Pamela H. Say
Executive Consultant
Fundraising - Marketing - Leadership
Pamela's current clients include a regional animal shelter where she serves as a Capital Campaign Consultant leading a volunteer board as they seek to raise money for a multi-million-dollar building renovation, and a large medical/research institution where she serves as a Marketing and Fundraising Consultant working on strategies to grow unrestricted and project-specific giving, developing the institutional brand story and identity, and refining social media channels toward KPIs.
Fundraising
Pamela has raised millions of dollars for non-profit missions, holding roles in stewardship, annual fund management, major gift work, and ultimately as a c-suite executive leading entire divisions. Raising funds for a nonprofit mission remains both an art and a science, and Pam understands development work at the deepest level. She can help your organization raise more money for your mission; develop a powerful team focused on best practices in philanthropy; capitalize on your strengths; identify areas where you may be underperforming; teach staff, volunteers, and board members how to be the best fundraisers they can be; and achieve those transformational fundraising goals.
Marketing
As a c-suite executive serving as Vice President and advisor to Presidents and Boards, Pamela led marketing divisions for years in the non-profit sector. Her teams launched institutional rebrands, new websites, conducted extensive market research, built out institutional dashboards, wrote integrated marketing and communication plans, and managed all aspects of content development, marketing, and advertising. Pamela can help your organization develop its brand story while establishing operational practices that lead to the achievement of KPIs.
Leadership
Honing and harmonizing teams to achieve best-in-class results takes a deliberate, methodical process. For over twenty years, Pam studied those theories. The workplace became her laboratory. She researched, tested, measured, and adjusted. The result: Pam's teams rarely missed a goal and had fun doing it. Pam's trainings hinge on a process she developed called the T.I.M. Principle: Translate, Innovate, Manage, which she then embedded in a comprehensive leader-manager model. Most development programs focus on one thing. They teach leadership or management; innovation or team building; broad concepts or tactical tools. Pam found that any missing piece led to inevitable failure. Through Pam's program, you will learn how to create systems that funnel goals from the strategic plan right down to individual evaluations. You'll learn how to harmonize competing tensions, develop plug-and-play communication channels, and hold yourself and your teams accountable in a simple, non-dramatic, non-confrontational way.
Recommendations
"Pam was an outstanding educational decision for our team. Her message of leading authentically with an appreciative mindset is such an inspirational way to navigate your way through a purposeful career and lead a truly successful life. If you are looking for an intrinsically motivated way of leading or influencing people, Pam can absolutely make that connection with her message." - Brian George, HR Executive at Cutco Corporation
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"I attended your session this morning and it was incredible. You provided such a thoughtful, strategic, and prepared session with lots of 'take homes.' Thank you for your preparation. I too am a leadership junkie, so much so that I earned a doctorate in leadership. You've provided me with new resources and I can't wait to do my homework." - Kelly Brennan, Ed.D.
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"I wanted to reach out to thank you for your leadership session at the conference. It was the most inspiring session I have ever attended." - Kelly Sudol, Director of Annual Giving and Advancement Services, St. John Fisher College
"Pam Say and I were selected to speak together at the 2014 International Conference on Philanthropy presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in San Antonio, Texas. Our session, Five Strategies to Increase Your Annual Fund, was chosen by over 225 delegates. It was a joy for me to share the stage with Pam. As a speaker on fundraising, Pam is authentic, engaging, articulate, bright, relevant, and impactful. However, Pam's speaking qualities are surpassed by her leadership. She is a successful fundraising professional. Pam really brings in the money! Pam's greatest dimension is her person. She is caring, compassionate, thoughtful, intelligent, innovative, and inspiring!" - Kent Stroman
Associate Director of Advancement, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University at Buffalo
"We engaged with Pam to speak at the Dining Out For Life International Conference. She did such a great job that we asked her back the following year. Pam’s expertise on fundraising and development and her excellent public speaking skills made for incredible sessions that inspired and empowered conference attendees. She was very thorough in her talking points and by sharing her background she provided plenty of real-world examples to which the audience could relate. In the feedback from attendees, many voices shared that Pam’s sessions were the highlight of the conferences." - Rob Baird
Marketing
Oversaw corporate website relaunches, institutional rebrands, analytics, viral PR campaigns, IMCPs, social media strategies, leadership communication plans, advertising, and more.
Contract work
For three years, Pamela worked as a contracted administrator and Editor-in-Chief for a digital news startup to establish its non-profit foundation and permeate the brand globally. For myriad clients, she has conducted fundraising assessments and full shop reorganizations. She has served large science and healthcare institutions, corporate clients, and numerous grassroots non-profits.
Publishing
Authored three books through traditional publishers and two self-published. Has been featured in Advancing Philanthropy Magazine, the Chronicle of Philanthropy and the Wiley Journal Fundraising Success. Appeared in blogs and on podcasts. Wrote and edited hundreds of published articles and pieces. Ghostwritten for CEOs and Presidents.
Finance
Supported institutional budgets up to $76 million. Managed multi-million-dollar departmental budgets. Led acquisition and administration for grants up to $2 million. Served as a key contributor in developing a best-in-class strategic plan and institutional dashboard.
Speaking & Training
Delivered over 100 keynotes, workshops, and trainings around the globe. Wrote, created, and delivered a 12-week, fully digital training program to an international audience. Ranked as a top presenter by multiple conferences.
Philanthropy
Raised millions in major gifts; led campaigns; built sustainable annual funds; integrated predictive modeling and analysis; developed giving programs; and ultimately earned her CFRE.