Resume for Laura Pierce - Principal

This resume last updated in June 2005. For an updated resume or list of current references, email me.

Printer-friendly version

Professional Experience

Training in the areas of board development, fundraising, and building diverse teams
Facilitation of strategic and business planning, board retreats, collaborative work and community meetings
Interim direction for nonprofit organizations

Retreat facilitation for Crisis Clinic, United Way of King County Seattle Community Council, Chinese Information Service Center , King County Housing Authority, King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Washington Advocates for the Mentally Ill, King County Bar Association, Greater Seattle Business Association, Aradia Women’s Health Center , FamilyWorks, National Council on Interpreting in Health Care, SafeFutures Youth Center
Diversity training for Seattle Emergency Housing Services, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group
Organizational capacity building and board training for the Rainbow Center , Samoan Community Family Services, Safe Futures Youth Center , White Center Community Development Association
Organizational assessment for Northwest Immigrants Rights Project, Velocity Dance Studio, Strategic Learning Center, White Center Community Development Association
Interim management for Seattle Rape Relief, Lambert House, Team Survivor Northwest, Salish Sea Expeditions, Seattle Urban Nature Project, Earth Ministry
Business planning for Delridge Neighborhood Development Association, Vashon Household, Puget Sound Alliance for Community Technology
Strategic Planning for Washington CASH, Velocity Dance Center, Rainier Vista Leadership Team, Salish Sea Expeditions, Seattle King County Employment Council, SafeFutures Youth Center, UW Professional Staff Organization
Facilitating initial collaboration among members of the Seattle Community Technology Alliance resulting in a $300,000 federal grant, followed by development of a business plan
Coordination of the City of Bellevue ’s 2000 Youth Involvement Conference
Fund development consulting for the Center for Ethical Leadership, Eritrean Community in Seattle and Vicinity, Delridge Neighborhood Development Association
Board training for One World Theatre, Three Dollar Bill Cinema, Washington CASH, Seattle Housing Authority, Refugee Women’s Alliance , SafeFutures Youth Center , Chaya
Adjunct faculty in nonprofit management at the UW Evans School of Public Affairs, Instructor for the Nonprofit Management Certificate Program through UW Extension
Trainer, United Way of King County , Nonprofit Assistance Center , City of Seattle Capacity Building Project for Refugee Mutual Assistance Associations
Steering Committee member and faculty for the City of Seattle ’s Neighborhood Leadership Program (2002)

Outreach Director, Pride Foundation, December 1996-April 1998

• Develop and implement a successful statewide outreach program which involves volunteers from outlying Washington State communities in fundraising and grantmaking to benefit their local communities
• Manage the Foundation’s scholarship program, assist in management of Grants program
• Provide technical assistance to grassroots groups in five communities in the areas of fundraising, events planning, marketing, volunteer recruitment and retention, promoting diversity and granting

Evaluation Team Member/Intern, Office of Management and Planning, City of Seattle , June -Oct. 1996

• Evaluate the neighborhood planning program using qualitative methods (interviews, focus groups)
• Design public participation strategy for the Cultural Resources element of the City’s comprehensive Plan

Peer Advisor, UW Graduate School of Public Affairs, 1995-1996

• Advise and counsel students in areas of curriculum planning and course selection
• Refer students to university services such as financial aid, housing, tutoring and counseling services
• Primary spokesperson to prospective students; led information sessions on program

Long Range Planning Intern, Seattle Repertory Theatre, 1995

• Staffed the Long Range Planning Committee
• Drafted and edited portions of the long range plan, prepared financial analysis

Director, Brown University Resource Center , Brown University , Providence, RI, 1992-1994

• Coordinated daily operations of Resource Center , financial management and resource development
• Hired, trained and supervised student staff
• Counseled students on academic issues, career development, and life skills
• Outreach and events planning

Development Director, Bromfield Street Educational Foundation (publisher of  Gay Community News), Boston, MA, 1991-1992

• Established and managed fundraising programs (annual gifts, major gifts, events, direct mail marketing)
• Doubled annual fundraising to $100,000, tripled number of donors within one year
• Financial management, bookkeeping, budgeting and tax reporting for organization
• Developed volunteer program and new employee orientation
• Participated in collective decision-making for organization, staff liaison to the board of directors

Education

Masters in Public Administration, concentration in Nonprofit Management, June 1996. The Graduate School of Public Affairs, University of Washington , Seattle , WA
Bachelor of Arts with honors in Feminist Politics and Artistic Production, 1989. Brown University , Providence , RI

Community Service

• Board Member, Lambert House Youth Center, 1996-1999
• Volunteer/Granting Committee Member, A Territory Resource, 1996-2000
• Technical Assistance Provider/Trainer, United Way of K.C. Management Assistance Program, 1998-present
• Leadership Tomorrow Community Service Project at Treehouse, 1999-2000
• Steering Committee Member, Beer Sheva Park Playground Committee, 2001-2003
• Board Secretary/Treasurer, Magic Lantern Montessori Preschool, 2003-2004
• Volunteer Event Organizer, “Philanthropy in Indian Country, Potlatch Fund, 2004