Ciara Ginyard

A native Washingtonian, Ciara Ginyard has close to 20 years’ experience as a community development manager and fundraiser. Her strengths and skills while working at numerous organizations national and internationally, focuses on creating organizational systems and processes to build capacities for sustainable programs.

Currently, Ciara serves as the Director of Development and External Relations at Brandeis International Business School (IBS). Brandeis IBS utilizes her fundraising expertise and has increased donations for within 6 months to exceed prior year’s totals from five to six figures to seven figures. Her fundraising strategy that incorporates multiple revenue streams are refreshing, innovative and successful. This also is reflective of her continual career success as prior to her work at Brandeis, Ciara served first as the Alumni Director (a new department) at the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and within was promoted to Assistant Vice-President of Member Engagement. This leadership allowed her to provide guidance to over five departments and 14 staff and stewards a portfolio of $8 million.

Two of the pivotal leadership develop and impactful career experiences was serving as a Detroit Revitalization Fellow through Wayne State University in partnership with Detroit Employment Solutions. As well as being selected as during her NUF mentorship component at the Annie E. Casey Foundation where she served as the Special Assistant to the Director of Evidence-based Practices. Ciara holds Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University and a Masters in Public Administration for CUNY- Baruch College. She is also an AmeriCorps and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.