Strengthening Nonprofits for Lasting Impact
Strategies for Success
There are a lot of transitions and disruptions in the nonprofit sector right now, and the most significant challenge for all nonprofits is to secure healthy funding year after year.
Let me lift the burden off so you can focus on delivering your mission.
Passionate Advocate
Jee Yon Pae (Jee) has 26 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and 16 years in fundraising for organizations large (+$60M) and small (<$1M). Whether it's helping an organization scale its fundraising capacity or helping established nonprofits reset to operate more sustainably, Jee is passionate about empowering social impact organizations to access the resources they need to serve their communities well.
In 2022, Jee launched in-JEE-nious Development Solutions LLC with the goal to help as many nonprofits build strong fundraising programs so that they can operate more sustainably. She attributes her trajectory on a meaningful life and career to her Teach For America experience in 2002.
Jee earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and Spanish from Sweet Briar College, and her certificate for Counseling Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Persons from George Washington University.
Core Values
Open & Transparent Communication
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What is best for the organization and the community it serves?
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Am I using data, facts, and listening to people with lived experiences to make the best decision for the organization and for those it serves?
Good Stewardship
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Am I being responsible, ethical, and kind with people, time and resources?
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Am I taking care of people and funds with excellence?
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Is my work and how I interact with others of top quality?
Healthy Leadership In Progress
We are all deeply flawed, loved, and valued.
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Am I working towards healthy leadership with humility and grace?
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Am I uplifting the vulnerable, using my power for good?
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Challenging the status quo if it's not serving the greater good?
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Am I choosing to do the right thing even if it's costly to me?
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Am I surrounding myself and seeking out opportunities to learn and work with people who are different from me?
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Do I have challengers who provide perspectives that are different from mine?
My Experience
In November 2022, I decided to start a new chapter in my career as an independent fundraising consultant. On December 3, 2022, in-JEE-nious Development Solutions LLC was incorporated. I've learned so much in the field, and often, I had to think outside the box to solve complex problems. I've also been trained really, really well.
Consulting, Problem Solving, and Project Management
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Worked with McKinsey & Company consultants for four years.
Strong Emotional Intelligence to Communicate & Engage
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From board members to high-net-worth individuals to program participants.
Public Speaking, Time Management, and Tracking & Measuring Progress
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Spent two years as a Teach For America Corps Member in Washington, D.C., and one year as a mentor for a Corps Member.
Disciplined and Professionally Trained Writer
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Spent one year working with Pulitzer-winning journalists, and copy editors from Wall Street Journal.
Every workplace is bound to undergo some sort of transition or disruption and these changes seem to be happening more frequently. I want to share what I've learned in order to help lift the burden and help you better secure your organization's financial future. Let me put my training and insights to work for you so you can focus on leading and delivering.
I'm a bit unconventional, but effective.
A Fundraising Expert with Results
2018–2022 | Development Director > Chief Development Officer | GENERATION USA
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A nonprofit founded by McKinsey & Company in 2015 to develop innovative approaches to complex social challenges; In 2018, I was hired as Generation USA's first development to grow its revenue from $6M to $12M in just two years while concurrently building the development department from scratch.
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During my first 15 months, I personally secured $5.8M in new philanthropic and public partnerships.
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Built a team of fundraisers that grew the organization's portfolio from five U.S. funders to 50+ institutional funders; zero individuals to 224 individual donors; 30% board giving participation rate to 100% board giving participation rate.
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Led efforts to design and execute a plan to achieve sustainability, and to implement tactics to work towards steadier revenue that included diversifying funding streams, establishing core funding streams, and increasing new donor and funder acquisitions.
2016–2018 | Development Director | CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK
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Re-organized department and led the organization into an excellent financial position during my first complete fiscal year. Revenue came in at $2.4M (22%) more than previous fiscal year, and total revenue was up by $2.6M (16%).
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Hired, coached, and supported growth of a cross-generational fundraising team and build structure and systems for strong operations and accountability. Identified inefficiencies and led the department through a SWOT analysis process in my first 100 days that resulted in a successful fundraising year.
2008–2015 | Development & Communications Director > Chief Development Officer | URBAN ALLIANCE
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Operated in a one-person development and communication shop that leveraged volunteers, pro-bono and expanded fundraising activities from 33 institutional funders and individuals that contributed $900K to 54 institutional funders and 37 individual donors that contributed $1.9M to the organization's budget.
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Prolific and successful grant writer who increased number of institutional partners to 120, and built an entire server of grant materials.
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Part of a high performing senior leadership team that led organization to transformational growth; scaled its efforts from local to national, and expanded the nonprofit's capacity from a budget of $1M to $7M.
Clients
Since launching IDS in 2022, I've had the opportunity to partner with a diverse group of social impact organizations.
