Julie Wirtanen,  CFRE, Fundraising Specialist 

Julie offers nearly 20 years of professional fundraising experience, and has been a fundraising consultant since 2001.  Her particular areas of expertise are all phases of capital campaign planning and direction, cultivating and securing major gifts, and creating and improving fundraising plans and programs. 

Prior to serving as a consultant, Julie held senior fundraising positions in Canada and the U.S. for social service, environmental and educational organizations.

Julie served as Assistant Campaign Director, then Director of Major Gifts for the University of Oregon's nationwide capital campaign.  It was at that time the largest campaign that had ever been attempted by any organization in the state of Oregon.  The original goal of $150 million was increased twice, eventually achieving $255.3 million.  In that capacity, Julie co-ordinated the efforts of 20 professional fundraising staff members, as well as cultivating and soliciting major gifts herself.  She also conducted training for numerous boards, committees and other volunteers and directed special events.  These included a Campaign Kick-off Weekend that involved a sit-down dinner for 500, plus programs, presentations, and volunteer and staff training sessions spread over a three-day period.  She also co-produced and directed an award winning campaign video and numerous award winning campaign publications.  

Other/selected Professional Accomplishments:

• Vice President of a national, full-service fundraising consulting firm.  Accomplishments included business development, hiring and directing all staff, managing client relations and communications.
• Manager of Gift Planning for the Nature Conservancy of Canada in Ontario.  Accomplishments included managing all major gift and gift planning activities of the Ontario region; creating a comprehensive gift planning program.  Exceeding fundraising goals each year.
• Senior Campaign Associate, United Way, Virginia.  Managed leadership giving department for a $20 million annual campaign, including direct solicitation of individual and corporate donors.  Directed and managed prospect research department.  Increased leadership giving by 55% during tenure.
• Worked in public affairs for the National Wildlife Federation, Washington, D.C., where she assisted in overseeing publications, public relations and special events, including working with board members, celebrities and other public figures.
• Legislative relations for financial institutions and trade associations.

Areas of Expertise:

• All phases of fundraising campaigns: feasibility studies, readiness audits, planning and management
• Capital campaigns
• Annual campaigns
• Major gifts:  prospect identification, cultivation and solicitation
• Planned Giving:  All phases of present and deferred high-end giving from individual donors; program development through solicitation
• Corporate giving programs:  identification, proposal writing and solicitation
• Foundation Grant Writing
• Fundraising communications:  writing, direction and production of fundraising publications, including videos
• Staff and volunteer training
• Staff hiring and management
• Volunteer recruitment, training and management
• Prospect research
• Public relations and special events
• Legislative affairs
• Telemarketing campaigns

Awards:

• CASE District VIII Award for The Oregon Campaign Video
• CASE District VIII Award for The Oregon Campaign publications and overall project
• Several international and national awards for the Xray Files, a campaign video produced for West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation, Grimsby, Ontario

Professional Accreditations and Associations:

• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation
• Canadian Association of Gift Planners CAGP ^TM, Niagara/Golden Horseshoe Roundtable:  current member and former board member
• Association of Fundraising Professionals, AFP, Golden Horseshoe Chapter:  founding board member, Vice President, Education
• Association of Fundraising Professionals Canadian Council, a national council that exists to strengthen the fundraising profession across Canada and throughout the world:  member
• Council for Advancement and Support of Education, CASE:  educational partner
• B.A., Political Science, Willamette University, Salem, Oregon