Heather Carpenter

Current

Researcher at Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research, University of San Diego

Past

Adjunct Faculty and Program Coordinator at JFK University
Executive/Operations Director at The Jenna Druck Foundation
Assistant Director at Aspiration

Consultant and Trainer at Nonprofit Management Employment Alternatives
Operations Manager at Low-Income Families Empowerment through Education (LIFETIME)
Operations Coordinator at Christian International Scholarship Foundation (CISF)

see less...

3 more...

Education

University of San Diego
North Park University
San Diego State University

Cottey College

see less...

1 more...

Recommended

20 people have recommended Heather

Connections

284 connections

Industry

Non-Profit Organization Management

Heather Carpenter’s Summary

Heather has served as a Nonprofit Manager, Researcher, Trainer, and Blogger to nonprofit organizations for over eight years. She earned her M.M. in Nonprofit Administration from North Park University in Chicago, Illinois and she currently pursues her PhD in Leadership at the University of San Diego where she serves as a Researcher at the Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research. Heather teaches and presents on a variety of topics in the nonprofit sector, is an avid social media user and authors the well-known Nonprofit Leadership 601 blog.

Heather is also author and creator of three nonprofit management toolkits: Nonprofit Operations, Setting up a Nonprofit Office, and Starting a Nonprofit, and participates on a variety of national nonprofit committees including, but not limited to, the Nonprofit Sector Workforce Coalition, the Next Generation Leadership Forum and the Nonprofit Congress. Her current research interests include: nonprofit leadership, nonprofit workforce issues, capacity building for nonprofits, service-learning, nonprofit technology, and nonprofit education.

Heather Carpenter’s Specialties:

Nonprofit leadership, nonprofit workforce issues, capacity building for nonprofits, service-learning, nonprofit technology, nonprofit finance and nonprofit education.

Heather Carpenter’s Experience

Researcher

Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research, University of San Diego

(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

September 2007 — Present (2 years 3 months)

*Lead and assist research studies in a center whose mission is “to educate leaders and advance best practices in the nonprofit and philanthropic community through academic excellence, applied learning, and research that examines issues of strategic importance
to the sector.”
• Secure $50k grant from Kellogg Action Lab to lead research and evaluation efforts of Idealist’s new initiative Nonprofit Careers Month.
• Evaluate Nonprofit Leadership and Management Masters program by creating, administering and analyzing comprehensive alumni survey and interviewing local organizations about impact and use of students’ applied projects.
• Implement online portal and library to track Nonprofit Masters students’ online portfolios and display outstanding student applied projects.
• Present research at nonprofit related academic conferences including, but not limited to: the Academy of Management, the Nonprofit Congress, Nonprofit West Coast Data Conference, and ARNOVA.
* Awarded prestigious Viterbi Family Doctoral Fellowship for 2008-09 academic year.
*Co-teach graduate level nonprofit finance course.
Adjunct Faculty and Program Coordinator

JFK University

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

July 2007 — February 2009 (1 year 8 months)

*Developed and taught nonprofit management seminars.
o Jumpstart Your Passion: How to Successfully Start and Run Your Own Nonprofit Organization.
o Nonprofit Operations: Strategies and Steps for Successful Mission Achievement.
o Advanced Topics in Fundraising.
• Advised and directed creation of nonprofit focused leadership certificate program.
• Wrote business plan, curriculum plan and development plan while recruiting advisory board members for new certificate in Social Sector Leadership.
Executive/Operations Director

The Jenna Druck Foundation

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

August 2007 — March 2008 (8 months)

• Managed local social service agency whose mission is to assist families through the bereavement process and empower young women leaders in the community.
• Attempted to lead organization though founder transition, engaging in organizational planning and visioning to develop new organization structure and staff roles.
Assistant Director

Aspiration

(Privately Held; Staffing and Recruiting industry)

March 2006 — August 2007 (1 year 6 months)

• Oversaw and managed operations of international nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect nonprofits and NGOs with software solutions to better achieve their missions.
• Created and directed the San Francisco Nonprofit Technology Center, presiding over nonprofit specific software trainings in the 2,300 sq. ft. of collaborative work space with 6 nonprofit tenants.
• Streamlined event planning process and organized over 10 events and trainings per year.
• Improved marketing, communications and outreach strategies for increased event attendance.
• Administered fiscal sponsorship program, providing governance and fiscal advice to projects.
• Blogged about Nonprofit Management and Operations and interviewed by national women’s’ Blogging website.
Consultant and Trainer

Nonprofit Management Employment Alternatives

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

March 2003 — June 2007 (4 years 4 months)

*Guided organizations through the start-up phase of creating a Board of Directors, business plan, applying for 501c3 status and beginning fundraising efforts.
*Provided short-term administrative, accounting, information technology, human resources, and fundraising consulting to nonprofit organizations.
Operations Manager

Low-Income Families Empowerment through Education (LIFETIME)

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

October 2003 — February 2006 (2 years 5 months)

• Oversaw and managed administrative, finance and fundraising staff in performing daily operations of statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is to help low-income families pursue higher education and training to become self-sufficient.
• Planned and initiated comprehensive database system for organization including individual donor management system, refining donor record keeping, donor cultivation and gift recognition.
• Conducted grant record keeping and assisted writing programmatic and administrative grants.
• Engaged in strategic technology planning and budget process, overhauling website for improved donor cultivation.
• Coordinated annual direct mail appeal and quarterly mailings, employing bulk mail process for cost savings.
• Improved media tracking and posting system, revitalizing communications efforts.
• Revamped personnel manual, utilizing pro-bono attorney counsel for proper protocol with employment procedures.
• Successfully completed annual accounting audit process while balancing multiple operational demands
• Planned office relocation, improving employee morale and output with increased space.
Operations Coordinator

Christian International Scholarship Foundation (CISF)

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

August 2001 — November 2002 (1 year 4 months)

• Conducted daily activities for national nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to emerging world scholars pursuing PhD’s in the United States, interacting with the Board of Directors on a weekly basis, improving operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Managed finances and administered accounting reports, maintaining nonprofit accounting standards.
• Started gift-in-kind donation program for scholars, raising over $22k in in-kind donations, increasing community involvement.
• Co-organized and recruited advertisers for annual golf marathon, raising over $32k at first event.

Heather Carpenter’s Education

University of San Diego

PhD , Leadership , 2007 — 2011 (expected)

Activities and Societies:

American Humanics
North Park University

Masters of Management (MMNA) , Nonprofit Administration , 2002 — 2003
San Diego State University

B.S. , Business Administration, Management , September 1999 — May 2001

Activities and Societies:

American Humanics, IVCF
Cottey College

Associate Degrees , Arts and Sciences , 1997 — 1999

Activities and Societies:

Handbell Choir, IVCF, Phi Beta Lambda, Orientation Leader, Golden Key, Student Government Association