NEW YORK, Aug. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced today that Deborah Taft has been appointed senior vice president for fund development. Taft, who has more than 25 years of fund-raising and marketing experience, will join the organization on August 19.

"Deborah comes to us with a wealth of experience and know-how," said Kathy Cloninger, Chief Executive Officer of GSUSA. "She knows how to grow a dynamic fund-raising operation and is poised to have an impact and lead our fund development initiatives at one of the most exciting moments in our Movement's history: our 100th anniversary and our effort to make girls a philanthropic priority for the nation."

Taft had served most recently as interim vice president for advancement at Simmons College in Boston, a post she had held since 2010.  Previously, she had been associate vice president for advancement at Simmons after having served as vice president for development at Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center. Prior to Tufts Medical, she was senior director of development marketing for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Her professional accomplishments have run the gamut. As vice president at Simmons, Taft oversaw major, planned, corporate and foundation philanthropy programs, as well as donor relations, advancement marketing, trusteeship and governance, and the Simmons Leadership Conference. As vice president for development at Floating Hospital, she rebuilt the philanthropy operation. And in her role as senior director of development marketing for Dana-Farber, she developed an integrated fund-raising marketing and donor relations function for one of the world's leading cancer centers, helping to lay the groundwork for the institute's $1 billion campaign.

"There is no question Deborah Taft is a leader in the field and her tremendous track record of success bears this out," said Timothy Higdon, Chief of External Affairs for GSUSA. "Her breadth of experience both at the strategic level and at the tactical, operational level, as well as her skill in building strong and high-performing development teams, makes her ideally suited to lead our fund-raising operation."

Over the years, Taft has led and served on numerous governing boards, faculties and committees and is a highly regarded speaker, presenter, facilitator and consultant. She serves on the New England Steering Committee for the Human Rights Campaign, and chaired its 2010 gala dinner. And she was a founding member of the national service organization City Year.

About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.4 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls living overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate to Girl Scouts, call 800-GSUSA 4 U (800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org.  

SOURCE Girl Scouts of the USA

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