Hi! I’m Michelle Kennedy and I’m a writer, non-profit fundraising and administrative consultant, speaker. My mission is to help mission-based organizations develop strategic plans, focus fundraising efforts including individual donors, major gift development, and legacy giving as well as capital campaigns, and event planning including plans for both large conference-style or annual stakeholder events, and more regular, meeting and educational style events.
I have been a non-profit professional for about 15 years. I have been an expert development professional for seven. I have led small and large development campaigns at every non-profit level. My experience covers a variety of genres including human services, animal rights and rescue, and the performing arts. I am as at ease at developing a membership management and acquisition plan as I am organizing a full conference and bringing stakeholders together. My expertise at identifying major potential donors and increasing membership rolls is years in the making and I am excited to work with any non-profit that is looking to reach new goals.
But, I didn’t start out in non-profits. In fact, it was my beginnings as a writer and journalist that brought me to non-profit work. I was the known writer and so whenever someone needed a proposal for something for the Little League team or the Friends of Chelsea School, I was usually the one who wrote it. It was a humble beginning but I quickly learned that it was a way that I, someone who didn’t have a lot of ways to contribute to the greater good of the world, could contribute. So I started to use my storytelling, communications, and graphic design skills to help various organizations fundraise or just run things in the office.
After beginning my adulthood a little early and having my first baby at the age of 19 – I was thrust into motherhood quickly – and loved it. While a stay at home mom, I embraced the advice my mother always gave me and became a journalist and then a writer.
I spent years as a freelance journalist and then as a daily news reporter and editor for the Green Bay News-Chronicle and later, the Green Bay Press Gazette. During my time as a reporter, I started to explore writing essays for major publications and has been published in The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, Redbook, Family Circle, and was a featured author in Entertainment Weekly, Elle Magazine, Mother Jones, Publishers Weekly, and the Sunday New York Times Book Review.
My first books were short, parenting books for Barron’s Educational Publishing called The Last Straw Strategies. This is a series of eight books tackling all sorts of parenting issues.
Shortly after, my memoir, “Without a Net: Middle Class and Homeless (with kids) in America,” was published by Viking in 2005. It was then picked up as a paperback by Penguin Putnam and has been in print ever since.
I am devoted to the art of the essay and began the Real Quick podcast because I love reading and writing essays – and then reading them out loud. One of my dreams was always to read my work on NPR, and I had the joy of doing that a couple of times.
https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4568815/4568816
Unfortunately, it’s difficult as a new writer with a emerging voice to get those opportunities and have that experience. Real Quick gives a place for emerging – and re-emerging essay writers a place to read their work.
We are not all David Sedaris – nor should we be – but there are many funny, insightful writers that are worth hearing. Although if David Sedaris would like to contribute a piece to the podcast, I might fall over from the thrill (I’m a little anxious at heart).
On a sidenote, I once went to a David Sedaris event and found myself standing next to him at the book signing table before he spoke. I couldn’t think of a thing to say that would be even reasonably pithy enough. So quiet I remained. You’d think I’d regret that – but I don’t really. I just really wish I could have thought of something entertaining to say!
I am a frequent speaker at events, especially for writers, homeschoolers, podcasters, parents, and anyone who wants or thinks they want to live off-grid. As a non-profit professional for many years, I am certified in development and frequently consult and speak to companies on communications and development on both a small and large scale.
If you are a non-profit seeking an affordable way to increase your donor-sourced funds, or you’d like me to speak at an event or just say hello, please email me at [email protected]