Sponsorships, Fundraising & Event Strategy – North Carolina Azalea Festival

Led festival rebranding, sponsor development, and fundraising initiatives, driving record-breaking revenue and event success for one of North Carolina’s premier festivals.

Key Achievements:

• Fundraising & Sponsorship Growth – Directed major gifts campaign, raising $1.2M+ annually, and revamped sponsorship strategies, increasing sponsorship revenue by 50%.

• Strategic Event Expansion – Developed new concert and activation strategies, doubling festival revenue streams and increasing town event sponsorships by 80%.

• Leadership & Operations – Managed 32 staff, 1,000+ volunteers, and 200+ vendors, ensuring seamless logistics for an event featuring 8 stages and 120 bands over 3 days.

• Philanthropic & Donor Engagement – Established the festival’s philanthropic arm, increasing cumulative funds raised by 60%, and implemented donor programs that boosted planned gifts by 10%.

• High-Impact Event Execution – Led volunteers and board members in creating a new signature event in just 8 weeks, raising $240,000.

• Venue Expansion & Revenue Growth – Relocated ticketed concert events to an outdoor venue, expanding capacity and introducing alcohol sales for increased profitability.

Through innovative sponsorship strategies, strategic fundraising, and large-scale event execution, I played a key role in elevating the North Carolina Azalea Festival’s brand, revenue, and community impact.