Sarah Palmer

Professional Summary

Professional Overview
Sarah Palmer is an accomplished fundraising and alumni engagement professional with over 15 years of experience in the higher education sector. As the Director of Annual Giving at London Business School, she leads a team responsible for cultivating and growing the school's annual fund, which provides critical resources to support the institution's strategic priorities.

Experience Summary

Current Role
In her current role as the Director of Annual Giving, Sarah is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive annual giving programs to engage the school's alumni, parents, and friends. She oversees the execution of direct mail, digital, and phonathon campaigns, as well as the coordination of special events and volunteer initiatives. Under her leadership, the annual fund has consistently exceeded its fundraising goals, contributing to the school's overall financial stability and ability to invest in key initiatives.

Career Progression
Prior to her current position, Sarah held progressively senior roles within the alumni engagement and annual giving functions at London Business School. As the Deputy Director of Alumni Engagement, she was instrumental in enhancing the school's alumni programming and fostering stronger connections between the institution and its global network of graduates. In her previous roles as the Director of Alumni Engagement and Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, she implemented innovative strategies to increase alumni participation and philanthropic support.

Academic Background
Sarah holds a Master's degree in Nonprofit Management from the University of London, where she graduated with distinction. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from the University of Sussex, with a focus on public relations and event management.

Areas of Expertise

• Annual fund development and strategy

• Donor cultivation and stewardship

• Alumni engagement and programming

• Fundraising campaign management

• Data-driven decision making and analysis

• Effective team leadership and collaboration

Professional Impact
Under Sarah's leadership, the annual giving program at London Business School has consistently exceeded its fundraising goals, with a 15% increase in donor participation and a 20% growth in overall annual fund revenue over the past three years. She has also spearheaded the implementation of a comprehensive digital engagement strategy, which has resulted in a 25% increase in online donations and a 30% improvement in email open and click-through rates.

Conclusion
With her extensive experience, innovative mindset, and proven track record of success, Sarah Palmer is a highly effective and respected fundraising and alumni engagement professional. Her dedication to building strong relationships with the school's stakeholders and her ability to drive sustainable growth in philanthropic support make her a valuable asset to the London Business School community.