Kirsten’s Recent Experience:

fundraising for Medical Research

Prior to founding Serenade, I spent eight years working in the Office of Development at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. As the Director of Signature Events I managed staff event operations that helped achieve success with their $300 million capital campaign. I managed an external relations cultivation plan and $3 million annual budget, implementing cost reduction strategies and securing vendor donations, often.

In addition, I conceptualized VIP donor engagement ideas, produced the complex annual Palm Beach event series, featuring physicians, donors, and board leadership. For pre-event communication, I acted as a liaison between hospital administration, event committee, co-chairs, government officials, politicos, celebrities, foreign dignitaries, and board leadership. I supervised invitation design, event branding, and aesthetic design conception and production process for all event marketing collateral. I ensured that all events were consistent with the hospital brand and acted as “project manager” for virtually every aspect of the event.

Fundraising for the Performing Arts

I spent two years serving as Special Events Manager for the Tony award-winning Huntington Theatre Company.  I was tasked with managing the leadership and execution of all donor events. I established “best practices” focused on engaging theatre lovers and building the “donor pipeline.” I identified prospective donors from past event materials and encouraged staff to pursue untapped relationships. With my leadership, the team eliminated antiquated protocols that were prohibiting philanthropic advancement. I developed strong relationships with board members and successfully solicited corporate Gala sponsors of $10,000 - $50,000. I oversaw all production, event plans, and creative conception of the annual Spotlight Spectacular Gala. This event included multiple performances, a live auction, and various interactive experiences. Annually, the event raised $1 million for the Huntington’s exceptional theatre education programs in the Boston city schools.

In addition to donor cultivation events, I planed the Opening Night and Cast parties. I also managed all aspects of the stewardship-focused donor trip to London, each year. I accompanied 25 major donors to London, along with the Managing Director and Artistic Director of the theatre. This seven day itinerary included seven theatrical performances, exclusive post-show conversations with actors, political lectures from London’s top journalists, private tours of historic country estates, and a curator-led museum tours.