Pursuant Group Expands Development Team

DALLAS, Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pursuant Group, a full-service fundraising and communications consulting firm, recently announced the addition of development professional Lauren Stafford to a growing team under Pursuant Managed Services, a business unit that offers outsourced mid-level fundraising services to nonprofit clients in various nonprofit segments. Effective Jan. 17, 2011, Stafford will direct and help execute managed-services programs for clients in the Greek, higher education, healthcare, faith-based and human services segments.

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"Lauren is highly skilled at forging connections, building relationships and encouraging others to give back to causes that matter to them," says Tony Smercina, executive vice president of managed services for the Pursuant Group. "She also joins a strong team of people who each have firsthand knowledge and insight to serve clients in higher education and Greek organizations."

Other team members serving the Greek sector include James Owens, senior vice president, who leads all sales activities. Owens is an alumnus of the Sigma Nu Fraternity where he previously served as the executive vice president of the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation.

Allison Lewis, lead strategy consultant, is a Sigma Kappa sorority alumna and former executive director of the Sigma Kappa Foundation. A certified fundraising professional, Lewis develops integrated fundraising strategies that embrace the lifetime value of a donor's relationship while yielding meaningful results throughout the process.

Ryan Porter, a Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity alumnus, recently joined Pursuant as client relationship manager. He works to build strategic relationships with Greek organizations and assess their unique fundraising needs.

As a senior development officer, Stafford will oversee managed services programs, including prospecting, appointment setting, presenting nonprofit missions, and donor communication and follow-up. Stafford will also solicit major gifts on behalf of clients as needed.

Prior to her new role with Pursuant, Stafford was the donor relations coordinator for La Porte Hospital Foundation in La Porte, Ind., where she implemented policies and procedures for development initiatives. Before La Porte Hospital Foundation, Stafford spent several years as a development officer with Alpha Phi Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the national Alpha Phi sorority, of which she was also a member. While with Alpha Phi Foundation, she visited more than 250 alumnae each year in major cities across the U.S., soliciting donations between $1,500 and $10,000 during each visit. Stafford's presentation and persistence resulted in a donation close rate of 55 percent or higher.

"Each of these team members has been personally invested in fraternity and sorority organizations not only during college but also throughout their careers," notes Smercina. "They bring valuable experience and true dedication to helping Greek clients succeed at their philanthropic goals and missions."

About The Pursuant Group

The Pursuant Group is committed to a single purpose: serving nonprofits and helping them achieve their greatest potential. Pursuant offers a complete range of fundraising and marketing communications services covering the entire donor relationship pyramid. Competencies include interactive and social media constituent outreach, acquisition programs, direct response communication, capital campaign counsel, and managed major and mid-level giving services. Pursuant serves a wide range of outstanding nonprofit organizations in the areas of health and human services, higher education and fraternal organizations, faith-based organizations and churches, and conservative political entities. Notable Pursuant brands include Ketchum Fundraising Services, RSI Church Stewardship, Pursuant Sports and KMA Direct Communications. For more information, visit pursuantgroup.com.

SOURCE Pursuant Group