Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Service
Timeline
Generic

Elizabeth Salmonowicz

Chicago

Summary

Strategic nonprofit leader with 10+ years of experience in grants operations, systems implementation, and cross-functional project management. Proven success overseeing grant lifecycle processes, managing Salesforce and donor databases, and aligning organizational infrastructure with programmatic goals. Recognized for operational rigor, collaborative leadership, and precision execution. Skilled at working across departments to strengthen compliance, streamline workflows, and manage reporting systems.

Overview

24
24
years of professional experience

Work History

Director of Institutional Giving

Hope Chicago
Chicago
11.2023 - Current
  • Serve as operational lead for the foundation and corporate grant lifecycle, managing intake, compliance, deadlines, deliverables, and reporting across a $5M portfolio.
  • Execute a comprehensive institutional giving strategy, identifying key funding opportunities, cultivating strategic partnerships, and aligning fundraising efforts with the organization's mission and long-term goals.
  • Manage a portfolio of 28+ funders, overseeing proposals, reports, compliance requirements, and relationship stewardship.
  • Partner cross-functionally to define grant objectives, monitor progress, and ensure successful project execution.
  • Identify and cultivate new foundation prospects — I have doubled the pipeline and am currently pursuing 20 high-potential prospects.
  • Review and refine key institutional documents including annual reports, fundraising appeals, donor communications, and impact reports to ensure accuracy, clarity, and donor alignment.

Senior Manager of Development/Development Manager

Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS)
Chicago
06.2018 - 11.2023
  • Secured a $25M U.S. Department of Education Charter Schools Program (CSP) grant and launched a subgrant program disbursing $4M in its first year.
  • Directed organization’s fundraising efforts by overseeing foundation partnerships, managing individual giving, obtaining corporate sponsorships, conducting prospect research, analyzing giving trends, and executing fundraising events.
  • Oversaw full grant lifecycle, including applications, reports, grant agreements, compliance, grant outcomes, and closeout procedures.
  • Managed development operations, including database maintenance, donations, prospect research, and donor communications.
  • Maintained organization CRM and internal grant tracking systems; supported data integrity and reporting consistency.
  • Provided strategic advising and tools to charter school leaders on fundraising, grant writing, and compliance.

Community Engagement Manager

Joffrey Ballet
Chicago
10.2015 - 06.2018
  • Managed operations of Community Engagement Department, monitoring financial statements, scheduling in-school programming, managing school partnerships, and generating and processing invoices and contracts.
  • Acted as liaison to 28 schools and 17 teaching artists in support of 1,000+ student participants. Ensured program delivery and data collection aligned with grant reporting needs.
  • Coordinated professional development workshops for teaching artists, off-site student performances, and Board meetings.
  • Oversaw program evaluations, analyzing the data to report to donors and the Joffrey Ballet Development team.

Marketing Intern

Bright Endeavors
Chicago
05.2015 - 08.2015
  • Established and managed Amazon seller platform, creating product descriptions and uploading inventory.
  • Analyzed sales trends using custom reports generated in QuickBooks.

Dancer (stage name Elizabeth Hansen)

Joffrey Ballet
Chicago
07.2006 - 06.2015
  • Performed in 60+ pieces nationwide, including works by Robert Joffrey, Gerald Arpino, Christopher Wheeldon, Yuri Possokhov, Lar Lubovitch, Paul Taylor, Ed Liang, and Kurt Jooss.

Dancer and Coach

Brandywine Ballet Theatre
West Chester
09.2003 - 07.2006
  • Performed in works by George Balanchine and Matthew Neenan, among others.
  • Set multiple ballets, including The Nutcracker; directed rehearsals; and coached dancers.

Trainee and Dancer

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
Pittsburgh
08.2001 - 05.2003
  • Performed in works by George Balanchine, Ben Stevenson, and Dwight Rhoden, among others.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Business

DePaul University
Chicago, IL
06-2017

Skills

  • Google Drive
  • Grant management
  • Proposal writing
  • Compliance monitoring
  • Fundraising strategy
  • Data analysis
  • Donor relations
  • Project management
  • Relationship building
  • Contract management
  • Operations management
  • Salesforce
  • WealthEngine
  • Little Green Light
  • Mailchimp
  • MS Office (including Access)
  • SharePoint
  • Fluxx
  • CyberGrants
  • Instrumentl
  • SmartSimple
  • SurveyMonkey Apply
  • QuickBooks
  • Google AdWords
  • GoDaddycom

Service

  • ASK Mentor, DePaul University 2015-Present
  • Associate Board Member, New Moms 2019-2023
  • Peer Reviewer, Susan G. Komen 2019
  • Spark Mentor 2015
  • Dancer in benefit performance for Embarc Chicago 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Dancer in benefit performance for Dance For Life 2010, 2012

Timeline

Director of Institutional Giving

Hope Chicago
11.2023 - Current

Senior Manager of Development/Development Manager

Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS)
06.2018 - 11.2023

Community Engagement Manager

Joffrey Ballet
10.2015 - 06.2018

Marketing Intern

Bright Endeavors
05.2015 - 08.2015

Dancer (stage name Elizabeth Hansen)

Joffrey Ballet
07.2006 - 06.2015

Dancer and Coach

Brandywine Ballet Theatre
09.2003 - 07.2006

Trainee and Dancer

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
08.2001 - 05.2003

Bachelor of Arts - Business

DePaul University

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