Kellie Esters

Experience

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  Monmouth College

  Aug 1986 - Aug 1989

  Admissions Counselor

  • Coordinated high school visits, home visits, admissions receptions, college nights, campus open houses to inform prospective students and their families about the benefits of a liberal arts education.• Recruited prospective students with an emphasis on enhancing cultural diversity.• Assisted transfer students in interpreting the college transfer policy from other institutions.

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  Scott Community College

  Aug 1990 - Aug 1991

  Manager of Registration and Records

  • Maintained student files and database records including transcripts, class schedules and degree program changes. • Supervised processing for graduation, including student notifications, measurement for caps and gowns, ordering of diplomas, and certifying student eligibility for honors recognition. • Advised students on course selections needed for graduation in various degree programs and conductedcurriculum audits to ensure degree requirements were met.• Completed and submitted verification for certified veterans eligible for the GI Bill Educational Benefits. •Evaluated transcripts of college credits and test scores for incoming students to determine course equivalencies and transferable course credit.• Managed the Enrollment Services and Registration Center including the supervision of support staff. Show less

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  Monmouth College

  Aug 1991 - Jun 1995

  Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving

  • Planned and coordinated Homecoming Weekend and Commencement reunion schedules and activities.• Planned and organized Family Weekend activities to promote and enhance interaction between families, administration, faculty, staff and students.• Organized and ran Alumni Board and Parents' Advisory Council (PAC) executive and full committee meetings.• Managed the Class Secretary program promoting communication between classmates and the college.• Coordinated and presented at alumni club meetings, programs and events nationwide to ensure representation from the college in key areas of the country.• Supervised the Class Giving program, recruited class agents and directed class solicitations.• Organized and managed volunteers for a variety of activities on and off-campus alumni events.• Developed and organized annual fund strategies designed to encourage and increase alumni giving to the Monmouth College Fund. • Directed National Alumni Committee efforts aimed at encouraging alumni leadership and support during theForward to the 21st Century Capital Campaign. Show less

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  Western Illinois University

  Jun 1995 - Jan 2007

  Director of Foundation and Development Services

  •Developed and implemented policies and procedures affecting daily operations of the WIU Foundation and Development Office.• Directed personnel functions including hiring, job classifications, appraisals, training, promotions, professional development, and vacation schedules for support staff, in addition to supervision of two professional staff. • Oversaw enhancements to the design and operation of the Foundation/Alumni online database, and coordinatedbi-weekly Information Management meetings with staff from four division offices.• Developed, documented, and implemented policies and procedures affecting gift acquisition, gift and pledge processing, and matching gift administration. Created and maintained reporting of all gifts and pledges consistent with the CASE Management and Reporting Standards.• Oversaw tailored and systematic recognition program for the WIU Foundation recognizing annual, cumulative, planned and memorial and honorary gifts.• Selected and developed donor stories for the Foundation’s Developments newsletter distributed quarterly.• Collaborated with University Relations web design staff to update and refine the WIU Foundation website.• Identified and researched current and potential donors through numerous prospect research resources, and maintained prospect management and tracking system on the online database.• Served as a member of the Development Council of development officers and staff who provided leadership in planning and implementing major fund raising initiatives for the University. Show less

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  Scott County Family YMCA

  Feb 2007 - Aug 2012

  Vice President of Fund Development

  Served as a member of the Scott County Family Y’s Corporate Team with the President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and Vice President of Human Resources to discuss and address significant matters related to the eight-branch association.Led and supervised campaign plans, grant proposals and policies while leading cross-functional teams and volunteers in fundraising initiatives. Directed and managed donor relations and stewardship efforts, including gift processing and acknowledgments, impact reporting, recognition and donor engagement. • Led all phases of the Teaching Values and Touching Lives capital campaign; successfully negotiated to raise more than $4 million in private support to expand the Bettendorf Family YMCA and facility and equipment enhancements at other YMCA locations throughout the Iowa Quad Cities. • Overhauled a grassroots annual fund effort and implemented a re-branded campaign; increased annual giving by 254%, new donor acquisition by 300%, and campaign volunteers by 275%.• Applied interpersonal written and oral communication strategies to launch an annual giving campaign that utilized key community leaders and volunteers in fundraising initiatives.• Achieved national attention for a successful annual campaign structure: Selected to serve on a Y-USA nation-wide committee to develop and launch branded campaigns across YMCAs nation-wide.• Honored with an Association of the YMCA Professionals "Excellence in Fundraising Award" in 2008 and 2010. • Designed strategic endowment developments through planned and major gifts: identified, cultivated, and solicited gifts from donors, prospects, volunteers, members, and businesses.• Served as liaison to the United Way overseeing the submission of Community Investment grant applications for YMCA funded programs and represented the YMCA at events. Show less

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  UnityPoint Health - Trinity

  Aug 2012 - Aug 2015

  Vice President of Development and Donor Relations

  Developed, implemented and executed a comprehensive annual giving program to solicit employees, patients, college alumni, physicians, board members, hospital volunteers, donors and the community. • Developed and oversaw the Foundation’s comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program to ensure timely gift acknowledgements, recognition and impact reporting. • Implemented and oversaw Trinity Health Foundation’s Grateful Patient Program converting former patients to first-time donors and advancing existing annual donors to major donors. Worked with vendor on developing cases for support, caller trainings, securing patient stories, providing HIPAA compliant data. Defined and assessed annual fundraising goals and modified to ensure target projections were achieved. • Participated in the identification, qualification, cultivation and solicitation of major gift prospects for Trinity’s three hospitals and college fundraising initiatives. • Provided leadership, supervision and direction for the Foundation’s scholarships and awards program. Included oversight of publicity, acceptance of required application materials, donor intent compliance review, selection committee(s) process, notification and allocation distribution. • Served in an advisory capacity as the Foundation liaison to Trinity’s College of Nursing & Health Sciences to counsel them on fundraising initiatives and the development of a more comprehensive alumni relations program.• Served as Trinity’s primary contact and representative for the United Way’s annual Workforce Campaign and Community Investment Panels for grant distribution to United Way funded agencies. • Developed and oversaw the execution of Foundation endowment fund activities established for educational outreach to include the Alla Community and Nursing Symposiums and the Cardiovascular Medicine Mini-Medical School. • Prepared/presented reports for Trinity Health Foundation board meetings and at hospital meetings and events. Show less

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  Western Illinois University

  Sept 2015 - Oct 2017

  Executive Director of Development

  As the Executive Director of Development, I provide manage and provide strategic leadership to a team of eight college and unit fund-raising professionals and development staff. My primary responsibilities focus on the recruitment, training, evaluation, coaching, and retention of Directors of Development in areas of responsibility. I report to and work closely with the Vice President for Advancement and Public Services to provide overall planning, coordinating and implementing fundraising programs for academic and campus initiatives and to facilitate opportunities for major gift fundraising. I also manage a small portfolio of top major gift prospects. My position requires close coordination with the Deans/Directors to assure that development work is in accordance with academic priorities and University policies. It is critical that I create an environment that will enhance communication and encourage collaboration between and among the campus community, the WIU Foundation and other areas of Advancement Services. Show less

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  University of Nebraska Foundation

  Sept 2017 - Mar 2020

  Senior Director Of Development
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  University of Utah Health

  Mar 2020 - now

  Senior Executive Director of Advancement