Joan Rogers

Experience

• 

  Riverfront Recapture, Inc

  Aug 1989 - Oct 1990

  Planning and Development Administrator

  Planning and Development AdministratorOversaw the planning and development of a six-mile linear park system along the Connecticut River encompassing four jurisdictions. Helped organize volunteers. Promoted and conducted fund raising activities.

• 

  Town of Simsbury

  Oct 1990 - Oct 1992

  Assistant to the First Selectman

  Served as principal professional staff to the First Selectman and Board of Selectmen providing assistance in managing the general government operations of the town. Worked under the direction of the First Selectman.

• 

  Simsbury Board of Education

  Aug 1999 - Apr 2006

  Teaching Assistant / Special Education Tutor

  Provided instructional support using developmental and therapeutic intervention strategies to a population of special needs students. Maintained confidential student/parent communication records on academic, social and physical progress of students. Instructed students both individually and in small groups based on individual student needs. Helped transition students for inclusion into grade level classrooms.

• 

  Simsbury Chamber Music Festival

  Mar 2006 - Dec 2006

  Consultant - Grant Writer

  Conducted research summarizing grant opportunities for nonprofit musical organization in the Farmington Valley based on desired future programming. Worked on a consulting basis to identify grants to apply for. Completed grant applications and narratives on behalf of the Simsbury Chamber Music Festival once target grants were selected. Wrote the grant that brought former Simsbury High School graduate and current Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra back to Simsbury as composer in residence for the Simsbury Chamber Music Festival's 2007 season. Show less

• 

  William C. Graustein Memorial Fund

  Apr 2006 - Dec 2009

  Early Childhood Coordinator - Granby Early Childhood Council

  Engaged in capacity building related to advocacy for children. Provided leadership in the development & implementation of a Early Childhood Community Action Plan, resulting in a 5 year funding commitment. Provided outreach to community agencies, providers, schools, & parents. Convened ECE teachers & kindergarten teachers to better collaborate & partner for student success. Developed a communications plan strengthening dialog between parents, providers, educators & community agencies. Successes/Accomplishments:- Launched GECC web-site linked to the Town/BOE web-sites, making parenting & ECE information available.- Developed a public awareness plan that included creating a logo & a brochure. - Completed several community-wide surveys to explore sentiment & concern on a wide range of early childhood issues. Survey results were reported in town wide publications & posted on websites. - Identified & negotiated monthly workshop series offered to childcare providers, educators & parents. - Established a regular meeting schedule for the GECC leadership, the Superintendent of Schools, public school administrators & center-based preschool directors in the community. - Formed a Kindergarten Transition Team for the Town of Granby which established a coordinated kindergarten transition plan in which early child care providers & parents, along with the public schools, became part of a team which worked together to ensure that all children arrived at school ready to learn.- Worked with volunteers from the GECC & Granby community access television in developing ongoing community programming on a wide variety of ECE topics.- Completed a feasibility study to assess community interest regarding a Family Resource Center.- Organized a first ever community-wide fund raiser entitled, “Are You Smarter Than a Granby Student?”, which raised in excess of $2,000.- Wrote and was awarded grants which furthered the overall work of the Granby Early Childhood Council. Show less

• 

  The National Association for the Prevention of Teenage Addiction

  Sept 2009 - Sept 2011

  Nonprofit/Grant Consultant

  Performed grant research and grant proposal writing services on an as needed basis.

• 

  Capitol Region Education Council

  Feb 2010 - Apr 2010

  Consultant - Grant Writer

  Wrote the following early education grants for programs administered through CREC, and researched potential funders for the grant proposals: - Transition to Kindergarten and Grade 1 Saturday Conference Program Funding to support CREC staff sponsoring a Saturday morning conference program in Hartford focused on providing parents with pertinent information regarding how best to support their preschooler as they transition into the public school environment, and how to support their K student that is transitioning into 1st Grade. - Proposal for the Raising Readers Family Literacy Training Sessions Funding to sponsor two cohorts of the nationally renowned Raising Readers Program that took place at CREC in Hartford for parents of at risk K and 1st grade students in the Early Beginnings Open Choice Program. - Family Literacy Nights at CREC in Hartford Funding to support CREC staff sponsoring two Family Literacy Nights at CREC in Hartford, providing students and parents with foundational training in early literacy and math skills aimed at improving student competency. Show less

• 

  CT FIRST

  Nov 2010 - Nov 2011

  Fundraiser/Grant Writer

  Provided consulting services including grant research and proposal writing services; researched potential grants; wrote grant proposals and Letters of Interest; administered major fundraising event.Successes/Accomplishments:- Collaborated with staff from the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology and Connecticut FIRST on the writing of the Investment in Innovation Fund of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 to seek funding for a state-wide program that entailed four(4) elements of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) instruction which included professional development, in-school curricula, out-of school curricula, and mentoring. - Established a link between CT FIRST and Comcast, the largest internet, voice mail and TV provider in Connecticut which resulted in Comcast televising two(2) 30 second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) throughout the Comcast-served Connecticut market. The retail value of Comcast's in-kind contribution was approximately $104,000 for just one year, but this created a relationship that is now ongoing and permanent.- Worked with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving regarding attaining grant dollars for CT FIRST to conduct an evaluative study on the impact of their after school robotics programs on students in grades K-12. - Served as the Administrator of the Birdies for Charity fundraiser for CT FIRST in 2011 in partnership with the Travelers Championship. Over one hundred(100) nonprofits in Connecticut participated, but only the top 10 pledge/donation earners received special recognition and extra bonus bucks. CT FIRST was in the top ten. Show less

• 

  Gifts of Love

  May 2011 - Aug 2011

  Consultant

  Successfully wrote the grant that resulted in providing funding to support expansion into West Hartford of Gifts of Love established weekend food backpack program to feed children who would otherwise go hungry over weekends during the school year.

• 

  The Simsbury Free Library and the Simsbury Historical Society

  May 2012 - Jan 2019

  Consultant-Project Manager and Fundraiser

  Provision of fundraising and project management consulting services, including proposal writing, for the Simsbury Free Library and the Simsbury Historical Society related to the Martin Luther King, Jr. in Connecticut Memorial Project. Serve as liaison between the various local boards, the students, the school administration, and the community at large.Successes/Accomplishments:- Raised donations to create a permanent memorial in Simsbury of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Secured donations from donors such as: Cigna, Mitchell Auto Group, Valassis, Inc., Chubb Specialty Insurance Group, Simsbury Bank, Ensign-Bickford Foundation, Simsbury Junior Woman's Club, Fitzgeralds Foods, CL&P, the Metacon Gun Club and Westminster School.- Kept the project in the public eye by releasing ongoing press releases, postings to Listservs and community online bulletin boards, placing posters throughout the community, and many other ways.- Scheduled student interviews and presentations with corporations and civic organizations - Established Paypay and the ability to donate online on the MLK website. - Developed all forms, such as the brick order form and the donor recognition form, for both hard copy distribution and posted online.- Provided continuity of the student committee, and support of the students committed to the project.- Ensured and scheduled MLK student attendance on an ongoing basis at many local and state events such as Septemberfest, the Old State House and the Annual MLK Day Celebration. Show less

• 

  Kinsella Arts, Incorporated

  Oct 2012 - Dec 2019

  Executive Director

  Provide support to build KAI's infrastructure and assure its long term sustainability which includes: Recruitment and development of the Board; Volunteer recruitment and development; Serving as KAI's liaison between the board, the school administration, and the community; Development of an annual fundraising Events Program; Development of a marketing plan; Working with the school administration in program development that is needed to ensure continued high student achievement and success; Starting a development program which employs annual giving, major gifts, deferred gifts, and grants as methodologies, as well as a balanced calendar of fundraising throughout the year; Research and submit grants for funding opportunities on behalf Kinsella Arts Incorporated; Investigate all eligibility requirements, compose narratives of existing programs, compile statistical information and present a clear need for funding; Compose and submit final grant reports at end of funding period; Maintain database of all grant activity. Show less

• 

  Gifts of Love and Community Farm of Simsbury - Bringing Farm to Family

  Oct 2012 - Jan 2018

  Grants Manager

  Research and submit grants for funding opportunities on behalf of Gifts of Love and Community Farm of Simsbury; Investigate all eligibility requirements, compose narratives of existing programs, compile statistical information and present a clear need for funding. Maintain spreadsheet on all grants activities.