Vice President of Philanthropy + Marketing

Building Mission. Growing Support. Expanding Impact.

I am a mission-driven nonprofit executive with 15+ years of leadership across philanthropy, marketing, communications, disability services, and community engagement. I have generated resources, strengthened brands, advised CEOs and Boards, and led high-performing teams.

Explore My Work View Resume

MPA • Organizational Communication • Nonprofit Leadership

PhilanthropyDisability ServicesExecutive LeadershipMarketingCommunity Engagement

Built for the Intersection

Where Mission, Resources, and Growth Come Together

“My career has been built at the intersection of generating resources, strengthening organizations, and expanding opportunities for the people they serve.”

01
Philanthropy
Fundraising communications, donor engagement, development strategy, campaigns, stewardship, and CRM-informed outreach.
02
Disability Services
Direct leadership experience serving individuals with disabilities and their families through development, communications, community engagement, and access-focused initiatives.
03
Executive Leadership
Trusted partner to CEOs, Boards, senior leaders, and cross-functional teams, with experience building accountability, strategy, systems, and organizational capacity.
04
Marketing
Award-winning brand, storytelling, digital strategy, video, web, communications, analytics, and integrated campaigns tied to mission and organizational outcomes.
05
Community Engagement
Experience building relationships with donors, families, community partners, referral sources, corporate partners, and external stakeholders.

My Executive Story

Leadership at the Intersection of Mission and Growth

Some of the most meaningful work of my career began serving individuals with disabilities and their families at Fox Valley Special Recreation Association. I joined as Director of Development and was promoted to Superintendent of Communications & Engagement, expanding my leadership across philanthropy, marketing, public administration, Board relations, community engagement, and organizational leadership.

I built on that foundation at Outreach, a growing human-services nonprofit. During my five-year tenure, the organization's annual operating budget grew from approximately $6.7 million to $15 million. I served as a senior leader helping build the marketing, communications, donor engagement, philanthropic, and organizational capacity that supported that growth.

Across both organizations, my through line is the same: connect mission to audience, audience to relationship, and relationship to resources that let programs reach more people.

"Clearbrook represents an opportunity to bring these chapters together: returning to a mission serving people with disabilities while bringing broader executive, philanthropic, marketing, and organizational leadership experience."

Eric C. Smith, MPA

Vice President of Philanthropy + Marketing

My Executive Impact

Impact at a Glance

Years of Experience: 15+Years of Experience
Campaigns Launched: 200+Campaigns Launched
In Marketing-Influenced Revenue: $60M+In Marketing-Influenced Revenue
Brands Transformed: 8+Brands Transformed

Mission Experience

A Career Grounded in Serving People with Disabilities and Vulnerable Populations

At Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, I served an organization dedicated to creating meaningful recreational and community opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families. Disability services are part of my professional history, not simply an interest tied to this application.

My responsibilities spanned philanthropy, brand leadership, public administration, and the daily communication work that keeps families, staff, partners, and Board members informed and connected.

My Career Progression

Director of Development

Fox Valley Special Recreation Association

Superintendent of Communications & Engagement

Fox Valley Special Recreation Association

Senior Marketing and Communications Officer

Outreach

Philanthropy and development
Disability services
Community engagement
Board relations
Public administration
Organizational communications
Family communications
Community partnerships
Brand leadership
Crisis communications
Dignified storytelling involving individuals with disabilities

Access + Innovation

Removing Barriers to Participation

At Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, I initiated and helped launch the Dr. William “Bill” Kelly Resource Library to address a simple but significant barrier: individuals with disabilities and their families should not be excluded from meaningful recreational opportunities because specialized equipment or technology is financially out of reach.

“Access should not depend on a family’s ability to purchase specialized resources.”

The Initiative

The Dr. Kelly Resource Library organized existing and newly acquired FVSRA resources into a lending library where participants could check out adaptive equipment, technology for virtual programming, and recreational resources at no cost.

With those resources at home, individuals with disabilities could continue opportunities for:

Social interaction
Physical activity
Creativity
Education
Recreation
Community participation

No Cost: Resources available to participants
96+ Hours: Free virtual programming delivered in the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic
50 Programs: Offered each week as virtual programming expanded
Adaptive Access: Equipment, technology and recreational resources available for participants to use at home

Programming figures describe the broader FVSRA virtual programming environment in which the Resource Library launched.

Philanthropy + Partnership

Turning Philanthropy Into Access

The Fox Valley Special Recreation Foundation provided a gift of technology to help launch the Resource Library, immediately making tablets available to individuals with disabilities for participation in virtual recreation.

It is a direct example of connecting philanthropy to a tangible barrier facing the people an organization serves, moving a gift from intention to participation.

The Dr. Kelly Resource Library

Watch the virtual presentation introducing the Resource Library and honoring the legacy of Dr. William “Bill” Kelly.

Mission + Legacy

A Mission With Meaning

The initiative was named the Dr. William “Bill” Kelly Resource Library in honor of Dr. Kelly, a strong advocate for ensuring that the special-needs community had access to recreation and leisure experiences.

Members of the Fox Valley Recreation Association and the Fox Valley Special Recreation Foundation formally presented the Resource Library to the Kelly family during a virtual livestream event.

Executive Leadership

“The Dr. Kelly Resource Library reflects how I approach mission-driven leadership: understand the barrier, bring the right people and resources together, and create a practical solution that expands access, dignity, and opportunity.”

Eric C. Smith, MPA

Vice President of Philanthropy + Marketing

Philanthropy + Organizational Growth

Growing the Resources Behind the Mission

I work from the conviction that philanthropy, marketing, communications, and organizational strategy must operate as one system. My role is to create and lead the donor engagement, messaging, campaign support, and systems that help philanthropic performance improve, in partnership with development colleagues, executives, and Board members.

“Donors respond to clarity, consistency, and evidence that their support changes outcomes.”

$729K

Raised

120%

of $605K Goal

2,117

Volunteers Engaged (FY26)

$1.4M

Social Enterprise Revenue (FY26)

Organizational Context

$6.7M to $15M

Outreach's annual operating budget over my five-year tenure as a senior leader helping build the organization's marketing, communications, and philanthropic capacity.

Summer Campaign Results

1.25M raised

Helped drive fundraising success for Outreach's Golf, Food & Wine Experience, which generated $729,000 against a $605,000 goal, alongside appeals and donor engagement.

Development Capability

Annual appeals
Donor storytelling
Digital giving
Special events
Stewardship communications
Case-for-support development
Major initiatives
Endowment-related communications
Raiser's Edge
Virtuous
Donor segmentation
Campaign analytics
Board and executive partnership
Corporate relationships
Community partnerships
CRM-informed communications

Clinical + Human Services Marketing

Expanding Access Through Strategic Communication

I lead marketing strategy for Outreach's multi-site Counseling and Psychological Services, a clinical division serving clients and families across complex human-services settings, including counseling, psychological assessment, and specialized treatment delivered at multiple locations.

I translate complex clinical services into accessible, compelling communications for clients, families, referral partners, donors, and community stakeholders, while working within appropriate privacy, consent, Medicaid, and regulatory frameworks.

Expanding Access

This includes services that expanded access to care through Medicaid, with messaging for clients, families, referral partners, and donors, alongside trauma-informed facility branding designed to exceed compliance standards.

Counseling
Psychological assessment
Specialized treatment
Clinical services
Multi-site service delivery
Medicaid-funded services
Family communications
Referral partner communications
Donor communications
Privacy and consent
Regulatory and compliance considerations
Trauma-informed facility branding

Executive + Board Leadership

Leading Through Relationships

“Strategy moves at the speed of trust.”

My value is not communications execution alone. I advise leaders, align priorities, build systems, develop teams, strengthen accountability, and support organizational growth. I am comfortable in the boardroom and on the program floor, and I translate complex priorities into clear direction that teams, volunteers, and partners can act on.

CEO + Executive Partnership

Trusted strategic partner translating organizational priorities into communication, engagement, and execution.

Board Relations

Experience working with Boards of Directors to strengthen alignment, governance communications, community relationships, and organizational support.

Team Leadership

Experience recruiting, developing, and leading multidisciplinary professionals while building systems, accountability, and organizational capacity.

Donor + Community Relations

Relationship-centered engagement with donors, community leaders, corporate partners, families, referral partners, and external stakeholders.

Who I Work With

CEOs
Boards of Directors
Senior leadership teams
Development professionals
Program executives
Community partners
Donors
Corporate partners
Families
Referral partners
External stakeholders

Award-Winning Impact

National Recognition for Mission-Driven Storytelling

Two 2021 Telly Awards recognized mission-driven storytelling I created while serving in the disability-services sector.

Gold

Branded Content

Not-for-Profit

The Telly Awards • 2021

Bronze

Branded Content

Social Impact

The Telly Awards • 2021

My Portfolio

Selected Work

Each piece was created to serve an organizational purpose: expand access, engage donors, strengthen brand, or make complex services understandable to the people who need them.

DISABILITY SERVICESMISSION STORYTELLING

Mobile Therapeutic Recreation

Fox Valley Special Recreation Association • 2021

Providing equitable access to recreation by empowering play every day. Packed with loads of fun, the Mobile Therapeutic Recreation bus travels throughout our service area delivering themed opportunities to engage, socialize, and increase activity in our community.

Why It MatteredCreated to show families, funders, and community partners how the association removed distance and access barriers for individuals with disabilities.

PHILANTHROPYBRAND

Dan's Story

Fox Valley Special Recreation Association • 2020

Dan touched our hearts the minute we stepped on set. His story, captured in a simple video, is a timely reminder that thoughtful giving can make a significant impact.

Why It MatteredBuilt as a donor-facing case for support, connecting a participant's experience directly to the reason for giving.

2021 Telly Awards Gold Winner, Non-Profit Video

PHILANTHROPYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Gala Highlights: Playing with a Purpose

Outreach • 2026

A premier golf event uniting community leaders to raise funds that restore hope and transform lives.

Why It MatteredProduced to steward event donors and sponsors, reinforcing the value of their participation ahead of the next campaign cycle.

HUMAN SERVICESMISSION STORYTELLINGBRAND

Serena's Story

Outreach • 2026

Growing up amid instability, Serena found hope through Outreach, pursuing her dream of becoming an attorney while empowering others.

Why It MatteredDeveloped to translate complex human-services work into a clear, dignified story for donors, referral partners, and the wider community.

Press + Community Engagement

Visibility That Strengthens Mission and Reputation

Strategic communications extend beyond owned channels. I have developed stories, relationships, and media opportunities that bring organizational missions to broader audiences, engage stakeholders, and strengthen community awareness of disability services.

Ignacio Gallegos holding his Participant of the Year certificate beside FVSRA Executive Director Alex Engelhardt

June 15, 2021

FVSRA Participant Overcomes Challenges and Wins Award

Ignacio, who is blind, went from a handful of programs each year to several a day after FVSRA brought recreation directly to participants, earning him the Illinois Park and Recreation Association therapeutic recreation section's Participant of the Year award.

Read Release

Three FVSRA staff members in hairnets and gloves packing meals at a Feed My Starving Children facility

May 13, 2021

Community Partnerships Expand FVSRA's Impact

FVSRA staff joined Feed My Starving Children to pack MannaPack meals, one of several partnerships, alongside CASA Kane County and Northern Illinois Food Bank, that extend the association's impact beyond therapeutic recreation.

Read Release

May 11, 2021

FVSRA Bridges its Rich History to a Strategic Vision with Rebranding

FVSRA unveiled a new brand identity, including a refreshed logo and color palette, designed to close the gap between brand values and customer experience through innovation and design.

Read Release

An FVSRA instructor leading a masked group of participants in a dance program inside a community room

May 8, 2021

FVSRA Creates Unique Collaborations to Empower People with Special Needs

With programs meeting online during the pandemic, FVSRA invited other special recreation associations across Illinois to share resources, creating cooperative dance and trivia nights recognized with a statewide award.

Read Release

Three masked Rosary High School students cleaning the interior of an FVSRA bus

April 21, 2021

FVSRA and Rosary High School Team Up for Day of Service

Thirty Rosary High School students and teachers joined FVSRA in a student-led day of service preparing programs for the summer season.

Read Release

March 12, 2021

FVSRA Hosts Legislators for Parks and Recreation Forum

FVSRA partnered with the Illinois Association of Park Districts to connect state legislators and park and recreation professionals on issues facing conservation, parks, and special recreation.

Read Release

Marketing + Brand Leadership

Capabilities in Service of Strategy

These are tools I use to advance organizational strategy, philanthropy, community engagement, and mission, not isolated creative skills.

Brand strategy
Integrated campaigns
Website strategy
Digital transformation
Social media
Video production
Photography
Graphic communications
Analytics
Automation
SEO
Audience segmentation
Emerging technology
AI-enabled workflows

My Education

Preparation for Executive Leadership

My graduate and undergraduate study focused on public administration, organizational communication, governance, and community engagement.

Master of Public Administration

Aurora University • 2020

Graduate Certificate in Organizational Communication

Liberty University • 2020

Bachelor of Arts in Communications

Judson University • 2012

Leadership Experience

Professional Experience

2021-Present
Senior Marketing and Communications Officer
Outreach
Senior executive helping build the marketing, communications, donor engagement, and organizational capacity supporting Outreach's growth from approximately $6.7 million to $15 million in annual operating budget.
2020-2021
Superintendent of Communications & Engagement
Fox Valley Special Recreation Association
Promoted into senior leadership after serving as Director of Development, expanding responsibility across disability services, Board relations, community engagement, organizational communications, and brand leadership.
2019-2020
Director of Development
Fox Valley Special Recreation Association
Led development and community engagement efforts supporting opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families.
2017-2019
Marketing & Communications Manager
Sugar Grove Park District
Led integrated communications, community partnerships, sponsorship development, and public-sector engagement.

Philanthropy + Disability Services + Executive Leadership + Marketing

Mission Deserves Leadership That Can Grow Its Impact.

I bring together philanthropy, disability-services experience, executive leadership, marketing, and community engagement to help mission-driven organizations build the relationships, resources, and visibility necessary to grow.

View Resume Contact Me

Contact Me

Eric C. Smith, MPA

Email: ericsmith13@gmail.com
Phone: (630) 512-7158
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ericsmith13