Mike Gulley

Experience

• 

  Eckerd Youth Alternatives

  Jul 1998 - Jul 2000

  Senior Counselor

  As Senior Counselor/Teacher at Eckerd Youth Alternatives, I provided reality therapy to over 60 adjudicated juvenile delinquents in a wilderness setting, helping them develop life skills and positive behavioral changes. Additionally, I was responsible for training and evaluating new counselors, ensuring they were equipped to support the program's mission and effectively engage with the youth.

• 

  United Way of the Bay Area

  Aug 2000 - May 2004

  Campaign Manager

  As Campaign Manager at United Way of the Bay Area, I led a fundraising team of four Development Officers and a Donor Systems Specialist, working toward an annual fundraising goal of $20 million. I served as project manager for the successful implementation of a new online giving tool and oversaw departmental budgets ranging from $20,000 to $500,000. I managed a portfolio of over 120 corporate and governmental accounts, focusing on maintaining and growing existing relationships while also identifying and securing new business opportunities. Show less

• 

  Curamericas Global

  Jun 2004 - May 2005

  Director of Development

  As Director of Development at Curamericas Global, I oversaw all fundraising and marketing activities, including donor relationships, gift processing, program marketing, and board management. I played a key role in identifying and developing over 20 new grant applications, supporting a diverse range of programmatic and capital needs. Additionally, I developed and launched the “Mom-a-Thon” annual giving campaign, which raised $25,000 in unrestricted funds in its first year, enhanced program visibility, and revitalized an outdated mailing list. I also cultivated donor and volunteer relationships both domestically and internationally, with the goal of increasing program exposure and amplifying impact. Show less

• 

  NCSU Libraries

  May 2005 - Apr 2008

  Senior Development Officer

  As Senior Development Officer at NC State University Libraries, I managed the libraries’ endowment program, overseeing the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors. I also led the Corporate Partnership program, focusing on securing corporate support for library initiatives. Over a two-year period, I facilitated the addition of more than $1 million to the library’s endowment through direct contributions and planned gifts.I successfully increased the number of qualified donor prospects by ten-fold, which led to a 15% increase in annual donors. Additionally, I supervised the data management and reporting for more than 12,000 constituents, ensuring efficient operations using the Raisers Edge fundraising system. Show less

• 

  Johnston Community College

  Jan 2006 - Aug 2006

  Human Resource Development Instructor

  Facilitated a career development workshop for adult students, providing instruction in job searching, basic resume writing, and effective interviewing.

• 

  WakeMed Foundation

  Apr 2008 - Jul 2012

  Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship

  As Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship at WakeMed Foundation, I led the strategic planning, goal setting, and day-to-day operations of the foundation’s annual and employee giving programs, raising over $4 million from more than 4,000 donors. I collaborated with a diverse group of 40 board and committee volunteers to manage 600+ annual giving prospects, including individuals, businesses, medical groups, corporations, and foundations. My role also encompassed oversight of all recognition and fundraising events, including the Foundation’s largest annual gala, which featured Jay Leno and attracted over 900 attendees.I managed the Foundation’s database systems, overseeing gift processing, donor records management, reporting, and prospect research, ensuring seamless operations and data accuracy. Additionally, I directed the planning and execution of WakeMed’s first Employee Giving Campaign, which raised over $1.5 million from 1,500 donors, exceeding our goal by 27%.Working closely with Public Relations, I helped develop and distribute marketing, solicitation, and program education materials. I also partnered with hospital departments to create targeted fundraising strategies for specific programs and locations. A key initiative I spearheaded was the creation of WakeMed's first Grateful Patient Program, where I led cross-functional teams across leadership, legal, marketing, finance, and medical departments to ensure successful implementation. Show less

• 

  Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment

  Jul 2012 - Jul 2018

  Associate Director, Major Gifts Initiatives

  As Associate Director of Major Gift Initiatives at the Nicholas School of the Environment, I led the development and execution of fundraising and engagement strategies spanning major giving, planned giving, annual funds, and student philanthropy. Collaborating with faculty, staff, and departments across Duke University, I aligned these efforts with the broader goals of the Nicholas School. Managing a national portfolio of over 150 major donor and planned giving prospects, I secured more than $6 million in expendable and endowment support.I also directed both external and internal volunteer-driven annual fund solicitations and stewardship efforts, raising $3.3 million and increasing donor retention by 5%. In collaboration with Duke’s Annual Fund office, I continually refined the school’s fundraising materials, messaging, and multi-channel solicitation strategies. As a key team member, I contributed to the implementation of new engagement initiatives that significantly boosted alumni, donor, student, faculty, and staff participation.I led a team of two staff members and oversaw the department’s student assistants, fostering a collaborative approach to advance the school’s mission and enhance its ability to attract top students. Show less

• 

  Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University

  Jul 2018 - Sept 2024

  Development Director

  As Development Director at the Center for Documentary Studies, I consistently secured over $1 million annually through major gifts, annual funds, grants, grassroots campaigns, and board giving. I launched the Center’s first crowdfunding initiative, raising over $50k in its first year. Additionally, I oversaw corporate sponsorships and individual giving for the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, securing cash and in-kind partnerships while revamping the festival’s giving programs. I also led strategic communication campaigns, overseeing content development and targeted outreach to enhance donor engagement.I implemented Salesforce across 11 programs, transforming how we managed data on students, alumni, donors, and event attendees. This significantly improved our prospect management system, leading to the identification of key board members, funders, and program ambassadors. It also created a foundation for better-coordinated, more impactful engagement opportunities.I led a team of two frontline fundraisers, one advancement services staff member, and two development fellows. Together, we drove results across multiple channels, increasing operational effectiveness, program visibility, engagement with the Center, and collaboration across Duke. As team leader, I ensured we remained focused on driving the organization’s growth and long-term sustainability. Show less

• 

  Go Global NC

  Dec 2024 - now

  Director of Partnerships and Development