Professional Experience

Written By Nicola Lessig

About me
Accomplished development professional with over a decade of experience in donor engagement, campaign execution, and strategic philanthropy. Proven success in securing significant funding, designing innovative fundraising initiatives, and leading high-performing teams. Passionate about mission-driven work and community impact.

Experience

Senior Manager, Advancement | The Climate Reality Project
2023 – 2025 | Washington, DC

Senior Director, Development | News Literacy Project
2019 – 2023 | Remote, headquarters in Washington, DC | $8.1M Budget

  • Promoted twice within three years to senior management.

  • Led a four-person development team, overseeing individual giving, donor engagement, and fundraising strategy.

  • Managed a portfolio of 200+ donors with gift capacities ranging from $1,000 to $100,000.

  • Developed and executed fundraising campaigns, special events, and donor communications.

  • Oversaw prospect research and assisted the CEO with high-capacity donor cultivation.

  • Managed the department’s budget and financial planning.

Director, Annual Giving | Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast
2016 – 2019 | Houston, TX | $2M Annual Fundraising Goal

  • Managed annual fundraising and donor engagement strategy, securing $1M from events and $1M from diverse revenue streams.

  • Oversaw a portfolio of 25,000 donors and executed high-impact fundraising events.

  • Created donor stewardship programs and hired a dedicated Stewardship Manager.

  • Led process integration between national and affiliate databases for improved donor tracking.

Senior Manager, Volunteer Services & Director, Camp Hope | AIDS Foundation Houston
2014 – 2016 | Houston, TX

  • Led community engagement, volunteer recruitment, and donor cultivation initiatives.

  • Managed over 500 volunteers for key events such as AIDS Walk and World AIDS Day.

  • Directed Camp Hope, a week-long camp for children living with HIV, overseeing a multidisciplinary planning committee.

Community Health Outreach Volunteer | Peace Corps – Justice and Women (JAW)
2012 – 2014 | KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

  • Designed and implemented community-led reproductive health and rights initiatives.

  • Secured grants and developed data collection systems for improved program evaluation.

  • Established a community computer lab and developed a sustainable digital literacy curriculum.

Professional Accomplishments

  • Secured multiple five- and six-figure gifts, tripling individual revenue and donor base within three years.

  • Led a successful $500,000 year-end matching challenge campaign.

  • Designed and launched Visionary Circle, a tiered giving program that raised over $300,000 in its first six months.

  • Spearheaded fundraising efforts for public awareness campaigns on COVID-19 misinformation and the 2020 election, reaching over 48 million people with nearly $2M in in-kind advertising.

  • Executed Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast’s first million-dollar fundraising luncheon, attracting 2,200+ attendees and securing a $100,000 major gift.

  • Received the 2018 Fundraising Achievement of the Year Award – Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Core Competencies

  • Fundraising Strategy & Execution

  • Major Gift Portfolio Management

  • Donor Stewardship & Acquisition

  • Event Planning & Campaign Management

  • Prospect Research & Relationship Development

  • Budgeting & Financial Oversight

  • Team Leadership & Development

  • Community Engagement & Public Awareness

Education

  • BA, International Studies | American University, Washington, DC

    • Concentration: International Development & Gender in Development

Nicola Lessig
Next

Community Impact