Sara Marie Arias
San José,COSTA RICA
Summary
Highly skilled and enthusiastic professional with more than ten years of experience in strategic donor relations and stewardship in higher education and the multicultural-nonprofit sector. Successfully oversees stewardship planning, execution and evaluation for donors in the US, Europe and the Americas. Skilled in grant and proposal writing, donor reporting, editing, and translating (Spanish and English). Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Cultural Management from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a graduate degree in Communications and Public Relations from the University of Costa Rica.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Stewardship and Donor Relations Coordinator
EARTH University
Mercedes, Limon
03.2016 - Current
- -Experienced communicator with ademonstrated history of working in stewardship and donor and student relations in higher education and nonprofit sectors.
- -Manages communications with over 400 students from over 40 countries, faculty, and active donors in the USA, Europe, and Central and South America.
- -Skilled in grant and proposal writing, donor reporting and relations, editing, and translating(Spanish and English).
Development Proposal Writer
EARTH University
Limon, Limon
08.2013 - 02.2016
Assistant to the Director of Foundations and Grants in North America. Grant writing, donor relations, stewardship, donor events. Translator English-Spanish. Member of EARTH University's Intercultural Committee for the Mastercard Foundation.
Internship
Buffalo Arts Studio
Buffalo, NY
01.2012 - 05.2012
-Development Intern at Buffalo Arts Studio (BAS) Buffalo, NY.
-Coordinated a grant proposal for a new Arts & English as a Second Language education program aimed at refugee populations in the city of Buffalo New York.
-Also, coordinated a fundraising project researching the annual appeal campaigns and annual membership strategies of other Arts related for-profit and not-for- profit organizations in the Buffalo area and compare them to the current BAS strategies.
Public Relations Coordinator
Enfoque A La Familia Costa Rica
San Jose, San Jose
06.2007 - 10.2009
-Executive Assistant to the President Costa Rica Office.
-Public Relations and donor stewardship coordinator with local donors.
-Donor events and communications.
-Interpreting and translating. Spanish and English.
Public Relations Coordinator
Roblealto Childcare Association
San Jose, San Jose
07.2003 - 03.2006
-Public Relations and donor communications coordinator.
-Oversaw the implementation of new internal communications plan and corporate image redesign.
-Donor visit coordination and communications.
-Translation and interpreting, Spanish and English.
Education
Master of Arts - Arts And Cultural Management
State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo
Buffalo, NY05.2011
Graduate Degree (Licenciature) - Public Relations
University of Costa Rica
San Jose, Costa Rica 03.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
University of Costa Rica
San Jose, Costa Rica 03.2001
High School Diploma -
Lawrence High School
Lawrence, KS05.1996
Skills
- Advisor and assistant to high management and VP´s
- Networking and relationship building and stewardship
- Stewardship planning
- Leadership
- Donor research
- Donor development
- Grants Management
- Proofreading and Editing
- Bilingual, interpreter and translator English and Spanish
- Multicultural experience in higher education
Accomplishments
1996-Recipient of President’s Education Award for academic achievement. Lawrence High School.
-2001: Received the ¨Bachelors of Honor Award¨ and was the first in the class, School of Public Relations and Communications at the University of Costa Rica.
-2011-2012: Member of the Graduate Student Association for the Arts Management Program, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
-2011-13: Fulbright Program Grantee. Awarded with the Fulbright Scholarship, from the US Government in the Costa Rica Program.
-2011: Received full tuition (100%) award from the Department of Arts Management at the State University of Buffalo in New York.
- 2011: Merit Award and Honors Graduation Award for the Graduate Degree in Public Relations at the University of Costa Rica, San Pedro.
Timeline
Stewardship and Donor Relations Coordinator
EARTH University
03.2016 - Current
Development Proposal Writer
EARTH University
08.2013 - 02.2016
Internship
Buffalo Arts Studio
01.2012 - 05.2012
Public Relations Coordinator
Enfoque A La Familia Costa Rica
06.2007 - 10.2009
Public Relations Coordinator
Roblealto Childcare Association
07.2003 - 03.2006
Master of Arts - Arts And Cultural Management
State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo
Graduate Degree (Licenciature) - Public Relations
University of Costa Rica
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
University of Costa Rica
High School Diploma -
Lawrence High School