Mary Renaker

Experience

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  Cottonwood Creek Conservancy

  Jan 1989 - Jan 1994

  Co-Founder, Director

  Co-founded with Ida Lou Coley (d. 2005), a coalition of community activists and partnering with San Diego People For Trees, for the protection and preservation of historic Cottonwood Creek in Encinitas, CA.

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  The Nature Conservancy

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2003

  Photo Collection Manager

  In 2000 I was part of the development team that raised $140 million for the California Campaign for the Last Great Places. The campaign, which met its goal early, increased the goal amount during the campaign and met that also. A key accomplishment here was improving the system of image retrieval for TNC's publications and marketing, while creating an enhanced photo cataloging system.Additional duties involved verifying copyright compliance, negotiating photographer contracts, archiving transparencies, and indexing and digitizing photo CDs. Show less

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  California Academy of Sciences

  Oct 1999 - Dec 2003

  Library Assistant III

  For the California Academy of Sciences, I managed over 2700 scientific journals and tracked journal exchanges with hundreds of scientific institutions worldwide.

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  Audubon Center at Debs Park

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2007

  Volunteer Coordinator

  • Managed 45 volunteers for progressive environmental education center and ecological monitoring program.

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  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

  Mar 2007 - Jul 2011

  Development Research Analyst

  In 2007 I was part of the Endowment Campaign team for academic research and education. The campaign sought to raise $350 million over 5-7 years and actually raised $220 million in 2.5 years. Our prospect pipeline was the fullest it had ever been, and we raised a dramatic amount over the goal, establishing a sustaining annual amount for the future. I contributed discovery bios for initial contacts, and proactive prospecting for new potential donors.I worked closely with 8 development officers to facilitate their portfolio management objectives, which included suspect classification and discovery, and contributed to the achievement of ranking 50 – 75 actively managed prospects for each officer. Show less

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  The Music Center

  Jul 2011 - May 2013

  Senior Development Research Analyst

  Collaborated with gift officers to build relationships with supporters of the Center's mission and obtain substantial philanthropic support to the organization. Researched and profiled potential donors for their connections to our institution, their philanthropic propensities, and their capacity to make a major gift. Researched foundations and corporations and profiled 40+ foundations giving over $100,000 to capacity building in performing arts in southern California. Also, projects requiring specific research and due diligence, such as nominating bios, briefing bios and key guest bios as needed for special events, and corporations and their executive connections to philanthropy and community giving. Show less

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  Renaker Development Research

  Mar 2014 - Feb 2019

  Principal

  Providing advancement research to a variety of charitable organizations including fine arts, environmental, educational, medical, animal rights and entrepreneurs.

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  Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

  Feb 2019 - Feb 2025

  Prospect Research Manager
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  Freelance

  Feb 2025 - now

  Advancement Research