Making the leap: Expanding a traditional stewardship team into a full-service donor relations and engagement shop

Author's Biography

Melanie Armstrong is the Director of Donor Relations and Engagement at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is responsible for directing an institution-wide donor relations and engagement programme with a focus on endowed and major sponsored projects. Melanie received her bachelor’s degree in sociology and master’s degree in public administration with a certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has presented at conferences for the Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP), the Association of Advancement Service Professionals (AASP), and the Alabama Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She is a member of ADRP and AASP. She is a volunteer with various nonprofit organisations committed to making the lives better for neglected children.