Western Governors University

Santa Monica College

Associate Director of Development at Braille Institute of America

Appointed to the Social Justice Advisory Board where we advise on social and racial equity issues and provide policy recommendations to the City Council to address systemic racism for the City of West Hollywood.

Board’s Key Achievements:

- Project Homekey Initiative
Achievement: Advocated for $14.4 million to support the Holloway Interim Housing Program, transforming a motel into interim housing for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Impact: This initiative provides safe, temporary housing and connects residents to essential support services, addressing a critical need in the community.

- Creation of Safe Resource Spaces
Achievement: Supported the creation of safe resource spaces in West Hollywood parks, offering essential services like lockers, phone charging stations, and showers for the unhoused.
Impact: These spaces improve the well-being of vulnerable residents by ensuring access to basic necessities.

- Promotion of Diverse Hiring Practices
Achievement: Prioritized the hiring of individuals with lived experiences of homelessness within the City’s five-year plan to address homelessness.
Impact: Promotes diversity and inclusion in the City’s workforce, enhancing service delivery to diverse populations.

- Increased Rental Assistance
Achievement: Successfully pushed for additional rental assistance funding, targeting older adults and residents earning below the Area Median Income (AMI).
Impact: Helps prevent evictions and keeps vulnerable residents in their homes, directly addressing the housing crisis.

City of West Hollywood

Social Justice Advisory Board Member

Safe Place for Youth (SPY) is the leading service provider for youth experiencing or at-risk of homelessness in West Los Angeles. Our mission is to prevent and end youth homelessness through supportive services, sustainable housing opportunities, community collaboration, and advocacy.

•	Responsible for managing a $1.1 million annual fundraising goal in non-governmental support. Exceeded goal by 1.3M and doubled revenue for annual gala.  
•     Cultivate, solicit and steward individual and corporate donors to achieve revenue goals.
•	Supervise three team members in executing organizational and departmental objectives.
•	Oversee the Development Department budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources to meet organizational objectives.
•	Oversee our volunteer and meals program, ensuring effective utilization of resources.
•	Oversee our extensive in-kind donation program, directly benefiting homeless youth.
•	Lead our NextGen junior board members, a dedicated group of young professionals, assisting them with fundraising efforts, event planning, and organizational priorities.
•	Engage with various stakeholders, including leadership, board of directors, and community stakeholders, fostering collaborative relationships to advance organizational goals.
•	Oversee our donor database, currently (Raiser’s Edge) and other platforms (Network for Good, Classy, Givebutter etc.), ensuring accurate and up-to-date donor information.
•	Extensively involved in event planning, from organizing corporate group volunteer activities to coordinating third-party events and our annual Evening of Inspiration.
•	Contribute to improving infrastructure, operational procedures, and departmental efficiency, enhancing organizational effectiveness.
•	Represent the organization at external events and engage with media to raise awareness of our mission and impact.
•	Collaborate cross-departmentally on organizational initiatives, leveraging diverse perspectives to drive innovation and success.

Safe Place for Youth

Director of Development and Community Impact

Occasionally may take on short-term contracts to assist nonprofits with grant writing, prospect research, strategy, major gift solicitation, and creating various fundraising collateral.

Self Employed

Fundraising Consultant

The Association of Fundraising Professionals empowers individuals and organizations to practice ethical fundraising through professional education, networking, research and advocacy.

Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP-Global)

Member

Since its creation in 1903, Breathe Southern California (Breathe SoCal), has been dedicated to promoting clean air and healthy lungs through research, education, advocacy and technology.

•	Worked with the President & CEO, Board of Directors, and Development Committee to develop strategies for raising $2 million+ annual budget.
•	Oversaw all aspects of our development process including strategy, institutional and individual giving, donor communications, day-to-day development operations, events, and new initiatives.
•	Extensively wrote grants, securing over $100,000 in new revenue during my tenure through successful grant applications.
•	Implemented organizational growth strategies by hiring a grants consultant, event planner, and director of communications, strengthening the development team, and enhancing fundraising capabilities.
•	Acquired comprehensive knowledge in clean air and lung health initiatives, engaging with various sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) groups to advance organizational objectives.

Breathe Southern California

Director of Development

The Emphysema Foundation of America (EFA) is dedicated to fighting for every breath of those suffering with emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

I also led and managed fundraising efforts for Breathe SoCal’s acquired sister organization which shared staff and were located in the same office.

Emphysema Foundation of America

• ($2.1M annual budget in FY23). Contributed to fundraising strategy in conjunction with leadership team.
• Drafted and submitted grant applications to foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
• Researched individuals and institutions, conducting extensive outreach seeking philanthropic support.

Founded in 1919, Braille Institute is committed to eliminating barriers to a fulfilling life caused by blindness and severe sight loss.

• ($25M annual budget in FY22). Gift Officer assigned the Los Angeles area raising philanthropic funds.
• Cultivated, solicited, and stewarded a portfolio of 100+ donors and prospects giving over $1,000.
• Conducted prospect research utilizing various tools including online databases such as iWave.
• Cultivated, solicited, and stewarded prospective and current planned gift donors.
• Recorded all qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship actions into Salesforce.
•  Attended donor, program, and community events to promote the organization and network.

Braille Institute of America

Associate Director of Development

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is the global association for professionals in advancement—alumni relations, communications, development, marketing, and advancement services—who share the goal of championing education to transform lives and society.

Council for Advancement and Support of Education

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is dedicated to building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

• ($141M annual budget in FY19). Sustaining Donors give $1,500 or more annually to the general operating fund and generate more than $2.6M in annual support for the organization.
• Cultivated, solicited, and stewarded a portfolio of 170 donors across Los Angeles County giving $1,500-$100,000, increasing revenue by 60%. Portfolio generated over $400,000.
• Cultivated, solicited, and stewarded current and prospective bequest and estate plan gift donors. 
• Recorded all qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship actions into Raiser's Edge.
• Assisted with 20 special events with 100+ people and averaging over $100,000 per fundraiser.
• Attended external events within the City of Los Angeles to promote organization and network.

Los Angeles LGBT Center

Major Gifts Associate

The PLUS ME Project activates the art of personal storytelling to increase confidence in youth as they pursue college, career & life goals. 

• Worked with the ED, board, and staff on various fundraising efforts.
• Researched and produced potential funding opportunities from individuals and institutions.
• Initiated and maintained relationships with individuals to secure financial support.

PLUS ME Project

Member, Fund Development Committee

The mission of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture is to advance arts, culture, and creativity throughout LA County. We provide leadership, services, and support in areas including grants and technical assistance for nonprofit organizations, countywide arts education initiatives, commissioning and care for civic art collections, research and evaluation, access to creative pathways, professional development, free community programs, and cross sector creative strategies that address civic issues. All of this work is framed by our longstanding commitment to fostering access to the arts, and the County’s Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative.

• Assisted team with a successful grant application from the National Endowment for the Arts. 
• Researched individuals, foundations and corporations.
• Completed a report examining fundraising for the arts. 
• Provided excellent customer service to donors/prospects.

Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture

Development Intern

• Assisted with grant research and submission.
• Assisted with donor stewardship activities.
• Planned and executed various special events.
• Updated donor information into Salesforce.

American Red Cross Los Angeles Region

Grants & Foundation Relations Intern

The Los Angeles County Probation Department's mission is to Enhance Public Safety, Ensure Victims’ Rights and Effect Positive Probationer Behavioral Change. 

• Produced a $40,000 College Summit serving over 1,000 at-risk youth in Los Angeles County.
• Brought together more than 40 organizations from college recruiters-to-community organizations.
• Organized workshops on topics such as applying for financial aid, housing and peer mentoring.
• Provided event planning, project management, and day-of logistical support with probation staff.

County of Los Angeles Probation Department

Member, Youth Development Services (YDS) College Summit Planning Committee

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.​ 

• Responded to local and state emergencies providing food, water and disaster relief services.
• Worked emergency shelters and secured a shelter partnership agreement with the City of Bell.

Disaster Responder

Living Advantage Inc., prepares our youth with increasing access to K-12 academics, college preparation, independent living, job development skills as well as entrepreneurial opportunities.

• Solicited donations from individuals and institutions.
• Planned and executed special events.
• Created marketing and fundraising collateral.
• Managed Salesforce and social media.

Kenneth L. Jones