Jackie Garcia joined Hudson Guild in November of 2018. With nearly 20 years of experience in fundraising and marketing/communications, she is responsible for the strategic oversight of all development and external relations functions for the organization. In addition to the general management, she oversees all areas of fundraising including grant writing, individual giving, volunteer management, and board development. Previously, she was Director of Development & Communications with Madison Square Boys & Girls Club where she led fundraising efforts that resulted in nearly $5 million of annual revenue. Jackelyn is a CFRE and holds a B.A. from Allegheny College and a Certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University. She serves on the Board of Trustees at City Living NY.
WID: As a community organization dedicated to serving vulnerable residents of Chelsea, what opportunities and challenges has the Hudson Guild experienced since 2020?
Jackie: The COVID-19 pandemic presented one of the most challenging times for the Guild. We quickly had to respond to the needs of both our staff and our neighbors. This meant distributing laptops and tablets, arranging for meal deliveries, and everything in-between. One of the biggest outgrowths of the pandemic was food insecurity. As an organization, we are now looking to better respond to and fill the need for food for participants of all ages. We are also expanding our services to assist with job training and readiness.
WID: What are your fundraising priorities as New York continues to rebuild and recover from COVID-19?
Jackie: We all know how important diverse revenue streams are to achieving optimal organizational health. At the Guild, our focus is just that. Our efforts are focused on researching, pursuing, and securing new private foundation grants and new or increased gifts from individual donors. We are continuing to work with existing grantors and requesting multi-year grants when available, collaborating with other community based organizations when it is appropriate and feasible to apply together, increasing communications with our donors, and creating more peer-to-peer fundraising opportunities.
WID: How has WID been helpful to you in your career and as a leader in the Development field?
Jackie: WID offers a phenomenal network of professionals in fundraising to lean on. Whether it’s keeping up with trends, learning about the latest best practices, sharing ideas, or professional development opportunities, the resources that WID provides have been invaluable. WID has also given me the chance to give back and mentor others, which has also been really fulfilling.
WID: What upcoming WID events are you most looking forward to?
Jackie: I’m really looking forward to the next in-person event. I hope the spring luncheon is able to take place in-person – it’s always great to connect with my peers.