EPIC-N alumna Amanda Baca works in advancement to improve the quality of life and social wealth of people on this planet
Amanda Baca
Director of Donor Relations (Major Gifts),
Holt International Children’s Services
amandab@holtinternational.org
Amanda’s LinkedIn
Favorite Place
I love Eugene, Oregon! Living in an urban area that is very well integrated within its natural surroundings is a dream.
What was your first interaction with a school-community partnership project?
Working in a student group in a Nonprofit Law Course that partnered with local nonprofits in the area. This exposed me to several organizations that focused on ecological issues where collaboration between the student group and nonprofit was essential in growing the organization’s reach, work, and fundability.
How did you first learn about EPIC-N?
Through the University of Oregon I worked in advancement and was assigned to the college that housed the UO’s EPIC Model program, the Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP). I also participated in SCYP as a masters student. Recently I was reconnected with EPIC-N through Marshall Curry!
What are some of the top priorities you are working on this year?
Donor retention.
In what ways are you looking to engage, or work with others, either from within the EPIC-Network, or in general?
I model my work as being a nexus of philanthropic goals and organizational needs. Connecting people to people, resources to causes so that impact can be made to better our world.
What led you to participate within the EPIC-Network in your current capacity?
Because my ambition is to improve the quality of life and social wealth of people on this planet we call home, this is a perfect network to work with/in. I believe exchanging knowledge and experience with like-minded individuals to better our human condition is necessary, maybe now more than ever.
What are you hoping attendees will take with them after attending the Approaching Advancement presentation?
A better understanding of the role of Advancement and how to build a collaborative working relationship with those officers and donors to create more impact.
Bio
Amanda Baca is a Director of Donor Relations for Major Gifts at Holt International, an NGO working in 14 different countries internationally. Previously, Amanda was the Program Coordinator for the College of Design Office of Development at the University of Oregon. She has years of experience in higher education fundraising, donor and community relations, public speaking, and writing. She has also for years been engaged as a volunteer with several community organizations, especially focusing on the arts, education, and theatre. Amanda’s first career was in theatrical design and dance choreography.
