Vanessa Stone
@vanessastone1
I turn institutional missions into donor stories, campaigns, and philanthropic momentum.
United StatesWhat I'm looking for
At the University of Washington College of Education, I build message architecture, value propositions, and stewardship narratives that move donors to act. I led the Grow the Good initiative toward its $1M goal and helped communicate the impact of a $38M Ballmer Group gift.
I've shaped donor appeals, magazine features, major-gift proposals, impact reports, and audience strategy across the College's giving portfolio. My work includes reframing the Haring Center's anniversary auction, contributing to its $1.1M result, and growing magazine click-through from 37 to 141 clicks across three issues.
My path through higher-education advancement, political fundraising, EdTech, finance, and creative work taught me to find shared value across different audiences and stakes. As an MFA-trained writer, I believe every fundraising priority holds a story worth telling with passion, humanity, and care.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications
University of Washington College of Education
Jan 2024 - Present (2 years 7 months)
Leads campaign strategy and value propositions, including the Grow the Good initiative tied to the Dean's 10-year milestone, and develops donor stewardship content. Advises academic leadership on narrative risk and brand alignment.
Development Associate
New York University Steinhardt School
May 2023 - Dec 2023 (7 months)
Authored donor correspondence and stewardship materials in the Dean's voice, and participated in leadership meetings with senior donor support teams.
Wrote in the voices of political leaders for 2022 midterm campaigns, honing audience-specific messaging and voice.
Academic Advisor
New York University Institute of Fine Arts
Aug 2019 - Jun 2022 (2 years 10 months)
Advised over 200 graduate students, increasing admissions by 14%, and partnered with advancement to connect student stories to donor communications.
Content Writer
StudySync, LLC
May 2018 - Jan 2022 (3 years 8 months)
Authored ELA curriculum for state public school clients, aligning national assessment standards with state-specific requirements.
Executive Assistant, Office of the Dean & CEO
UW Medicine / University of Washington School of Medicine
Jun 2015 - Aug 2017 (2 years 2 months)
Supported the executive office during the first WWAMI curriculum renewal, coordinating across five states and multiple partner schools.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Sarah Lawrence College
Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing
Earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College in 2019.
University of Washington
Bachelor of Arts, English and Dance
Earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Dance from the University of Washington in 2012.
Availability
Location
United StatesAuthorized to work in
Job categories
Skills
Interested in hiring Vanessa?
You can contact Vanessa and 90k+ other talented remote workers on Himalayas.
Message VanessaGet matched with your dream remote job
Sign up now and join over 250,000+ remote workers who receive personalized job alerts, curated job matches, and more for free!
