Since 2023 he has managed all fundraising operations and oversaw an annual fundraising goal of $2.5 million.
PHILADELPHIA, PA, November 06, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jason Bennett Ward has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Ward has established an esteemed career in institutional advancement focusing on fundraising, content marketing and alumni engagement. As the director of institutional advancement at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia since 2023, he has managed all fundraising operations and oversaw an annual fundraising goal of $2.5 million. His role involves supporting the board, collaborating with strategic planning committees and guiding staff in managing their portfolios.
Leveraging years of previous success in these areas, Mr. Ward was a digital membership manager at WHYY in Philadelphia from 2022 to 2023 and the vice president of institutional advancement at The Philly POPS between 2021 and 2022. He was also affiliated with the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia as the director of alumni and parent engagement from 2017 to 2019 and then as the director of constituent engagement until 2021. During his tenure at Curtis, Mr. Ward identified the need for enhanced post-graduation support for students and successfully increased alumni donors from 100 to 700 through compelling storytelling and communication strategies. This achievement was pivotal in the early completion of a $250 million campaign, leaving a lasting impact on the institution.
Mr. Ward's career trajectory also included earlier roles at The Philly Pops, including external affairs director in 2017, senior manager of engagement from 2016 to 2017 and manager of education and community engagement between 2015 and 2016. His early years saw him working as a program coordinator for learning and leadership development at the League of American Orchestras in New York from 2013 to 2014. In addition to his primary career roles, Mr. Ward had the opportunity to serve as a guest lecturer at Drexel University between 2017 and 2022.
Mr. Ward graduated with a Bachelor of Music in French horn performance from UNCSA in 2011 and a Master of Music in French horn performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2013. He also obtained several professional designations that have bolstered his professional capabilities, including a certificate in digital marketing from the Goodwin College of Professional Studies at Drexel University and a Blackbaud certification in Raiser's Edge NXT.
Besides his primary career endeavors, Mr. Ward has been active as a member of several professional organizations, such as the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Greater Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Young Involved Philadelphia. Civically, he has been a board member of the Philadelphia Sinfonia Association since 2023 and a member of the marketing committee for the Greater Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals since 2024. Additionally, Mr. Ward contributes to local youth orchestras in Philadelphia as a board member and development committee participant.
Determined to continue excelling and making meaningful contributions to philanthropy and relationship building, Mr. Ward aims to secure a leading role with a budget and more prominent staff.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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