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Eric Wilkerson
Executive Leader • Chief Fundraiser • External Relations • Strategic Partnerships
Professional Background
Eric Wilkerson is a distinguished executive leader known for his exceptional skills in sales and fundraising. With a profound ability to foster synergistic relationships and establish strategic partnerships, Eric has made significant contributions to various organizations. His career has been marked by his commitment to community engagement and fundraising initiatives that not only drive revenue but also enhance long-term organizational support and engagement. Eric's extensive experience spans several key roles in nonprofit and community-focused organizations, where he has consistently demonstrated his expertise in cultivating relationships with donors and stakeholders.
Currently, Eric serves as the Chief Development Officer at the Chicago House and Social Service Agency, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the agency's fundraising strategy. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding the organization's reach and enhancing its funding capabilities, enabling it to provide vital services to the community.
Prior to his current role, Eric held the position of Senior Director of Institutional Giving at the Shedd Aquarium, where he successfully developed and implemented strategies to secure funding from institutions, ensuring that the aquarium could continue its mission of education and conservation. His tenure at Shedd Aquarium showcased his talent for building relationships with significant stakeholders and crafting compelling narratives that resonate with potential donors.
Moreover, Eric served as the Director of Advancement at Equality Illinois, where he was at the forefront of fundraising initiatives aimed at supporting LGBTQ+ advocacy in Illinois. His role was critical in mobilizing resources to further the organization's mission and foster a sense of community among supporters. This experience underscored Eric's ability to align fundraising efforts with social justice issues, thereby enhancing engagement and support from the community.
Eric’s career began in real estate, serving as a Real Estate Sales Professional at both The Charlotte John Company and Prudential Windmill Realty. Here, he honed his skills in negotiation and client relationship management, which have translated effectively into his fundraising roles. The foundations built during his sales career laid the groundwork for his future successes in nonprofit development, as he learned the importance of understanding client needs and delivering value.
Education and Achievements
Eric Wilkerson is an alumnus of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he studied Communications. His educational background has equipped him with the skills necessary for effective communication, a critical component in the fields of sales and fundraising. Eric's ability to articulate visions and persuade audiences has been paramount in his success throughout his career.
Throughout his professional journey, Eric has garnered notable achievements that highlight his effectiveness as a leader in fundraising and community engagement. His strategic approaches and commitment to the mission-driven initiatives of the organizations he has worked with are commendable. He understands that at the core of effective fundraising lies the ability to connect with people, whether they are donors, volunteers, or community members. This innate understanding has propelled him to create meaningful partnerships that have yielded substantial financial support and engagement.
Achievements
Eric Wilkerson's career is highlighted by a series of significant achievements in each of the roles he has held. As Chief Development Officer at Chicago House and Social Service Agency, Eric has led transformative fundraising campaigns that have resulted in increased donor participation and enhanced community awareness of the organization's mission. His innovative strategies have not only attracted new supporters but have also retained existing ones through meaningful engagement and relationship-building.
At the Shedd Aquarium, Eric was instrumental in launching initiatives that significantly boosted institutional giving, marking a key shift in the aquarium’s fundraising strategy during his tenure. His work contributed directly to project funding that supported educational programs and conservation efforts, showcasing his ability to connect funding sources to impactful initiatives.
As the Director of Advancement at Equality Illinois, Eric’s impact was felt in the substantial increase in donations and advocacy support, underscoring his dedication to social justice and LGBTQ+ issues. His efforts ensured that the organization could efficiently mobilize resources to tackle pressing challenges within the community.
Overall, Eric Wilkerson’s career is a testament to his unwavering dedication to fundraising, community engagement, and social impact. His blend of experience in sales and nonprofit sectors positions him as a key player in driving philanthropic efforts that facilitate positive change within the communities he serves. Through strategic thinking, innovative approaches, and a steadfast commitment to mission-driven work, Eric continues to lead with purpose, inspiring those around him to contribute towards meaningful causes.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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