Staff

Why: I believe in the power of bringing people together to create a shared experience, build community and move a mission.
What I do at Swaim Strategies: I encourage and motivate. I teach and coach. I dream. I am a strategist at my core and bring that focus to planning events and reaching results. I am an ally to nonprofits and an advocate for their missions and dreams. I use events as a tool to build relationships, inspire connections and raise support.
My experience: I have been in nonprofit fundraising and event production for over 20 years and have a passion for working for a purpose. I come from theatre + TV production roots with a focus on details and a vision for the big picture. Great events are made better when they share a story and have impact.
What I believe in:  Community. I believe that we are stronger when we work together. I believe that together we can have impact, we can build stronger communities and we can have a richer and fuller experience.

Why: I believe in we.
What I do at Swaim Strategies: There is power in bringing people together. I help connect supporters more deeply to missions they believe in to create agency and capacity for nonprofits and their donors to change the world. I also manage internal systems for Swaim Strategies so that our staff can continue to focus on elevating our amazing clients and their work.
My experience: I am a writer and teacher by trade and have been a nonprofit advocate in Portland for over 26 years. I have answered crisis line calls, facilitated adult community writing workshops and coached playwriting for at-risk youth. I helped start Swaim Strategies 20 years ago and have been on the ground of nonprofit event fundraising ever since.
What I believe in: One of the bravest things we can do is tell our stories, and then listen as others tell theirs. The very human act of storytelling makes change possible.

Why: I believe that organization and systems help people thrive.
What I do at Swaim Strategies: When people come together around a common cause, it can create systemic changes in the world. I know that in order to create the ideal environment for these changes to happen, it requires detail management and data tracking. It’s my job to make sure all the details are being tracked, updated and organized in the best way possible.
My experience: I love organizing things and creating order out of chaos. This has led me to seek systems-based, detail-oriented work throughout my career. I love to empower everyone we work with to use data to inform their decision-making and to train clients specifically on Greater Giving as a tool. I am also Swaim Strategies’ internal systems wiz.
What I believe in: I believe that everyone should be seen, understood and validated for who they really are. I believe in living authentically without fear.

Why: I believe in the power of community to create positive change at every level.
What I do at Swaim Strategies: I tackle logistics and day-to-day details so that our clients can focus on relationship-building, storytelling and serving their communities. I ensure everyone is informed, empowered and in sync.
My experience: More than 10 years in theater production and stage management has given me a love of live events and the detailed paperwork and planning that makes them run smoothly. For the last 5+ years, I’ve held a variety of nonprofit development roles, providing me with an understanding of fundraising best-practices and the day-to-day needs of development professionals.
What I believe in: When people are brought together with a common purpose, have their voices heard and are given the tools they need, incredible things become possible.

Why: I believe in the power of the intersection of strategy and story––to create movement that strengthens where we live.
What I do at Swaim Strategies: I plan. I organize. I listen, I process and plan again. I house logistics and organize workflow.  I shine light on potential problems to find solutions before the problem manifests. I do all of this as a member of a team to ensure that our clients can maximize their opportunities to use events to tell their story and fund their mission.
My experience: I have spent 15 years helping people to do more than they thought they could. I come from a background in coaching, recruiting and consulting. My professional career has been centered around actualizing potential and creating plans for success. My role at Swaim has engaged my servant leadership to support events for nonprofits that make our communities more equitable.
What I believe in: I believe that there is more in all of us and it takes compelling leverage and a strategic plan to turn that potential into action and results.

Why: I believe in being the change you want to see in the world.
What I do at Swaim Strategies: I partner with you to bring your organization’s mission to life. By combining strategy and powerful storytelling, I help create experiences that connect people, strengthen communities and inspire action.
My experience: I have helped organizations fulfill their missions for nearly 10 years. I specialize in creating events that deepen relationships and reach fundraising goals. I’ve planned and produced a myriad of over 100 successful events, all grounded in my expertise in marketing, fundraising and engagement.
What I believe in: Elevating voices, perspectives, and experiences that reflect the beauty and diversity of our communities.

Why: I believe in the power of taking compassionate risks and pushing boundaries to fuel movements and inspire change.
What I do at Swaim Strategies: I really listen to your needs so I can integrate them with Swaim’s strategies to create the best event experience possible for you, your audience and your cause. Let me find creative solutions and handle behind-the-scenes details—I’ll make sure nothing falls through the cracks so you can focus on having a seamless event, with the biggest impact possible.
My experience: My background is in storytelling, communication/brand strategy and project management. I have helped clients hone their story, piecing together details that deliver a powerful message and share their mission with a wider audience. I love making new connections, so supporting clients hardly feels like work.
What I believe in: We are all human and have the ability to communicate and listen to one another. And when we do, that’s when real change can happen. I believe in fostering relationships that strengthen our communities.

Why: I believe in the power of performance. Every person and organization has a story to tell and each deserves an opportunity to showcase it to the world in their own beautiful way.
What I do at Swaim Strategies: I help organizations to be seen. You already know what’s possible, we’re here to help others see it. I listen, empathize, question and analyze the inspiring work happening behind your cause and help you paint a clear picture to draw people in. I fuse together language and design to elevate your work in a way that creates lasting, meaningful change.
My experience: For the last 5+ years I’ve had the opportunity to hone my passion for cause-driven work at a handful of nonprofits. My professional experience encompasses a wide range of skills including marketing, fundraising and event planning—all of which led me to join the “Swaimily” as Content Writer + Copy Editor in early 2021.
What I believe in: The revolutionary activism of self-love. Loving yourself holds power to inspire others and create a more compassionate world for all.