personally maintaining a portfolio of over 1,000 active annual fund and major donors
  • Special events planning and implementation
  • Extensive Raiser's Edge experience – advanced querying, reporting, and data maintenance
  • Overall annual fund knowledge and understanding including in-house and mail house procedures, donor cultivation, and gift stewardship
  • Website maintenance and updating; knowledge of e-communication best practices
  • Lexis-Nexis and online donor research and prospecting
  • Volunteer and intern management
  • Completed graduate courses in nonprofit management, grant and proposal writing, and business communications

EMPLOYMENT

Development Officer
Southern Polytechnic State University
Marietta, Georgia
May 2010-present

  • Cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of alumni, corporations, and friends of the University
  • Prospect management through Raiser’s Edge
  • Plan and participate in University events with development staff
  • Research and discover new prospects for annual fund and major gifts to the University
  • Manage a prospect base of approximately 200 and conduct 20 face-to-face visits per month
  • Maintain a positive relationship with donors and Trustees through written and verbal communication as well as personal visits

Development Officer, Individual Giving
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Atlanta, Georgia
March 2008 - July 2009

As Development Officer for Individual Support I secured major gifts for the Garden and managed the upper levels of membership. As a major gifts officer I solicited gifts to the Garden to support daily operations as well as specialized needs for exhibits, conservation efforts, and events. Managing the upper echelons of membership allowed me to personally cultivate and solicit the most philanthropic of our members. I also managed the Annual Fund mailings from start to finish as well as stewarded all individual support at the Garden.

  • Donor solicitation and cultivation of Arbor, Magnolia, and Orchid Circle gifts $2,500-$10,000 with total revenue from these levels approaching $500,000
  • Cultivation and solicitation of major gifts to the Garden including New Seasons Capital Campaign gifts, exhibition funds (The Henry Moore Society, etc.), and annual unrestricted gifts
  • Donor and membership tracking and analysis in Raiser’s Edge
  • Planning and execution of all member benefits including domestic and international travel opportunities, large and small cultivation and solicitation events, and expert tours of the Garden for guests

Associate Director, Annual Fund
The Carter Center
Atlanta, Georgia
March 2007 - March 2008

As Associate Director for the Annual Fund, I was a member of a three-person team of gift officers in the annual fund department, operating under the umbrella of major gifts at The Carter Center. The Ambassadors Circle cultivates and maintains a growing portfolio of over 3,000 donors who give more than $1,000 annually. A major component of my duties involved traveling to visit with donors, both locally and nationally, to answer questions about the Center and update donors about current and future programs. In addition to travel and donor cultivation and stewardship, I participated in Carter Center special event planning, donor research, implementing online giving updates, and maintaining current and accurate information on the Ambassadors Circle website.

  • Donor solicitation and cultivation of Ambassadors Circle gifts $1,000-$25,000 with total annual giving to the program increasing to over $7 million
  • Special events experience – Photos with President Carter, invitations, programs and presentation coordination, A/V; Ambassadors Circle events: Annual Executive Briefing, Regional Briefings, Conversations at The Carter Center, Ambassadors Circle Trip to Plains, GA with President Carter, tours of The Carter Center
  • Annual Fund mailings and analysis
  • Planned and executed first Ambassadors Circle email “blast” announcing live chat with President Carter; drafting and editing of “Carter Center News” and “Carter-Mondale Alumni Newsletter” articles
  • Developed travel and prospecting procedures for Annual Fund team; compilation of call reports and Raiser's Edge data entry for all donor visits

Development Project Coordinator
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia
April 2005 - March 2007

As development project coordinator for the Office of Development at Kennesaw State University , one of my main duties was to manage and oversee the Phonathon program. This position was heavily involved with Raiser's Edge data management. I was able to integrate a customized Raiser's Edge Phonathon module for use by our student callers. In addition to Phonathon management, I was involved with other annual fund duties such as authoring appeal letters, planning mailings, special events, and donor research.

  • Oversee KSU Phonathon program, implement new call center technology
  • Write articles for the Kennesaw State University Magazine ; edit articles and other written communication from Office of Development; draft, sign, and send Alumni appeal letters
  • Assist with Annual Fund mailings and solicitations; special events, such as the annual Bagwell Ball, President's Dinner, Dot Martin Golf Tournament, and other fundraising and social events
  • Supervise student callers, volunteers, and interns

Phonathon Coordinator
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia
April 2003 - April 2005

As Phonathon coordinator, my position evolved from student caller to manager to coordinator. I hired, trained, and managed the Phonathon student callers and the Phonathon program. I tracked success through Raiser's Edge and daily, weekly, and annual reports. This position introduced me to annual fund and development work in general.

  • Created a Caller Manual, and oversaw its publication; trained and managed student caller staff; maintained monthly schedules
  • Maintained detailed daily, weekly, and YTD spreadsheets to report the progress of the Phonathon effort; tracked fulfillment using Raiser's Edge software
  • Personally made contact with alumni and received gifts up to $1000 from donors
  • Internet donor research and updating in Raiser's Edge

Intern
7th Judicial District Mediation Program
Cartersville, Georgia
Spring Semester 2005

I wrote and edited correspondence and legal documents. My public speaking skills and ability to engage in conversations grew as I dealt with disagreeable clients and handled sensitive phone calls. I scheduled mediations for the Seventh Judicial District Mediation Program, and observed mediations at the magistrate court level. I was also able to attend the Paulding County Probate Mediation Training course. This internship allowed me to complete the necessary requirements for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate Program at Kennesaw State University and to register as a neutral in the State of Georgia .

Forest Products Intern
Georgia-Pacific
Atlanta, Georgia
Summer Semester 1999

I obtained this internship while pursuing a degree in Forestry, Natural Resources at Oregon State University. I traveled throughout the southeast to forestry operations and conducted research for use in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. I worked cooperatively with a representative from another major international corporation in combining our research for use by each of our companies.

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia
Spring 2011

Master of Arts, Professional Writing
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia
Spring 2009

Bachelor of Science, Political Science
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia
Certificate - Alternative Dispute Resolution
Spring 2005

Undergraduate Studies
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
Credits earned toward Bachelor of Science, Natural Resources, Forestry
1998-2000

AWARDS AND ASSOCIATIONS

  • W. Wyman Pilcher, Jr. Scholarship 2009-2010
  • Kennesaw State University – Graduate Writers Association, Graduate Student Association, KSU Alumni Association
  • Member, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Atlanta Chapter
  • Founding Member, Young Nonprofit Professionals, Atlanta Chapter
  • Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution - Registered Neutral in the State of Georgia - #2985
  • Member, Association for Conflict Resolution , Georgia Chapter

PUBLICATIONS AND CITATIONS