Experienced fundraiser Nancy Simpson-Banker has extensive background in capital campaigns for human service organizations
- Nancy Simpson-Banker (left) joins Anne Favaloro and The Children’s Room staff as the new Director of Development
ARLINGTON, February 22, 2012—The Children’s Room of Arlington announces today that Nancy Simpson-Banker has joined the nonprofit as its Director of Development. Simpson-Banker has extensive experience stewarding major gift donors, and in running capital campaigns for human service organizations. Simpson-Banker was, most recently, the Director of Recruitment and Training for University Advancement for Boston College.
Simpson-Banker is the first full-time director of development at The Children’s Room, which was founded in 1999. Previously, The Children’s Room’s current Director of Communications, Anne Favaloro, also had the title Director of Development and split her time between development and communications responsibilities. Favaloro will expand her communications role at The Children’s Room and assist as Simpson-Banker assumes full responsibility for development initiatives.
“Nancy is a talented professional with an extensive background in capital campaigns and major gifts. She is passionate about our mission, which is to help grieving children, teens, and families to go on living fully. Bereaved families come to us in emotional, spiritual, and financial crisis. They have critical needs, and Nancy knows that we can’t do our work without a strong base of financial support,” said Donna Sharff, executive director of The Children’s Room. “We are also very excited that Anne will be devoting all of her energies to marketing and communications. We’re looking forward to expanding our profile within the communities we serve.”
Simpson-Banker has participated in numerous development campaigns over the last 25 years, including an $11 million capital campaign for Mt. Auburn Hospital. She cultivated Faulkner Hospital’s first-ever $1 million gift, and doubled annual fundraising revenues during her seven-year tenure. She has presented on development, special-event fundraising, and major gifts for professional associations and conferences. She lives in Needham where she is an active member of the First Parish of Needham.
“This is an amazing opportunity to raise funds for services and programs that change people’s lives,” said Simpson-Banker. “The Children’s Room nurtures families and individuals who are in deep emotional crises as a result of premature death. This is an issue that affected me deeply when I was a teen, and I feel privileged to be in a position where I can now help others in the same position.”
Favaloro, a former producer for WGBH and book editor, will be expanding her role creating multimedia, video, and print projects for The Children’s Room. “This is a very exciting opportunity,” said Favaloro. “There are a lot of stories to tell about the life-changing work that happens at The Children’s Room, and I look forward to sharing those stories.”
