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Linda Gressell
Director, Strategic Donor Engagement at University of Rochester
Professional Background
Linda Gressell is an accomplished Director with a wealth of experience in the higher education sector, particularly renowned for her focus on strategic donor engagement and philanthropic efforts at the University of Rochester. With a commitment to fostering relationships and enhancing community involvement, Linda has spent a significant portion of her career at the University of Rochester, where she has held several pivotal roles that underlie her expertise in fundraising, event management, and stewardship. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to lead teams and develop successful programs that elevate donor engagement and philanthropic impact.
In her current role as Director of Strategic Donor Engagement at the University of Rochester, Linda leverages her extensive skills to create and implement strategies that enhance donor relationships and drive annual giving initiatives. Her approach combines innovative event management with strong stewardship practices to ensure that donors feel connected to their contributions and the impact they create.
Education and Achievements
Linda’s educational background is rooted in the performing arts, having completed her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Performing Arts Management at DePaul University. This unique combination of artistic training and management expertise has equipped her with a distinct perspective on leadership in the nonprofit sector, particularly in organizations that integrate the arts with educational missions. She further honed her vocal performance skills at Syracuse University, where she continued to develop her passion for the performing arts.
Linda’s upbringing at Pittsford Sutherland High School laid the groundwork for her leadership skills and commitment to community service, which she carried into her professional pursuits. Her educational journey reflects her dedication to the arts and a steadfast focus on management, which naturally transitioned into her impactful career in higher education.
Achievements
Linda’s impressive career trajectory includes noteworthy positions at the University of Rochester, where she initially joined as a Program Assistant at Golisano Children's Hospital. Her journey through various roles in annual giving and strategic marketing initiatives culminated in her current leadership position. Not only has she played a key role in designing and executing successful fundraising campaigns, but she has also strategically shaped the engagement strategies that have led to meaningful donor participation and heightened community involvement.
In addition to her direct contributions in fundraising and event management, Linda’s leadership has been instrumental in developing future leaders in the nonprofit and higher education landscapes. Her ability to inspire and motivate her team members, combined with her in-depth knowledge of nonprofit organizations, has solidified her reputation as a respected figure in the philanthropic community. Her continuous focus on collaboration and innovation ensures that the organizations she serves are well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of their stakeholders.
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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.
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