Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Volunteer Experience
Additional Information
Timeline
Generic

Sharmini Poulsen

Applecross,WA

Summary

A versatile and high-energy development professional who is driven by making a difference. Proven experience in setting fundraising goals and targets to achieve campaign objectives. Adept at utilising database and tracking systems to drive donor engagement. Passionate about innovation, enhancing efficiencies and delivering the best customer experience. Skilled in fostering exceptional team performance through compassionate management and solid leadership.

Overview

35
35
years of professional experience

Work History

Director of Philanthropy & Community Engagement

Petco
06.2012 - Current
  • Crafted an awareness and fundraising campaign to commemorate the Burbank Y\'s 90th anniversary. Coordinated the efforts of board members, in-kind donors, and public relations firm. Developed special logo and press kit.  Planned a year of events including kickoff press conference, hackathon (technology event) and gala.  Packaged sponsorships to increase the level of support from current sponsors and attract new sponsors.
  • Increased profitability of annual Thanksgiving Day 5K/10K Turkey Trot by 300% over five years through renegotiation of vendor contracts, implementation of marketing strategy, plus targeted sponsorship sales effort. Oversee ten person event team including race director, Y staff, police officers and key volunteers. 
  • ​Manage senior level volunteer engagement. Work with CEO and board members to identify and recruit management committee volunteers and prospective board members. Manage and staff the Philanthropy and Marketing Committee.
  • Enhanced community relations by initiating and maintaining key relationships with community leaders, elected officials, churches, service organizations, business organizations and foundations. Support the efforts of other strategically selected community organizations.
  • Direct the Annual Campaign including recruitment and management of 45 indirect reports, comprising the staff and volunteer member teams. Raised enthusiasm and productivity of the campaign, meeting public goal and reversing a previous downward trend.
  • Brought Capital Campaign fundraising to closure in 2013. Continue to manage pledge billing, payments, acknowledgments and recognition.
  • Direct grant writing and reporting.  Develop and implement strategies to maintain and grow funding from current supporters.  Work with board members to identify and cultivate new relationships.  Managed grant writer for one year before bringing function in-house. Grew base of prospective foundation funders by 25%. 
  • In partnership with the CEO and with the assistance of key volunteers, manage a portfolio of over 60 major gifts donors and prospects (individual and corporate).
  • Oversee all communications and marketing efforts, continually enhancing the organization\'s visibility to increase membership and strengthen donor support. Areas of oversight include website, Facebook page, smart phone application, enewsletters, eblasts, annual report, press releases and calendar listings.
  • Spearheaded the effort to begin online marketing. Hired and managed a search optimization consulting firm. Revamped an aging website to improve search ranking and enable online advertising.  Achieved steady increases in online and walk-in traffic, reversing downward membership trend.   
  • Oversee design and delivery of monthly membership campaigns include building banners, digital marketing, flyers for school district-wide distribution and direct mail. Implement creative concepts while ensuring adherence to national YMCA branding standards. Manage graphic designer consultant.

Partner

Helia Healthcare
09.2002 - 06.2012
  • Formed HT Group, a strategic marketing firm dedicated to strengthening communities by helping nonprofit organizations and community-minded businesses grow their leadership, base of support and capacity.
  • Conducted communications audit, redesigned logo, and revamped website for the Western Justice Center, funded by the Kellogg Foundation.
  • Subsequently contracted by Kellogg Foundation for additional grant oversight projects.
  • Initiated a collaboration between the Los Angeles Times and Farmers Insurance which resulted in the most successful Newspapers In Education (NIE) Program. Created and promoted The Bronze Screen/Latinos in the Media, the first NIE program to distribute a commercial film along with the newspaper.
  • Developed marketing and communications strategies, implemented plans, and tracked results for clients such as Kellogg Foundation, National Health Foundation, Centers for Disease Control - HIV Prevention Division, Burbank HealthCare Foundation, Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County, Western Justice Center, New Economics for Women, Girl Scout Council of Greater Long Beach, Centro Latino, Child Care Information Service, Japanese American National Museum and Farmers Insurance.
  • Customized and presented communications training workshops to Print Interactive Radio Educational Society, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP), Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce, Mount St. Mary\'s College and West Hollywood Women\'s Leadership Conference.

Marketing Director

Coptic Orphans
01.1997 - 07.2002
  • Generated new business opportunities by raising the profile of accounting and consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers among entertainment executives.
  • Produced communications vehicles and special events tailored for industry executives including conferences, briefings, and white papers.
  • Developed and managed PricewaterhouseCoopers' editorial sponsorship with trade publication The Hollywood Reporter.
  • Leveraged PricewaterhouseCoopers' extensive proprietary research about the industry to position the brand in front of entertainment executives on a daily basis.

Communications Director

Vmly&R
06.1995 - 12.2006
  • Generated media coverage for internet startup by developing strong media relations.
  • Established the credibility of an unknown brand by creating a marketing partnership with well-known consulting and audit firm Price Waterhouse.

Planning Director

Iem
06.1989 - 05.1995
  • Developed and refined annual allocation plans for distribution of approximately $3 mil annually to fund nonprofit agencies. 
  • Managed department of five community organizers with oversight of 20 teams of over 100 volunteers.  
  • Monitored and assisted agencies having difficulty meeting programmatic or financial standards.
  • Spearheaded efforts to organize the Asian Pacific Community.
  • Raised over $250,000 in workplace giving campaigns as a Senior Campaigner for the United Way in the San Fernando Valley. Managed over 50 business accounts. 

Planner

United Way Of Greater Los Angeles San Gabriel Valley
01.1989 - 01.1992
  • Managed five (5-7 member) teams of volunteers conducting funding application reviews and site visits.
  • Served as Interim Planning Director for six months.
  • Expanded efforts to improve services to Asian Pacific community.

Education

MBA - Leadership And Design Thinking

Royal Melbourne Institute of Tech
Online
12.2025

Emerging Leaders And Managers Program (eLAMP) -

University of Melbourne
The LH Martin Institute
2017

Double Business Degree - Marketing / Tourism & Events Management

University of South Australia
Adelaide, SA
2011

International Student Exchange -

University of Strathclyde
Glasgow, UK
2007

Diploma of Human Resource Management -

Adelaide Institute of TAFE
Adelaide, Australia
2001

Skills

  • Collaborative Leader
  • Organised Manager
  • Influential Communicator
  • Consummate Networker
  • Creative Thinker
  • Effective Fundraiser

Accomplishments

- Secured new major gifts in first 12 months for community engagement project in excess of $2m for Curtin University's School of Education.

- Led a team of 30+ enquiries, events and administration staff at ECU across 3 campuses in support of domestic future student acquisitions.

- Managed a sales and support team at News Corp (WA) to meet sales budgets (print and digital) in excess of $10m p.a.


Volunteer Experience

  • Australian Red Cross: Weekly Telecross volunteer (Nov 2012 - present). Telecross is a service that provides the elderly and housebound with a reassuring daily phone call to ensure that they are safe and well.
  • Mission Australia: Annual Table Host and Events volunteer (Dec 2016 - present). Mission Australia's annual Christmas Lunch in the Park brings together up to 2,000 people from the community of Perth to enjoy a meal and entertainment in the spirit of Christmas.
  • Curtin University's Faculty of Humanities: Inclusion and Belonging committee volunteer (Dec 2023 - present).
  • Sacred Heart Mission: Weekly Meals Program volunteer (Jan 2008 - Jan 2011). The Meals Program provides hearty, nutritious meals to people who are homeless, socially disadvantaged and isolated. It is also a vital opportunity for people to reconnect and develop a sense of community and belonging.
  • National Breast Cancer Foundation: Events volunteer (Jan 2008 - Jan 2011).

Additional Information

  • Nomination and Winner: Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award in the Inspirational Team category (ECU) | Jan 2018
  • Nomination: Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award in the Inspirational Team category (ECU) | Jan 2017
  • CEO Team Award (City of Joondalup) | Mar 2013
  • Award: Chancellor's Letter of Recommendation (UniSA) | 2004-2006
  • Award: Golden Key International Honour Society (UniSA) | 2004-2006
  • Award: Dean's Merit List (UniSA) | 2005-2006

Timeline

Director of Philanthropy & Community Engagement

Petco
06.2012 - Current

Partner

Helia Healthcare
09.2002 - 06.2012

Marketing Director

Coptic Orphans
01.1997 - 07.2002

Communications Director

Vmly&R
06.1995 - 12.2006

Planning Director

Iem
06.1989 - 05.1995

Planner

United Way Of Greater Los Angeles San Gabriel Valley
01.1989 - 01.1992

MBA - Leadership And Design Thinking

Royal Melbourne Institute of Tech

Emerging Leaders And Managers Program (eLAMP) -

University of Melbourne

Double Business Degree - Marketing / Tourism & Events Management

University of South Australia

International Student Exchange -

University of Strathclyde

Diploma of Human Resource Management -

Adelaide Institute of TAFE

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Sharmini Poulsen