LaTanza Pressley Duncan
Blythewood
Summary
Professional Development Officer with 24+ years’ experience with a strong emphasis on donor-centered fundraising and strategic management. Currently, we are soliciting funds in the quite phase of a $2 billion capital campaign. Led teams that have raised more than $259 Million with a managing budget of $19.1 Million. Named the Association of Fundraising Professionals South Carolina, Central Carolina Chapter Executive of the Year 2024. Will represent an organization in an effective manner with donors, boards, staff, and the community.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director of Development, Principal Gifts
University of South Carolina
Columbia
01.2019 - Current
- Direct and manages fundraising activities with donors and prospective donors capable of $1 million or higher contributions to the University.
- Create strategies for assigned principal gifts donors and prospects to meet the university’s goals and initiatives.
- Provides creativity and experience to planning sessions and the right approach to cold prospects and leverage professional relationships to bridge introductions towards the cultivation process.
- Closed a $2 million gift in the first four weeks in new position and in first year secured over $25 million committed.
Chief Advancement Officer
Girl Scouts of SC-Mountain to Midlands
Columbia
11.2012 - 01.2019
- Recruited, trained and supervised a 6-person staff responsible for raising more than 6 million in revenue, including annual giving, corporate support, planned giving, grants and foundation support.
- Increased organization sustainability by growing sustainer giving and thereby increasing long-term donor retention.
- Developed and managed strategies to achieve revenue goals.
- Revitalized major giving initiatives to consistently increase revenue from donors giving $1000 or more for the annual fund.
- Increased online giving by 46% by leveraging organizational assets, including the CEO, board, and community leaders, to engage funders and other partners.
- Re-engineered planned giving program to recorded more new expectancies in organizational history.
- Energized a stalled capital campaign.
- In depth, knowledge of Raiser’s Edge.
- Actively participates as a member of the Executive Team.
Senior Director Corporate Relations
American Heart Association
Columbia
03.2005 - 11.2012
- Direct, manage and supervise a 12-person staff from 2005-2012 raising over $35 million.
- Responsible for major gift solicitation, public relations, and all fundraising efforts for the annual fund in Aiken, Augusta, Georgia, Columbia (Midlands), Sumter, South Carolina areas.
- Additional responsibilities include executive level volunteer management, strategic planning, and budget control.
- Aiken, SC Heart Walk ranked first in its MSA for highest fundraising dollars (in 2009-2012).
- Columbia, SC Heart Walk ranked third in its MSA for highest fundraising dollars raised in 2009.
Director, Government and Public Relations
Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce
Augusta
06.2001 - 05.2003
- Responsible for formulating Chamber policies and activities to aid in improving the local business environment.
- Communicated Chamber goals to local, state and federal elected and non-elected officials.
- Advised other Chamber departments on the value of public relations relative to their activities, and on the preparation of printed information for Chamber members and others.
- Responsible for the development and implementation of the Augusta Metro and Columbia County Chamber of Commerce strategic marketing plan.
- Managed special projects and initiatives approved by the Executive Committee and /or the President.
Director of Revenue and Public Relations
Beaumont Chamber of Commerce
Beaumont
06.1999 - 05.2000
- Responsible for generating and maintaining 75 percent of the Chamber’s total annual budget of over $1 million, through membership enrollment, retention and fundraisers.
- As Community Liaison, worked with over 500 Chamber volunteers on events.
- Maintained and edited seven Chamber publications.
- Worked as Advisor to top business executives sitting on the Chamber Board of Directors on issues such as government affairs, Chamber membership, minority affairs, and economic development.
- Within five months, increased Chamber enrollment by 85 percent over 1998 new member sales during like period.
Executive Director
Serologicals, Inc.
Columbia
08.1996 - 01.1999
- Full management responsibility of a Rare Anti-body Donation/Clinical Trial Center.
- Directed and trained a staff of 25, including setting priorities and assigning duties.
- Ensured FDA compliance and performance of required quality control measures.
- Enforced quality assurance standards for Center’s laboratory; thoroughly trained staff on all lab functions, product shipment and sample submissions in accordance with established procedures and regulations.
- Diligently exercised fiscal accounting and budget controls, including purchasing and procedural audits of the Center’s $2 million budget.
- Ranked #2 (out of 64) in the number of new donor accounts created in 1998.
Center Director
Alpha Therapeutic Corporation
Charleston
07.1992 - 08.1996
- Responsible for overall operations of Clinical Trial Center.
- Supervision of staff, which included 30 physicians, and the operations of a training center.
- Hired, trained, set priorities, assigned duties and evaluated performance.
- Supervised all donation and administrative functions; managed general finance, controlled inventory, and directed community and public relations activities.
- Ensured compliance with internal and external regulations.
- Achieved 100 percent of production operations goals for four years.
Education
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Political Science
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SCMASTER OF ARTS - Business
Webster University
Columbia, SCSkills
- Strategic Planning
- Staff and volunteer management
- Fundraising
- Donor and audience research
- Cultivation
- Fundraising strategy
- Major gift solicitation
- Donor cultivation
- Pipeline management
- Team leadership
- Strategic planning
- Stakeholder engagement
- Donor retention
- Corporate partnerships
- Effective communication
- Relationship building
- Adaptability to change
- Creative problem solving
- Event management
- Research and analysis
- Volunteer management
- Donor relations
- Fundraising strategies
- Board relations
- Grant management
- Proposal writing
- Marketing and communications
- Proposal development
- Negotiation
- Media relations
- Task prioritization
- Direct mail campaigns
- Community outreach
- Corporate fundraising
- Public relations
- Persuasive writing
- Donor stewardship
- Branding initiatives
- Annual Giving Programs
- Organizational skills
- Adaptability
- Critical thinking
- Resource development
- Time management abilities
- Stewardship
- Financial analysis
- Board development
- Campaign coordination
- Fundraising ethics
- Budget control
- Solicitation
- Data mining and analysis
- Project leadership
- Team building
- Budget management
- Intellectual flexibility
- Coaching
- Working with consultants
- Community relations
- Web and social media
Timeline
Senior Director of Development, Principal Gifts
University of South Carolina
01.2019 - Current
Chief Advancement Officer
Girl Scouts of SC-Mountain to Midlands
11.2012 - 01.2019
Senior Director Corporate Relations
American Heart Association
03.2005 - 11.2012
Director, Government and Public Relations
Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce
06.2001 - 05.2003
Director of Revenue and Public Relations
Beaumont Chamber of Commerce
06.1999 - 05.2000
Executive Director
Serologicals, Inc.
08.1996 - 01.1999
Center Director
Alpha Therapeutic Corporation
07.1992 - 08.1996
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Political Science
University of South Carolina
MASTER OF ARTS - Business
Webster University
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