Melissa Jones, CFRE

Experience

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  Campus Crusade for Christ

  Jan 1988 - Jan 1995

  Field Staff

  Fundraising, Supervising Volunteers, Mentoring High School Students

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  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1999

  Corporate Compliance Manager

  Ethics Training, HR Management, Compliance

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  St. Louis Children's Hospital

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2000

  Manager, Volunteer and Family Services

  Managed 500+ Volunteers. I LOVED this job and SLCH but left because my pregnancy was high risk. I have a happy, healthy daughter as a result!

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  St. Louis City CASA

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2002

  Director of Development

  • Directed and performed all aspects of fundraising to generate $650,000 in annual contributed income.• Planned and led strategic planning process, PR, marketing, speakers’ bureau, and publicity activities.• Supervised volunteer management staff and infused energy into volunteer recruitment and retention strategies. I left to have my third child and stay home with my children.

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  Jazz St. Louis

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2011

  Director of Development

  • Increased contributed income more than 135%.• Implemented targeted strategies to reach new donors, increasing individual donors by 300%.• Collaboratively solicited and obtained $2.5M lead gift for $10M capital campaign.• Secured the organization’s first full season underwriter at $100,000 for 2011-12.• Procured $225,000 to co-commission an opera in jazz, Terence Blanchard’s Champion, with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, which premiered in 2013 and has been performed worldwide.• Served as Board Liaison and on Nominating/Board Development, Finance, and Development Committees; provided oversight of strategic plan with assigned Board Member.• Directed all PR and marketing related activities and staff. Show less

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  World Chess Hall of Fame

  Jan 2011 - Jan 2012

  Vice President of Development

  • Garnered community support and created a solid development plan for two institutions new to St. Louis, having opened in 2008 and 2011 and funded primarily by their founder.

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  St. Louis University High

  May 2012 - Feb 2020

  • Led $70M Go Forth campaign for SLUH: took campaign public in Nov 2018 after three years in quiet phase and raised $57M in gifts and commitments as of August 31, 2019.• Grew revenue from annual auction, Cashbah, 348% from $719,000 in 2012 to $2.5M in 2018, with five years over $1M annually.• Carried portfolio of 190 major donors, prospective donors, etc., across the U.S. to cultivate, ask, and steward.• Equipped team and oversaw all aspects of fundraising, marketing, and communications for the institution.• Led the organization through transition to new President July 1, 2018, introducing him to the St. Louis community and his being new to the role and to fundraising, mentored/trained him for his work in philanthropy.• Led the school’s Bicentennial planning and execution of events over an 18-month period. Show less • SLUH conducts need-blind admission and doesn't cap financial aid. Over 35% of our student body receives direct aid; an average award is $7500. The academics are rigorous; in several recent classes of 270 young men, their average ACT score is 30, with many garnering a top score of 36. We draw young men from 89 zip codes and over 160 feeder schools. Our advancement team supports this commitment to a diverse student body by raising over $3 million annually in scholarship monies through fundraising efforts, events, and the generous support of our alumni. I led our team of staff and volunteers in the areas of leadership giving, planned giving, events, and alumni relations. Show less

  • Consultant, Leadership Giving

    Sept 2019 - Feb 2020

  • Vice President of Institutional Advancement

    Jul 2017 - Aug 2019

  • Director of Advancement

    Jul 2013 - Jun 2017

  • Director of Leadership Giving

    May 2012 - Jun 2013
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  The Salvation Army

  Sept 2020 - Nov 2022

  Divisional Executive Director Of Development

  • Led vibrant team delivering all aspects of fundraising, marketing and communications, volunteer management, five thrift stores, and 100+ service extension units across 150 counties in Missouri and Southern Illinois.• Raised $20M in annual and an additional $10.5M in planned gifts FY21.

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  Missouri Historical Society

  Nov 2022 - now

  Managing Director of Philanthropy