Resume

Deborah Ann Wunderman 2022 North Woodrow Street Arlington, VA 22207 Home: 703-243-0822; E-mail: debam@erols.com Website: www.wundermanwriting.com CAREER SUMMARY: Raised over $3 million dollars in foundation-corporate grants since 1998. Skilled at weaving diverse ideas into compelling proposals, letters, or resumes. Experienced at meeting deadlines and working with-in client budget needs. Met with foundation program officers to learn what they see as critical components of successful proposals. Complementary skills include proposal editing, library research, donor cultivation, event planning, budget management, volunteer training, program marketing, and resource development. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Freelance Writer	2000 to present
Write proposals, business communications, newsletters, web page text, brochures, resumes, and articles for businesses, non-profits, and individuals. Teach proposal writing seminars and provide one-on-one coaching on developing a strong persuasive writing style. · Clients include organizations and individuals such as Construction Education Foundation; Cyber Century Forum; Food Allergy Network; Icon Chess Foundation; Makassed Foundation of America; Save a Child’s Heart; and ZGS Communications. Results: Wrote proposals bringing in over $44,000 dollars for human service programs. · Taught over 200 fundraising professionals to research funding prospects, write grant proposals, and cultivate foundation-corporate relationships for organizations including Washington Council of Agencies, National Association of Child Advocates, and Prison Fellowship Ministries.
Foundation Manager, Prison Fellowship Ministries (PFM), Reston, Virginia	1997 to 1999
Managed successful foundation department involving prospect-program research, donor cultivation, staff-volunteer supervision, and proposal writing, resulting in development of engaging series of foundation-corporate grant proposals for PFM and three affiliate organizations. · Wrote eleven proposals to foundations that were funded raising over $2.6 million dollars, plus wrote 74 proposals that were pending totaling $1.6 million with 25% expected to be funded bringing in an additional $400,000 dollars. · Introduced new information gathering and assessment strategies for a $135 million dollar fundraising campaign as well as developed tools to help staff define project requirements for new proposals such as mentoring children of prisoners, making loans to ex-offenders to start micro-enterprises, assisting victims of crime, and advocating restorative justice. · Wrote training guidelines and managed foundation staff, interns, and twenty volunteers to help research, writing, and administrative work. Used over 1,300 hours of volunteer and intern labor in one year saving PFM an estimated $20,000 dollars. · Wrote training manual and PowerPoint presentation on how to research, write, and cultivate foundation and corporate funders. · Prepared department and program budgets, tracked grants received, and reported to foundations.
Development Counsel	1995 to 1996
Took initiative to seek out worthy educators and researchers to help them secure foundation support through targeted proposals for scientific research and program development. Advised three organizations in foundation fundraising including: (a) Health Research Institute (HRI), (b) Institute for Research on Women’s Health (IRWH), and (c) Federation of Organizations for Professional Women (FOPW). a) HRI: Worked closely with Dr. Walsh, a leading expert on diet, nutrition, and mental health, to develop a foundation-corporate fundraising strategy. Results: Identified 50 prospects. Cultivated rapport with program officers and wrote five core proposals on biochemical imbalances contributing to mental health disorders. Submitted twelve proposals and followed up with all prospects. b) IRWH: Advised Dr. Jensvold, Executive Director, and Ms. Brower, Director of Public Relations about fundable programs and projects. Results: Identified 35 prospects, established contacts, and advised on foundation-corporate fundraising strategies. c) FOPW: Worked closely with Dr. Horvath, Executive Director, to form fundraising strategy. Results: Identified 20 foundation-corporate prospects. Wrote proposal for research to survey professional women nationwide on skills that have helped them succeed. Followed up with all prospects.
Director of Development—Special Events Coordinator	1991 to 1994
City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute, Washington, D.C. Managed part of a $1.5 million dollar national event; developed new events; cultivated individual and corporate sponsors; recruited trained, and managed 70 volunteers; assisted in management of CFC. · Designed and wrote successful training manual to enlist and engage over 1,200 volunteers. Also, wrote recruitment brochures and public service announcements. Results: Produced a 25-fold growth in the Mid-Atlantic region and produced a 14-fold growth in New York state with combined revenues exceeding $200,000 dollars. · Wrote corporate sponsorship proposals and cultivated relationships. Result: 90% increase in funding base. · Wrote articles for newsletter on regional events to volunteers and local supporters. · Created and implemented new fundraising events; set up and administered computer accounting procedures and application materials for $2 million dollar Combined Federal Campaign; interviewed, trained, and supervised support staff. B.A., Human Ecology, College of the Atlantic (COA), Bar Harbor, Maine, May 1989 Continuing Education & Memberships: Foundation Center—corporate-foundation proposal writing seminar and other courses; Northern Virginia Community College—grammar course; Arlington County Continuing Education—travel writing and small business courses; Writer’s Center—member and feature writing course; Washington Independent Writers—member and attend seminars; Association of Fundraising Professionals—member and attend conferences. Software Experience: Windows; many common office applications running under Microsoft Office; Foundation Center Search; and Internet sites relating to grant sources.