Peer to Peer Advanced Speaker Spotlight: Maria Clark

On November 4 and 5, NonProfit PRO is hosting its annual peer-to-peer fundraising conference: Peer to Peer Advanced. Taking place in the heart of Philadelphia, attendees will gain a wealth of knowledge on advanced and innovative peer-to-peer tactics and learn how to strategize for future peer-to-peer programs, learning how to create sustainable programs that will not only engage fundraisers, but retain them, too.

Maria Clark

During the session, “Embracing the Anonymous Fundraiser,” Maria Clark will describe how the American Cancer Society is dealing with a new donor and fundraiser base whose contact data we may never know.

NonProfit PRO has the exclusive opportunity to engage in a short Q&A with Maria to learn more about the state of peer-to-peer fundraising.

In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing peer-to-peer fundraising?  

Creating frictionless giving platforms for people to engage and meeting them where they are.

What is an innovative strategy your nonprofit is using to increase peer-to-peer participation? 

Social influencer campaign for acquisition of new participants using micro-targeted audiences.

How can nonprofits better engage and retain their constituents year after year?  

Storytelling to connect donors to the impact of the mission.

Maria Clark recently celebrated 30 years of service with the American Cancer Society. She currently serves as SVP, volunteer movements, and oversees strategy development, planning and implementation, support and training for volunteer driven events nationwide. Most recently, the Global Relay For Life platform was added to her management responsibilities. The 200M+ portfolio consists of domestic and Global Relay For Life and Gala events, as well as new strategies in community development.

Throughout her career, Maria has played a significant role in change management for both staff and volunteers, as the ACS continually evolves to better position itself as the leader in the cancer arena. She has deep expertise in volunteer management at all levels of the organization, a long history of successful staff management, possessing both grassroot and grass tops fundraising acumen, and is recognized for her ability to collaborate effectively across the ACS.

In her former role, she served as the national VP, distinguished partners, overseeing the nationwide gala and golf portfolio. Additional previous positions have honed her expertise in fundraising, operations, communications, government relations and staff management. She has deep community experience from her tenure as executive director, then regional vice president of the North Texas region, overseeing operations in Dallas, Tarrant and 20 surrounding counties.

Maria currently serves on the board of the Notre Dame School, a special needs kindergarten through post high school,and volunteers with Catholic Daughters of America, Leadership Dallas Alumni Association and the American Cancer Society. She was a member of the Dallas Regional Chamber's Leadership Dallas class of 2009 and served on the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association Board from 2010 through 2012. She is a founding member of the Chamber of Human Services Non-Profits and has a deep history with the non-profit community in Dallas.

She and her husband Derek live in Dallas and have two daughters, Devin and Corrie, who both live in Colorado.

If you’re interested in learning more from Maria (and engage in more next-level peer-to-peer thinking), secure your spot at Peer to Peer Advanced. Click here to learn more.