Bleu Blakslee

Responsible for Major Gifts and Planned Giving for the Pacific Northwest region including Alaska, California (N. California), Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Save the Children is $675 million international charity, leading lasting change for children in the United States and worldwide. Responsibilities include working with donors and prospects who have a capacity to make a five to seven figure gift. Exceeded personal goals two years in a row with a team goal of $22M in 2013 and $28M in 2014 increasing giving within assigned Major Gift prospects by 250% over two years.

Responsible for all Major Gift and Planned Giving activities in the Pacific Northwest Region including Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Northern and Southern California, Oregon and Washington.  Work remotely from Oregon.  Mercy Ships is a $55 million international nonprofit operating a fleet of hospital ships in developing countries since 1979 providing surgical, dental and medical services to those in need.  Responsibilities include: prospecting, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding all major gift and planned gift donors within the region linking supporters to the work of Mercy Ships International. Additionally, responsible for all corporate and foundation giving within the region.  Worked with donors and prospects who have capacity to make a four to seven figure gift.  Exceeded regional goals in the first year.

Responsible for all Major Gift and Planned Giving activity in the Pacific Northwest Region including Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Northern California, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.  Worked remotely from Oregon.  Responsibilities include prospecting, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding all major gift and planned gift donors within the region linking supporters to the work ChildFund International does around the world in over 30 countries.  ChildFund International is a $238M international nonprofit working in the United States and in 30 countries to support children's needs.  Surpassed regional fundraising goal by 300% in the first year.  Increased revenue within the region by 25% in the second year.

Responsible for directing and managing the largest Autism conference in the US and internationally with over 2,000 attendees.  Worked remotely from OR with staff in DC and board and vendors across the US.  Managed all aspects of raising sponsorship dollars to support the conference including making the ask for five figure corporate sponsorship gifts.  Reviewed and executed vendor contracts while managing a $580,000 conference budget. Conference details included over 200 breakout sessions, 3 keynote sessions, 3 medical professional continuing education certification tracks including: CME, CEU and BCBA.

Development Director for a leading hospital system in the Pacific Northwest.  Responsible for all fundraising activities for four foundations in the Legacy Health System including: Meridian Park Hospital Foundation, Visiting Nurses Association Foundation, Hopewell House Hospice, and Mount Hood Medical Center Foundation.  Main responsibilities included Major Gift and Planned Gift fundraising.  Additional responsibilities included annual giving, special events, direct mail and management of team members.  Legacy Health System philanthropy department is the largest locally owned nonprofit healthcare system in Oregon and SW Washington.

Worked for a number of local, national and international nonprofit clients including start-ups.  Focus for clients was strategic Development planning and Major Gift acquisition.  Major Gift acquisition included $1M+ individual and corporate asks.  Specific focus included Federal Grant RFPs, Foundations, Corporations and individual Gifts.

Responsible for $2 million in annual funding for one of the state's leading nonprofits at $30M.  Responsibilities included handling all annual giving activities along with starting a major gifts and planned giving program.  Annual giving responsibilities included marketing, public relations, fundraising database management, cause-related corporate marketing, direct mail, annual gift solicitation, special events, major gifts, planned gifts, and city, state and federal fundraising campaigns.  Managed a department of 5 staff members.  Directed three major annual events including: gala dinner honoring high profile groups including US Senator Daniel K. Inouye, 442nd Infantry and NASA Astronaut Onizuka with revenue of $250,000 plus in the first year; statewide drive involving over 2,000 volunteers with revenue of $260,000; and statewide Letter Carriers drive involving a statewide campaign.  Worked iwth various coalitions representing the Hawaii Food Industry, Hotel Industry, Banks, Media, State Employees and others.  Managed fundraising related board committees.  Surpassed all fundraising goals set during tenure.

Responsible for managing the operations budget and logistics for the nationally televised college football bowl game held in Hawaii. Managed a team of staff members. Other Involvement included largest 3 on 3 basketball tournament in the state, supporting and promoting the Aloha Bowl and Hula Bowl games, management and fundraising efforts around other complimentary events.

Responsible for all fundraising activities for the state of Hawaii including efforts on all neighbor islands.  Planned, coordinated and managed Jerry Lewis state telethon in partnership with leading television network in Hawaii. Responsibilities included special events, individual giving, direct mail, corporate and foundation sponsorships, public relations and corporate cause-related marketing.  Surpassed all fundraising goals.

Managed logistics for a team of five Development professionals who traveled internationally and nationally.  Focus included special events, corporate cause-related marketing, fundraising and sponsorship relations.

“Excels at organizing and managing people and events.

Complete Reference from Linda Chu Takayama

“Bleu is a rare find in the business world today. She brings exceptional business acumen, delivers excellent results and manages relationships with a high level of professionalism and integrity. People love working with Bleu.

“Bleu is an excellent team member and excellent fund raiser.

Complete Reference from Scott Philiips

“Bleu Blakslee coordinated and ran the Autism Society's annual conferences in 2007 and 2008. She was extremely detailed oriented and did an excellent job in mananaging the many aspects of this large conference.

“I had the pleasure in working with Bleu for several years in the cultivation of major and planned gifts for a major international humanitarian organization.....

“Bleu is a highly effective, self motivated , talented development professional. She is able to build strong relationships with people from all walks of life.

Business, Minority Studies, French