Open to opportunities

Abby Ferguson

@abbyferguson

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Civic engagement leader with a decade of strategic partnership experience.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I seek a role that fosters collaboration and drives impactful civic engagement initiatives.

As a seasoned leader in civic engagement and strategic partnerships, I have dedicated over a decade to advancing democracy through innovative and scalable programs. My journey has been marked by the design and growth of one of the largest cross-campus civil discourse initiatives in the U.S., impacting over 250 institutions and engaging more than 25,000 students. I thrive on building relationships and fostering collaboration across sectors, leveraging my skills in engagement and coalition-building to drive meaningful change.

In my role as Senior Director of Partnerships at Unify America, I successfully conceived and launched a groundbreaking civic discourse tool that transformed student dialogue across diverse perspectives. My strategic outreach initiatives have consistently generated high-conversion meetings with senior stakeholders, and I take pride in maintaining a 98% annual partner retention rate through proactive account management and strategic guidance. My experience in leading programming and partnerships at the Chicago Area Public Affairs Group further solidifies my commitment to strengthening civic dialogue and engagement.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Manager

Current

Chicago Area Public Affairs Group (CAPAG)

Mar 2014 - Present (11 years 3 months)

Lead programming, partnerships, and board coordination for a network of public affairs leaders. Curate timely civic programming, manage annual budget, and oversee digital communications strategy.

Partnerships Budgeting Digital Communication

Senior Director of Partnerships, Higher Education

Unify America

Jan 2025 - Mar 2025 (2 months)

Conceived, developed, and launched a first-of-its-kind civic discourse tool designed to strengthen student dialogue across lines of difference; transformed the concept from pilot to national program through user-centered design, testing, and partnership strategy. Designed and executed a territory growth strategy that scaled a civic-tech dialogue program from 4 pilot campuses to 250+ institutions,

User Centered Design Partnership Strategy Territory Strategy Civic Tech HubSpot

Director of Partnerships, Higher Education

Unify America

Jun 2020 - Jan 2025 (4 years 7 months)

Independently built and managed a high-volume pipeline of 300+ qualified leads, using HubSpot to forecast revenue, track opportunity stage, and prioritize outreach. Delivered persuasive, consultative product demos tailored to advancement and engagement teams— demonstrating impact on relationship-building and measurable student outcomes.

Pipelines HubSpot Product Demonstrations Relationship Building

Coordinator

Inspired Engagement to Serve Others (IETSO)

Jun 2018 - May 2020 (1 year 11 months)

Provided logistical, planning and fundraising solutions for non-profit organizations, political candidates, and corporate clients. This included planning fundraising meetings, events, and multi-million dollar-producing galas.

Logistics Fundraising Non Profit Support Political Campaign Support Corporate Events

Project Associate

Metro Strategies

Apr 2014 - Nov 2016 (2 years 7 months)

Developed and executed comprehensive public involvement strategies, fostering coalition-building and ensuring effective stakeholder engagement on urban planning projects.

Coalition Building Stakeholder Engagement Urban Planning Strategic Planning Communication

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Elmhurst College

Bachelor of Arts, History & Political Science

Completed a comprehensive curriculum in History and Political Science. Gained strong analytical and research skills through in-depth study of historical events and political systems.

University of St. Andrews

Summer Program, History and Literature

Participated in a summer program focusing on History and Literature. Enhanced understanding of historical contexts and literary analysis.

American University

Washington Semester Program, American Politics

Engaged in the Washington Semester Program, focusing on American Politics. Gained practical experience and insights into the American political system.