Beers Named UMaine Development Vice President
Contact: Joe Carr at 581-3571
ORONO – Barbara Beers, a 1974 University of Maine graduate with more than 20 years of experience in fundraising and related activities, has been named vice-president for development at her alma mater. In this role, Beers will oversee UMaine’s development activities, which include private fundraising, donor relations, corporate support and stewardship.
In January, UMaine began a six-year, $150 million private fundraising campaign. It is the largest such initiative in UMaine history.
“Barbara is exceptionally qualified to assume this important role,” says UMaine President Robert A. Kennedy. “Her experience and leadership skills will enable us to meet the considerable challenges that come with a campaign of this magnitude and importance for UMaine’s future.”
Beers was chosen following a national search.
Since 1992, Beers has been president of Beers Associates, Consultants in Philanthropy, a Bangor-based fundraising firm that provided development services to Maine non-profit organizations. She was a Maine Public Broadcasting Network executive for 15 years, serving first as director of public information and for ten years as director of development.
Her consulting work has included guiding campaigns for several colleges, including the University of Maine’s campaign to raise funds to build the Buchanan Alumni House — the largest single fundraising effort in UMaine’s history. Her firm was also responsible for the fundraising that brought the National Folk Festival to Bangor and provided an endowment for the Bangor Symphony Orchestra.
“We have been very impressed with Barbara’s organizational skills and her deep knowledge of all that goes into managing a successful fundraising operation,” Kennedy says. “We are off to a very good start, due in no small part to Barbara’s ability to help develop the foundation that will continue to serve us well as the campaign continues.”
As of the end of February, year-to-year giving managed by UMaine’s development office was up by 60 percent, and has already exceeded the Fiscal Year 2005 total.
Kennedy also credits Beers for her work in helping to recruit and organize the campaign’s volunteer committee, which is helping to guide the university’s management of the campaign.
Beers lives in Dixmont and is married to Dennis Beers. They have two sons, Nicholas and Thomas.