Margot Becker

Experience

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  Various international, national, and local NGOs & nonprofits

  Jan 2000 - now

  Fundraising Consultant

  I'm a rainmaker--a top institutional fundraising consultant who regularly raises $1-2 million/year in renewable general operating support and project grants for non-profit clients. Some of my most respected successes have included:• New $500k grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Health Care Without Harm• New $500k grant from City of New York for American Sustainable Business Institute• New $500k Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant for Brooklyn Public Library• Increase in long-time $100k donor to $1mm to re-brand LatinoJustice to increase impact• Successful proposals to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Project, and EU Environmental AgencyMy clients have included (incomplete list):• International: Health Care Without Harm (environment); HECAF 360 (Nepal/environment); EngenderHealth (women’s health services)• Progressive Politics: American Sustainable Business Council • Justice and Civil Rights: LatinoJustice (PRLDEF) • Service Provision and Advocacy: University Settlement (multi-services); Nazareth Homes (housing for homeless—where I also managed low-income housing); Committee for the Heights-Inwood Homeless; Fountain House (mental health)• Arts and Culture: Baryshnikov Arts Center; Brooklyn Public Library; New York Public Radio; Brooklyn Botanic Garden; International Center of Photography; Brooklyn Children’s Museum عرض أقل

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  Various publishing houses and literary magazines

  Jan 2000 - now

  Writer & Editor

  I am a writer through and through. I love expressing myself--and the ideas of the groups and organizations to which I belong--in clear, passionate, easy-to-understand prose. As a young woman, I authored 24 published commercial novels for young readers, 4 of which were on the B. Dalton or Publishers’ Weekly bestseller lists. Later, I put my writing skills in service of the non-profit organizations I love by writing grants (and doing everything else fundraising entails) to bring in the cold, hard cash to make programs happen. Later yet, my writing is the medium through which I express the desperate need for waste system transformation, energy system transformation and other environmental and social issues. Although I love solo writing projects, my specialty over time has become leading group writing processes that unite the disparate visions of diverse stakeholders. For this, I carry out deep listening, engage in the "jigsaw puzzle" process of turning endless small pieces into a clear, smooth holistic vision or plan.I have taught writing at SUNY Ulster Community College, HECAF 360, National Book Foundation, and Gotham Writers’ Workshop. عرض أقل

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  Health Climate and Environment Foundation Nepal (HECAF 360)

  Feb 2010 - now

  Organizational Consultant

  HECAF 360 is an international group of environmental scientists and zero waste experts working to transform the health care waste system in Nepal, where untreated medical waste is sent to municipal dumps (very contagious!) I met Mahesh Nakarmi and his team in 2010, when I went to Nepal to help a friend make a film about Buddhist sacred dance. Meeting Mahesh--my first Zero Waste mentor--changed my life. Gratefully, I was able to make my own contributions to HECAF 360's work. I have used my writing skills to help the team create documents that can compete in the global development field, including a draft of Nepal’s National Strategic Plan for Integrated Health Care Waste Management, reports on zero waste projects at national hospitals, and successful fundraising proposals to US and EU funding agencies. I have led writing workshops for Nepalese hospital staff to document environmental projects (a 2-day workshop in 2019 yielded 11 finished short reports documenting a range of environmental innovations at hospitals across Nepal). I assisted with organizational rebranding in 2019. I love working across cultural differences with this incredible group of visionaries! عرض أقل

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  Solutions Accelerator

  Jan 2015 - now

  Founder & Environmental Change-Maker

  Solutions Accelerator, my LLC, enables me to do the creative work of bringing on-the-ground environmental interventions into offices, businesses, housing complexes, restaurants, non-profits, and individual homes, with a focus on Zero Waste and energy efficiency. While I have a passion for big systemic change via legislation, this is the nitty-gritty work of making change happen in many places, in individual ways... all for the greater good. This work is fun for me--and my enthusiasm and personal attention make it fun for my clients, too. Two exciting projects have been achieving Zero Waste during a three-day camping trip for 25 people with profound disabilities and their families, and the same for ceremonies and celebrations offered by Native American communities. عرض أقل

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  Diverse Activist and Community Groups

  Jan 2015 - now

  Climate and Energy Activist

  I have created public messaging on energy efficient building and retrofitting, become an Energy Navigator (advising homeowners on energy efficiency programs in New York State), opposed fossil fuels projects and supported clean energy projects, and articulated waste as a climate issue. In 2021, I will be making multiple public presentations on Zero Waste & Zero Emissions (waste as a climate issue), on the radio and in person. Climate is the existential issue of our times. Grateful to world leaders who are finally working to implement on-the-ground action. عرض أقل

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  Multiple Waste-Related Commissions & Groups in New York City and Ulster County, NY

  Jan 2015 - now

  Waste System Transformation Activist

  To transform the waste system, I've worked with colleagues on research, planning, advocacy, media work, legislative partnering, and public relations. This work is my passion!• Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (MSWAB) (member, 2014 – present): We are waste geeks appointed by the Manhattan Borough President. My collaborative writing skill unite the vision of this 30-person panel in City Council testimony, public education, and web text. I often bring new foci (eg: pharmaceuticals, refrigerant-containing appliances, and PFAS). We are currently pressing the City to stand by its Zero Waste by 2030 commitment.• Ulster County Zero Waste Planning Group (member, 2021 – present): This ad hoc group of legislators, academics, and advocates is creating a comprehensive Zero Waste plan for the County. I help with communications and materials.• New York City Reduce Single Use Working Group (member, 2019): Activist Laura Rosenshine's group worked to develop a toolkit for NYC restaurants to institute reusable containers programs to reduce plastic waste, while complying with Health Department regulations. Reusable containers are the best answer to the mountains of lunchtime waste generated by NYC's work force (or hey, just eat in!)• Ulster County Food Waste Working Group (member 2018 – 2019): Led by Legislator Manna Jo Greene, the group conceived legislation requiring restaurants, large hotels, bakeries, etc. to compost their organic waste, removing the greater part of food waste from the waste stream. This law passed; similar legislation was passed in Albany.• Ulster County Recycling Oversight Committee (member, 2018 – present): We are appointed to advise the County on recycling in times of extreme reorganization of U.S. recycling markets.• Ulster County Environmental Management Commission (vice-chair, 2016 – present): Appointed by the County Executive, I catalyzed support for a pharmaceutical waste bill and helped organize a county-wide Zero Waste conference. عرض أقل

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  TrashFest

  Jan 2016 - Jul 2016

  Founder & Organizer

  I founded and organized an Ulster County-based Zero Waste festival, including turning the High Falls Transfer Station into an art gallery; organizing a concert played on instruments made with found materials; offering a gallery exhibit by artists using found materials; and holding public education events. I was responsible for all visioning, planning, budgeting, communications, and publicity (thanks to Ana Bergen for her indispensable help).