Liz Townsend Bird
Columbia
Summary
Advancement professional with over 20 years of experience, 17½ years in higher education, raising nearly $11 million. Participated in five fundraising campaigns in various stages, three of which raising over $1 billion. Experienced in relationship management and pipeline building practices. Passionate about donor-centric fundraising and engagement. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. Highly collaborative, compassionate, genuine, and positive colleague and representative. Extremely detail oriented and organized.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Corporate and Community Relations
The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri
09.2021 - Current
Senior Director of Advancement
University of Missouri – College of Human Environmental Sciences (HES)
07.2018 - 07.2021
- Led the final efforts which resulted in HES raising $20.6 million during the Our Time to Lead Campaign, exceeding goal by 29%
- Surpassed individual productivity goal by 12% for current fiscal year to date
- Raised $4.61 million in first two years, exceeding combined annual goals by 27%
- Managing prospect portfolio of 100 donors, with primary focus on major gifts of $25,000 and greater
- Responsible for the direction of the college’s philanthropic board: the HES Dean’s Strategic Leadership Council
- Facilitating transition of all College of HES advancement related items through dismantling of the college
- Conducted college-wide advancement audit identifying areas for enhancement to grow advancement related activities
- Directed feasibility study for future capital campaign to fund the Center for Contemporary Families
- Conducted HES prospect analysis to assess need for additional frontline fundraisers to HES Advancement team
Development Manager
The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri
02.2017 - 06.2018
- Managed and directed four Regional Coordinators, covering a 32-county area, overseeing fundraising efforts to meet organizational goals and mission
- Solicited funding from individuals, organizations and companies to support The Food Bank’s mission, programs and events
- Maximized efforts through collaboration with events and communications teams to promote primary and third-party events in support of the mission of The Food Bank
- Assisted in establishment and implementation of prospect portfolios for strategic fundraising efforts for the Regional Coordinators
- Presented to community, civic and corporate groups, as well as provided tours of The Food Bank to individuals as community service specialist
- Established a planned giving fundraising program and donor recognition society in collaboration with development team
Director of Donor Relations | Assistant Board Secretary
Stephens College
02.2014 - 02.2017
- Provided cultivation support and stewardship efforts for the Office of Institutional Advancement and Initiatives
- Managed Board of Trustees formal meetings, orientations, materials, and communications
- Responsible for the review and control of all gift acknowledgments, including receipts, thank you letters, pledge statements and scholarship reports
- Reported to donors on impact of gifts, planned public recognition of gifts, and scheduled stewardship meetings and events
- Managed annual communications with donors and scholarship recipients
- Analyzed opportunities for enhanced relationships by tracking donor relations and stewardship activities in Donor Perfect
Director of Development
University of Missouri – College of Engineering
04.2012 - 01.2014
- Presented and planned nearly $1 million dollars in proposals in first year
- Managed prospect portfolio of 75-100 donors, with primary focus on major gifts of $25,000 and greater
- Responsible for managing philanthropic relationships for many of the College’s most important alumni and generous donors serving on the Dean’s Engineering Advisory Council, Public Policy Advisory Council and MU Engineering Alumni Organization
- Served as development staff liaison to the Departments of Biological Engineering and Chemical Engineering providing subject matter expertise on departmental funding needs and engagement opportunities
Development Officer
Kansas State University Foundation – College of Engineering
09.2005 - 03.2012
- Managed prospect portfolio of 75-150 donors netting $5.5 million in closed gifts (cash and planned gifts; not including gifts-in-kind), an additional $2.1 million was projected to close by the end of the 2011-2012 fiscal year
- Planned and executed special events related to the cultivation and stewardship of the College’s benefactors ranging from casual weekend activities to black-tie galas
- Collaborated with the College’s administration on the management of the College of Engineering Advisory Council and Departmental Advisory Boards on identification of new members and personalized cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans for each member
- Assisted the KSU Foundation staff at all Foundation and University events and meetings ranging from KSU Foundation Board of Trustees meetings, “President’s Club” events, and Campaign related events and meetings
- Served on the KSU Foundation Comprehensive Recognition Plan Committee to review new processes and procedures to recognize and steward donors from annual to principal giving levels
- Collaborated with annual giving staff in implementation of all annual giving programs
Director of External Relations
University of Missouri – College of Human Environmental Sciences (HES)
03.2002 - 09.2005
- Supported the Dean and the Director of Development with all development efforts relating to alumni, donors, faculty, staff and students
- Managed, planned and implemented all College-wide special events and meetings relating to development and alumni relations
- Supported the Director of Development with all donor relation communications, recognition and gift club policies
- Led media and public relations efforts to promote and showcase alumni, donors, faculty, staff, students and departmental news and accomplishments
- Coordinated, supervised and edited production of the College’s Vanguard magazine, newsletters, recruitment materials and brochures
- Served as liaison to the MU Public Relations Council, MU News Bureau, MU Alumni Association, and the Life Sciences Center
Education
Bachelor of Science - Textile and Apparel Management
University of Missouri | College of Human Environmental Sciences
Skills
- Relationship building
- Strategic planning
- Verbal and written communication
- Decision-making
- People management
- Creativity and innovation
- Project coordination
- Corporate communications
- Fundraising events
- Non-profit management
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Coaching and mentoring
Affiliations
- Mizzou Alumni Association, lifetime member
- MU Jefferson Club and HES Vanguard Society, sustaining member
- Appointed to the City of Columbia Commission on Human Rights
- Three year term: March 2024 – March 2027
- Columbia Chamber of Commerce – Women’s Network Leadership Team
- Elected to two consecutive three-year terms
- Served as Chair, 2022-2023
- Served as Secretary, and committee liaisons for Marketing & Communications, Special Events, Changing the Odds, and Mentoring Program
- Received scholarship funding to attend annual Chamber of Commerce Leadership Visit
- Accepted into the UM System Dr. Elson S. Floyd Administrative Leadership Development Program
- MU Museum of Art and Archeology Board Member, past board member
- College of Human Environmental Sciences Alumni Organization, past board president
- Friends of the Missouri Historic Costume and Textile Collection, past board member
- Family Impact Center, past board member
- MU United Way Campaign, past loaned executive
- MU Score Against Hunger Campaign, past committee member
Timeline
Director of Corporate and Community Relations
The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri
09.2021 - Current
Senior Director of Advancement
University of Missouri – College of Human Environmental Sciences (HES)
07.2018 - 07.2021
Development Manager
The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri
02.2017 - 06.2018
Director of Donor Relations | Assistant Board Secretary
Stephens College
02.2014 - 02.2017
Director of Development
University of Missouri – College of Engineering
04.2012 - 01.2014
Development Officer
Kansas State University Foundation – College of Engineering
09.2005 - 03.2012
Director of External Relations
University of Missouri – College of Human Environmental Sciences (HES)
03.2002 - 09.2005
Bachelor of Science - Textile and Apparel Management
University of Missouri | College of Human Environmental Sciences
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