Kelsy Medrano
Garden Grove
Summary
Mission-aligned philanthropy and social impact professional with 7+ years of experience in donor engagement, campaign strategy, and relationship-based fundraising. Recognized for raising $500K+ annually through personalized stewardship, multi-channel campaigns, and data-informed portfolio management. Brings a unique blend of emotional intelligence, storytelling expertise, and cross-functional collaboration to deepen trust and drive community-centered growth.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Director of Development
Children's Hospital of Orange County
02.2024 - Current
- Manage and grow a portfolio of 150+ mid-level donors, personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts totaling $500K+ annually
- Develop strategic engagement journeys that align donor values with CHOC's mission, increasing retention and donor upgrades
- Partner across departments (Major Gifts, Annual Giving, Stewardship, Events) to implement cross-channel campaigns and integrated engagement experiences
- Lead personalized outreach via calls, letters, and donor reports, ensuring tailored impact messaging and long-term loyalty
- Analyze donor data and giving trends to inform portfolio strategy and identify high-potential upgrade candidates
- Oversee stewardship reporting, donor recognition initiatives, and behind-the-scenes opportunities to reinforce transparency and trust
Development Associate, College of Business
California State University, Long Beach
2023 - 2024
- Solicited gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations, contributing toward a $100K annual fundraising goal
- Produced donor proposals, impact reports, and digital collateral tailored to leadership-level prospects
- Designed and implemented targeted giving campaigns for the College of Business; leveraged segmentation to increase donor engagement
- Managed scholarship communications and donor relations in collaboration with COB liaison
- Coordinated donor visits, board meetings, and cultivation events; ensured seamless logistics and strategic follow-up
Interim Special Events Manager
Make-A-Wish Orange County & the Inland Empire
2022 - 2023
- Managed administrative logistics of events planning, event booking, and event promotions.
- Directed all aspects of major fundraising events, leading guest experience strategy and live/silent auction operations
- Oversaw staff and volunteer coordination for high-profile event execution
- Implemented new logistical and marketing workflows that increased event ROI and donor participation
Development Coordinator
Make-A-Wish Orange County & the Inland Empire
2021 - 2022
- Managed peer-to-peer and youth engagement fundraising programs, raising $156K in FY23 through strategic program oversight
- Developed funding proposals, evaluated campaign impact, and advised on improvements to training and engagement initiatives
- Supported live fundraising events with budget planning, donor experience design, and relationship development
Attractions Host & Trainer
The Walt Disney Company
2017 - 2022
- Delivered exceptional Guest service while operating high-capacity attractions in a fast-paced, safety-critical environment.
- Facilitated comprehensive training for new Cast Members, promoting service excellence and adherence to Disney's brand standards.
- Developed and led team-building exercises to foster morale, collaboration, and strong communication across multiple shifts of the operation.
- Completed Disney University training, including Guest Safety, Traditions, and Advanced Customer Service courses.
- Performed daily safety audits, ensured operational excellence, and resolved Guest concerns with empathy and efficiency.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Wilmington University
New Castle, DE05-2020
Associate of Arts - Marketing
Cypress College
Cypress, CA05-2019
Skills
- Donor Engagement & Stewardship
- Campaign Strategy (Direct Mail & Digital)
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
- Stakeholder Communications
- Data Analysis & Prospect Research
- Mid-Level to Major Gift Strategy
- Program & Event Management
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- CRM Platforms: Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, Advance
- Software: Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, GiveSmart, SharePoint, Asana, Canva
- Fluent in Spanish
Timeline
Associate Director of Development
Children's Hospital of Orange County
02.2024 - Current
Development Associate, College of Business
California State University, Long Beach
2023 - 2024
Interim Special Events Manager
Make-A-Wish Orange County & the Inland Empire
2022 - 2023
Development Coordinator
Make-A-Wish Orange County & the Inland Empire
2021 - 2022
Attractions Host & Trainer
The Walt Disney Company
2017 - 2022
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Wilmington University
Associate of Arts - Marketing
Cypress College
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