Ken Kempcke

ViTreo Group, Research Lead, September 2012 – present.

As Research Lead with ViTreo, a full-service fundraising and non-profit leadership development firm, I work with clients to provide prospect profiles, build prospect lists, identify campaign funding sources, develop prospect management plans and processes, and lead fundraising research workshops. Recent clients include the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Alzheimer's Society of Calgary, YMCA of Hamilton Burlington Brantford, Canadian Mental Health Association, Covenant Health, Lethbridge Polytechnic, Olds College, Royal Tyrrell Museum, Saskatoon Public Library, Sinai Health, Greenpeace International, Jane Goodall Institute, Calgary Public Library, National Music Centre, and YW Calgary.

United Way of Greater Victoria, Senior Advisor, Prospect Research, June 2017 – January 2019.

Led, developed, and executed the UW’s research and donor management processes, systems, and duties related to individuals, corporations, and foundations. Working as part of an integrated resource development team and in conjunction with the Finance and Information Technology department, I developed prospect and donor management systems and processes related to UW's CRM platform and built the research, data collection, and fundraising capacity of the organization.

RESOLVE, Prospect Researcher, February 2015 - June 2017

     RESOLVE was a unique collaboration of nine partner agencies raising $120 million to build affordable and supported

     rental housing for 3,000 vulnerable and homeless Calgarians. I was responsible for all aspects of prospect 

     management and research. The research phase of the campaign concluded in June 2017 and the overall campaign

     was completed in March 2018 after successfully reaching its goal.

Lethbridge College, Development Information Coordinator, May 2010 – August 2012.

Responsibilities: All prospect research performed in the College’s Office of Development & Alumni Relations and administration of the office’s Raiser’s Edge database. Also responsible for prospect management tracking, gift processing, campaign reporting, statistical analysis, grant writing, and ad hoc research requests. I utilized on-line reference and information systems to produce accurate, timely, comprehensive profiles and ratings on prospective donors to the college, including individuals, corporations, and foundations. Handled confidential materials and discussions with the highest degree of ethics. I served in an advisory capacity to other fundraising staff regarding fundraising strategies and other institutional objectives within the context of the research conducted. I also assisted in training colleagues in Raiser’s Edge, creating reports for alumni, and answering questions concerning prospect management and fundraising campaign issues.

University of Nevada, Donor Relations Writer, November 2006 – February 2010.

Responsibilities: Design templates and wording for correspondence with donors. Draft correspondence to major donors on behalf of the University President and Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations. Produce articles and advertisements for the University of Nevada alumni magazine as well as copy for university press releases and web pages. Produce and edit weekly department newsletter. Draft scholarship agreements. Track and record correspondence, reports, and agreements in Raiser’s Edge (development software). Articulate evidence of the impact of major gifts in financially-based endowment reports. Provide updates on building projects to major donors. Work as part of a team of development officers, deans, and faculty to develop strategies to strengthen ties with friends, donors, and prospective students and encourage their commitment to the University.

University of Nevada, Coordinator of Prospect Research, January 2006 – November 2006.

Responsible for coordinating the Development Office’s prospect research and data support programs, collecting and managing biographical, grant, and foundation information, maintaining the department’s central prospect research files database (Raiser’s Edge) and reference library, and disseminating information to appropriate groups across the Development and Alumni Services Division. Member of a research and information services group that identified prospective donors.  Locate, compile, organize, analyze, synthesize, summarize, and report public and confidential information about University of Nevada alumni and friends. Together with individual giving directors, participate in formulating suggestions for qualification of prospects and prospect management strategies.

Montana State University, Renne Library, Reference Librarian, January 1997 – June 2005.    

  Instruction Coordinator, January 1999 – January 2001 and March 2003 – September 2003.

Responsible for providing comprehensive public services at the library’s main reference desk and special collections service desk including phone and electronic mail reference assistance, CD-ROM, Internet and online searching, and government documents. Conduct library instruction classes in a variety of subject disciplines and coordinate all aspects of the library’s instruction program (January 1999-January 2001 and March 2003 – September 2003). Serve on library and university committees, participate in regional and national library organizations, write grants and reports, and conduct research and collection development in the humanities, social sciences, and information sciences.

Texas A&M University, Sterling C. Evans Library, Social Science Reference Librarian, February 1994 - December 1996,

  Head, Instructional Services, July 1995 - June 1996. 

Responsible for providing comprehensive public services including assistance at the library’s main reference desk and computer laboratory. Also involved in bibliographic instruction, committee work, and collection development related to the social sciences and humanities. Served as Head of Instructional Services with primary responsibilities of scheduling and coordinating all of the Evans Library’s information literacy programs for a campus of 42,000 students.