Meet your development team.

Fundraising for the League's operations and programs is what Nancy Sturm, Rose Simmons and Melanie Acostavalle do (see p. 5 and the envelope insert in this Voter). The results of their activities are not as evident as are those of other teams you have met in previous Voters. There is no new publication or new League or new legislation to show for all their good work. Yet, the work of this dynamic trio is vital because their successes help to fund these League activities. Board member Jan Flapan provides guidance together with other members of the Development Committee that she chairs, and the entire Board is active in maintaining and developing critical one-on-one contact with League supporters.

Nancy Sturm, senior director of development, is the newest member of the team. She brings to the League 15 years of experience raising private funds for national cultural and educational nonprofit organizations. Most recently she was the founding executive director of the Greater Washington National Parks Fund, a National Park Foundation program aimed at building private support for the National Capital region's national parklands. Nancy began her fundraising career as manager of the major donor program at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, following which she created a similar program for the National Parks Conservation Association. Then, as enterprise director for the National Endowment for the Humanities, Nancy developed public-private partnerships with corporations, foundations and individuals to advance its grant programs. Nancy resides in the Capitol Hill Historic District in Washington, DC, and is a proud and devoted guardian to two dogs and a cat.

Rose Simmons is the manager for the direct marketing program. In this position, she single-handedly manages the League's national direct mail and telemarketing fundraising efforts for acquisition, special appeals, renewals and nationally-recruited member programs. Additionally, she coordinates the annual Window of Opportunity (WOO) program for state Leagues that are interested in soliciting national direct mail donors. Rose has worked with the League for the past six years, and has more than eleven years of experience in the direct marketing field.

Melanie Grayce Acostavalle, manager of major gifts and planned giving, has been with the League since December 2001. She manages the "Leaders for Democracy" program for donors who commit to annual gifts at the $1,000+ level. Melanie is also the administrator for the Carrie Chapman Catt Society, the League's planned giving program. She has worked in the development field for the past five years.