Brittany Janis

Experience

• 

  Gilmour Academy

  Aug 2003 - Jul 2011

  Speech & Debate Assistant Coach

  - Aided in coaching a 90+ student speech and debate program through face-to-face coaching and virtual consultation. - Coached the 2008 National Forensic League National Champions in Congressional Debate and Prose Interpretation.- Coached the 2008 Ohio State Champion in Congressional Debate, and the 2009 and 2010 Ohio State Runner-up in Congressional Debate.

• 

  The Cleveland Play House

  Apr 2006 - Apr 2007

  Director of Campus Liaisons and Artistic Intern

  - Created and managed a marketing program at Cleveland Play House for college students to encourage networking and theater attendance.- Coordinated Cleveland Play House visits and outreach activities for local schools and children’s groups.

• 

  Kemp Partners & Whitmer & Worrall

  May 2006 - Sept 2006

  Advocacy & Legislative Research Intern

  - Attended congressional hearings and maintained advocacy research files for all of Kemp Partners’ and Whitmer and Worrall clients.- Met with congressmen and organized meetings to pursue advocacy goals for client conferences.

• 

  Grassroots Campaigns

  Jun 2007 - Aug 2007

  Field Manager

  - Maintained a high level of fundraising activity, averaging 100 doors canvassed and two-hundred dollars per/day raised for progressive causes. - Ran a training program to help newly recruited campaign workers develop canvassing and fundraising skills.

• 

  Kimberly Wood & Associates

  Sept 2007 - Jul 2008

  Account Executive

  - Developed targeted fundraising programs for a variety of progressive candidates and non-profit organizations.- Managed events and reporting for each fundraising activity executed through the firm.- Staffed relationship building meetings, and maintained professional contact with all current and prospective donors.

• 

  Busted Halo

  Jul 2008 - Jul 2011

  Director of Development

  - Began the organization’s first development program and managed our leadership team in executing a comprehensive development program.- Created a yearly development plan to strategically guide our organization’s marketing and fundraising efforts. - Produced grant applications, publicity materials, and newsletters for distribution to potential benefactors.- Served as an evangelist for Busted Halo to potential donors, building relationships to grow Busted Halo’s major gift and annual fund network. Show less

• 

  Craigslist Foundation

  Aug 2011 - Oct 2011

  Nonprofit Management Consultant

  - Developed strategic positioning recommendations to guide targeted grant applications, potential partnerships, and other funding proposals. - Advised and collaborated in grant writing and case development as the Craigslist Foundation continues to hone their message for support.- Identified unexplored development opportunities potentially available to further the Craigslist Foundation’s mission.

• 

  BAYCAT

  Sept 2011 - Aug 2014

  Development Manager

  - Managed all elements of BAYCAT’s donor portfolio including developing and continuing relationships with government, corporate, individual and foundation donors. - Orchestrated a robust individual giving program, increasing donor communication, and successfully tripling individual support.- Created grant applications and reports, and worked with the program team to evaluate program success and identify areas for further growth. - Spearheaded organization-wide Salesforce adoption and integration, developing the database and systems for implementation. Show less

• 

  Environmental Defense Fund

  Sept 2014 - May 2018

  Major Gifts Officer

  - Designed and implemented engagement and fundraising strategies for a portfolio of over 130 major donors. - Coached senior program and executive staff in the execution of cultivation opportunities and one-on-one solicitations in order to deepen the engagement and investment of major gifts prospects in EDF’s mission.- Managed volunteers and helped to steward strategic relationships in support of EDF’s programmatic priorities. - Worked in partnership with programs and our donor communications department to develop compelling and visionary funding proposals to present to donors and prospects. - Maintained broad programmatic knowledge across EDF’s four program areas (Oceans, Ecosystems, Climate & Energy and Health) to ensure effective and timely communication with donors and prospects interested in our work. Show less

• 

  Association Of Fundraising Professionals

  Jan 2015 - Dec 2017

  President AFP Golden Gate Chapter (Volunteer Role)

  President-Elect 2015 | President 2016 | Immediate Past President 2017 - Chaired the Board of The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Golden Gate Chapter, and worked in partnership with our Executive Director to support the effective execution of our chapter’s mission “promoting philanthropy and supporting the effective and ethical work of the diverse community of Bay Area fundraising professionals”.- Provided leadership to the Board, and guided Board actions with respect to organizational priorities and governance.- Acted as a lead point of contact for AFP to our over 600 active members, and the Bay Area non-profit community. Show less

• 

  Harvard Effective Altruism Student Group

  Jul 2018 - May 2019

  Philanthropy Advisory Fellow

  - Serve as Director of Research for the Philanthropy Advisory Fellowship, helping to train teams on effective altruism practices and align work across different client projects. - Worked with The Life You Can Save Foundation to develop a charity evaluation framework to conduct high impact philanthropy in India. - Researched and curated a portfolio of effective NGOs working in India in the focus areas of health, women's empowerment, education, and economic development.

• 

  Harvard's Belfer Center

  Jan 2019 - Sept 2024

  - In collaboration with our Faculty Directors, John Holdren, Henry Lee and Dan Schrag, manage the operation of a prestigious university research program, overseeing a budget exceeding $3 million annually, ensuring optimal allocation of resources for groundbreaking research in environmental and energy sectors.- Direct a diverse team of staff, Post-Doc and Senior Fellows, and graduate-level Research Assistants, leading to the successful execution of multidisciplinary research projects. Topics span the green transition, energy technology, environmental policy, climate adaptation, and resilience.- Serve as the pivotal liaison for the ENRP/STPP Programs, fostering robust collaborations with various programs and centers across Harvard, as well as with external partners and funders. - Spearhead the design and implementation of strategic outreach initiatives, both internally and externally, significantly increasing engagement with key constituencies. This includes organizing seminars, workshops, and public lectures to disseminate research findings and foster dialogue on critical environmental issues.- Author and contribute to influential policy briefs, grant reports, and press releases, translating complex research findings into accessible content. This work informs policymakers, guides funding decisions, and raises public awareness on vital issues related to climate change and sustainability. Show less Operations and Management:- Led a diverse team comprising three staff members, six Fellows, and eight graduate-level Research Assistants to conduct high-quality research on the transformations affecting the Arctic region. This work provided valuable insights for policy and decision-making processes.- Expanded the Arctic Initiative community by organizing seminars and conferences, engaging with students, establishing a Board of Advisors, stewarding donor relationships, and facilitating international pan-Arctic partnerships.- Developed and implemented a three-year strategic plan with constituent input, aligning the team around shared goals across five pillars: resilience, governance, climate impacts, oceans, and education and youth leadership.Research:- Spearheaded the Initiative’s research efforts to develop policy recommendations for an Arctic Regional Action Plan aimed at combating plastic pollution in the Arctic.- Managed the development of the Arctic Resilience Forum, a virtual conference co-organized with the Sustainable Development Working Group of the Arctic Council and hosted by the Icelandic Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. This event engaged over fifty organizing partners, nearly 100 speakers, and over 1,000 audience members in conversations about building resilience in Arctic communities.- Led a Belmont Forum-sponsored research project on financing community-driven solutions to advance resilient wetlands, focusing on addressing water and sanitation deficits in rural Alaska.- Co-developed a series of resilience workshops aimed at empowering Arctic Indigenous youth climate leaders in the global climate dialogue, drawing on leadership, negotiations, and communications training from the Harvard Kennedy School. Show less

  • Associate Director, Environment & Natural Resources/Science, Technology, & Public Policy Programs

    Oct 2023 - Sept 2024

  • Associate Director of the Arctic Initiative

    Jul 2019 - Feb 2024

  • Arctic Initiative - Research Assistant

    Jan 2019 - Jul 2019
• 

  Open Environmental Data Project

  Oct 2024 - now

  Executive Director

  - Lead the strategic growth and development of OEDP, cultivating partnerships to empower communities, researchers, and policymakers with transparent, usable environmental data.- Oversee programmatic direction and staff management, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and promoting a collaborative, values-driven work environment. - Develop strategies to enhance data governance and environmental policy by translating complex datasets into actionable formats that support environmental justice. Show less