Pilar Schmidt

Focused Fundraising, CT LLC

123 Reverknolls, Avon, CT 06001 | (860) 798-1750 | pilar.r.schmidt@gmail.com
Works in: Connecticut, Massachusetts

Last updated:
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2023

Pilar Schmidt has a broad range of experience in fundraising planning and management, capital campaign planning and execution as well as strategic planning, implementation action steps, Board engagement and feasibility studies. She also brings knowledge and first-hand experience in marketing and communications tailored to today’s world, including social media and related communications tactics. Other experience includes program design and hands-on fundraising initiatives ranging from grant proposals to person-to-person solicitation. Recent consulting clients include academic institutions for which strategic planning followed by implementation plans, fundraising assessment and capital campaign planning have been the major focus.

Areas of Expertise:

Board assessment, structure, training, performance

Organizational evaluation, Program evaluation

Grant writing - federal grants, Individual giving / major gifts, Planned giving, Prospect research, Sponsorships and corporate partnerships, Capital campaigns / feasibility, Endowments, Fundraising / donor software, Fundraising events, Fundraising / fund development planning, Grant writing

Deep expertise in these issue areas: Education (K-12), Health Care, Social Justice, Youth Development

Past Clients:

  • Organization: Sheltering Pine Institute
    Name: Katherine Nickel, Director
    Description of services provided: Fundraising consultation, strategic planning & implementation & website design
    Year services provided: 2008-2023 current
    Contact Info: (603) 933-9409 | knickel268@gmail.com
  • Organization: Farmington River Watershed Association
    Name: Eileen Fielding (now Director, Sharon Audubon Center in CT)
    Description of services provided: Fundraising Planning
    Year services provided: 2012-14
    Contact Info: (860) 364-0520 x170 | Eileen.Fielding@audubon.org
  • Organization: International Hartford (formerly the Parent Academy)
    Name: Art Feltman, Executive Director
    Description of services provided: fundraising consultation and grant writing and submission
    Year services provided: 2013-15
    Contact Info: (860) 559-4322 | art@interhartford.org
  • Organization: Hartford International University for Religion & Peace
    Name: Jonathan Lee, former Director of Development, (now Dir. Church Relations & Operation, Pension Boards, United Church of Christ)
    Description of services provided: Fundraising consultation, training of new development staff, communications, alumni outreach, event and conference planning
    Year services provided: 2012-2013; again in 2022-2023-current, as an "ambassador" & fundraiser plus alumni profile researcher and writer
    Contact Info: (860) 878-2833 | jlee@pbucc.org
  • Organization: The Hartsbrook School
    Name: Natalie Adams, Board member at The Hartsbrook School
    Description of services provided: Fundraising consultation for 1 yr then Dir. of Dev. charged with annual development & long range planning, major gift initiatives and planning, grant writing, appeal s & event design & mgt.
    Year services provided: 2013-2022
    Contact Info: (301) 221-6224 | natradams@aol.com
  • Organization: Saint Francis Hospital Foundation
    Name: Peter G Kelly SR
    Description of services provided: Director of Development responsible for Capital Campaign planning, Major Gifts process, Annual Giving and large special events such as MIRACLES and corporate sponsorships
    Year services provided: 2001-2006
    Contact Info: (860) 989-8917 | PeterGKellySR@gmail.com
  • Organization: Hartford International University for Religion & Peace (formerly Hartford Seminary)
    Name: Peter G Kelly SR
    Description of services provided: Development consulting (also through Jonathan Lee, Dir. of Dev) Strategic Planning, major gifts & alumni connections & MacDonald Conference at HIU in 2013. Interim Dir/Communications 2013.
    Year services provided: 2012-2013
    Contact Info: (860) 989-8917 | PeterGKellySR@gmail.com


Training & Workshops:

  • Name: Board Development: Inspiring Boards to Lead
    Duration: 1-3 hours
    Fee: $100 per hour
    Fees Negotiable: Yes
    Minimum Audience Size: 5
    Maximum Audience Size: 30
    Reference: Eileen Fielding, (860) 364-0529 x170 (Director, Sharon, Audubon)
  • Name: Asking for Money: Training Your Volunteers to be Effective Fundraisers
    Duration: 1-3 hours
    Fee: $100 per hour
    Fees Negotiable: Yes
    Minimum Audience Size: 5
    Maximum Audience Size: 30
    Reference: Katherine Nickel 603-933-9409 (Director, Sheltering Pine Institute)
  • Name: Capital Campaign Readiness: Indicators, Testing Assumptions and Advance Planning
    Duration: 1-3 hours
    Fee: $100 per hour
    Fees Negotiable: Yes
    Minimum Audience Size: 5
    Maximum Audience Size: 30
    Reference: Peter G. Kelly SR (860) 989-8917 (former Chair,St. Francis Hospital Fdn; Bd Mem. St Francis Hospital; Bd Mem Hartford International University; founder, Updike, Kelly & Spellacy PC)
  • Name: Grant Writing 101
    Duration: 1.5 hours
    Fee: $100 per hour
    Fees Negotiable: Yes
    Minimum Audience Size: 5
    Maximum Audience Size: 30
    Reference: Natalie Adams, (301) 221-6224 (Board Member, The Hartsbrook School)
  • Name: Stories Tell It All: How to Enliven Your Appeals
    Duration: 1.5 hours
    Fee: $100 per hour
    Fees Negotiable:
    Minimum Audience Size: 5
    Maximum Audience Size: 30
    Reference: Natalie Adams, (301) 221-6224 (Board Member, The Hartsbrook School)
  • Name: Strategic Planning for Boards
    Duration: 4 hours (in 2 parts with break for luncheon or early dinner)
    Fee: $100 per hour
    Fees Negotiable: Yes
    Minimum Audience Size: 5
    Maximum Audience Size: 20
    Reference: Eileen Fielding. (860) 364-0520 x170 ( Executive Director, Sharon Audubon)
  • Name: Implementing Your Strategic Plan: Moving to Action Plans and Implementation
    Duration: 4 hours (with a meal break midway)
    Fee: $100 per hour
    Fees Negotiable: Yes
    Minimum Audience Size: 5
    Maximum Audience Size: 20
    Reference: Natalie Adams, (301) 221-6224 ( Bd. Member, The Hartsbrook School)
  • Name: Adding Social Media to Your Fundraising Communication Plans
    Duration: 2 hours
    Fee: $100 per hour
    Fees Negotiable: Yes
    Minimum Audience Size: 1
    Maximum Audience Size: 10
    Reference: Natalie Adams, (301) 221-6224 (Bd. Member, The Hartsbrook School)
  • Name: Event Planning and Implementation Training for a New Digital Audience
    Duration: 2 hours
    Fee: $100 per hour
    Fees Negotiable: Yes
    Minimum Audience Size: 1
    Maximum Audience Size: 10
    Reference: Natalie Adams, (301) 221-6224 ( Bd. Member, The Hartsbrook School)

Please note that we do not endorse any consultant listed in this directory. We strongly advise you to check references before hiring a consultant.