BETH SEARS
Portola Valley
Summary
Dynamic fundraising leader with a proven track record at Common Sense Media, where I exceeded revenue goals and transformed development culture. Skilled in strategic planning and stakeholder engagement, I drive innovative initiatives that enhance partnerships and elevate organizational impact. Passionate about leveraging data analysis to achieve exceptional results in mission-driven environments.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Development Officer
COMMON SENSE MEDIA
San Francisco
01.2023 - Current
- Led development function to record-breaking performance, raising $21M+ against $18M goal by Q3 2025—a first for the organization—while maintaining exceptional team morale and achieving industry-leading ROI of $0.10 per dollar raised.
- Exceeded all revenue targets across four funding streams: Directed foundations team to raise $15M (115% of $13M goal); secured $1.45M for signature Awards event including $258K through first-time in-room appeal (172% of target); generated $872K in Summit sponsorships; and established portfolio-based individual giving program delivering strongest results in organization's history.
- Transformed organizational culture from transactional to relationship-oriented development by creating and executing three-year strategic plan, resulting in strengthened partnerships with institutional funders who now seek CSM's expertise to inform their own AI and youth development strategies.
- Built best-in-class institutional giving infrastructure featuring sophisticated grant development, proactive funder positioning, cross-functional collaboration systems, and strategic briefings that positioned organization as thought leader—particularly on AI safety and digital literacy issues.
- Designed and launched innovative fundraising vehicles including GrandAlliance Fund (engaging 12 board/advisory members for $265K), comprehensive stewardship program with automated workflows and impact reporting, and 'Digital Literacy in Every School' cross-departmental initiative that attracted $5M from institutional and individual donors.
- Elevated organizational profile with board, advisory councils, and institutional funders through strategic materials development (visionary gift opportunities, program briefs, concept notes), resulting in faster proposal cycles and enhanced funder confidence in organizational capacity.
- Managed high-performing team while implementing AI-enhanced workflows, project management systems, and dashboards that created unified ownership of goals across development function.
Founder & Principal
AMARYLLIS ADVISORS
Palo Alto
10.2015 - Current
- Work with non-profit clients on strategic planning, fundraising and leadership development.
- Clients include: Heising Simons Foundation, IDEO.org, Khan Academy, GO Public Schools, Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Topos Institute, among others.
Chief of Strategic Partnerships
NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM
Washington
10.2016 - 04.2022
- Executed fundraising plan to achieve annual budget of $7 million through collaboration with family offices, foundations, and individual philanthropists advocating for immigrants and immigration reform.
- Stewarded funders through strategy updates, newsletters, webinars, and annual convenings; reported quarterly results and nurtured board relationships.
- Developed new models for corporate engagement and advocacy campaigns while creating marketing collateral organization-wide.
- Enhanced digital fundraising capacity to successfully attract small-dollar donors.
Director, Investor Relations
NEWSCHOOLS VENTURE FUND
Oakland
04.2013 - 09.2015
- Successfully executed $90 million 3-year fundraising campaign to invest in innovative school models and run national education technology challenges, creating fundraising model and strategic plan with pipeline including foundations, individuals, family offices, corporations and board.
- Raised $1.26M for Summit 2015 conference, exceeding goal by $410K in record time.
- Executed four donor cultivation and stewardship events annually, including invitation-only donor track and dinner at NewSchools Summit for three consecutive years.
- Redesigned Leadership Council to better cultivate and steward six-figure donors; wrote original content for grant proposals, annual report, and blog.
- Managed team of 3 development professionals and reported quarterly results to Board.
Special Advisor, Strategic Partnerships
SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, Raising A Reader
Mountain View
08.2010 - 04.2013
- Raised over $1 million in the first year the department was formed through cultivation of relationships with individuals, foundations and corporations.
- Created strategy for newly formed Strategic Partnerships team including defining roles of team members and establishing timeline for grant proposals, events and campaigns.
- Established grant writing and reporting process to better track proposals and reports; managed fundraising events in Bay Area and New York.
- Created content for new website, quarterly newsletter and social media outlets.
Advisor
ROOM TO READ
Canberra
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Established volunteer chapter in Canberra for international literacy and gender equality initiatives.
- Facilitated launch of Sydney Chapter, securing over $400,000 at inaugural Wine Gala.
- Coordinated first fundraising event in Canberra at South African High Commission to support educational programs.
Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Structured Products
JP MORGAN
London
01.1994 - 01.2001
- Developed sales management database for daily reporting on trades; worked with senior management on reorganization of Fixed Income Division.
- Implemented disaster recovery plan and worked with Middle Office operations to ensure systems integrity.
- Managed administrative staff of ten; member of Seven Sisters diversity team.
Senior Management Consultant
PRICE WATERHOUSE
New York
01.1989 - 01.1994
- Assistant Editor for Systems Audibility & Control Report for IBM; certified as information systems auditor at training center in Tampa, Florida.
- Served diverse clients including JP Morgan, IBM (QMF database), Connecticut Dept of Motor Vehicles, SIX Swiss Stock Exchange and Girl Scouts of America.
Education
M.F.A. - Creative Writing & Editing
UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA
Canberra, Australia05-2009
B.A. - International Relations
MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE
Skills
- Fundraising strategy
- Stakeholder engagement
- Strategic planning
- Team leadership
- Data analysis
- Brand positioning
- Budgeting and finance
- Partnership development
Timeline
Chief Development Officer
COMMON SENSE MEDIA
01.2023 - Current
Chief of Strategic Partnerships
NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM
10.2016 - 04.2022
Founder & Principal
AMARYLLIS ADVISORS
10.2015 - Current
Director, Investor Relations
NEWSCHOOLS VENTURE FUND
04.2013 - 09.2015
Special Advisor, Strategic Partnerships
SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, Raising A Reader
08.2010 - 04.2013
Advisor
ROOM TO READ
01.2008 - 01.2010
Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Structured Products
JP MORGAN
01.1994 - 01.2001
Senior Management Consultant
PRICE WATERHOUSE
01.1989 - 01.1994
M.F.A. - Creative Writing & Editing
UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA
B.A. - International Relations
MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE