Mindy N. Hargis Expertise: Strategic fund development, Prospect research & assessment, and Board strategy & recruitment Full Biography: As managing partner of Crux Consulting Group, Inc., Ms. Hargis provides clients with strategic fund development counsel, prospect research and assessments, fund development strategic planning, and board strategy and recruitment. She works collaboratively with client staff and board members to implement the fund development strategy including writing letters of inquiry, drafting proposals, and attending meetings with prospective donors/partners. Ms. Hargis also works with clients on peripheral fundraising activities including securing celebrity spokespeople, recruiting for advisory boards, event planning, and media relations.

While working for Crux Consulting, Ms. Hargis also formed Strategic Applications International (SAI), a consulting firm that helps non-profit organizations build and sustain their capacity by providing high quality fundraising, grant writing, and strategic services, which are tailored to meet the needs of each client Ms. Hargis was responsible for supporting clients with fund development, marketing, and communications services in addition to serving as SAI's chief operating officer, which involved developing proposals, managing client contracts, developing project budgets, and managing other operational issues.

Prior to starting SAI, Ms. Hargis served as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), a national non-profit public health research institute with a $30 million operating budget and 12 centers throughout the country. Ms. Hargis was the only fundraising professional on staff, and was responsible for obtaining financial support for the work of the International Institute for Alcohol Awareness (IIAA) as well as other PIRE projects. Ms. Hargis accomplished her work by developing marketing materials to promote IIAA; researching, identifying, and securing private sector funding opportunities; and building and maintaining long-term strategic partnerships with corporations and corporate foundations.

Prior to joining PIRE, Ms. Hargis was the Senior Advisor to the President for Development at the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), home of McGruff the Crime Dog® and the "Take A Bite Out Of Crime" ® campaign. As the only full-time development staff she was responsible for securing private sector funding opportunities for the agency; working with the board of directors and executive committee to accomplish goals; developing strategic alliances with corporations; managing the individual solicitation program; establishing workplace and Internet-based giving campaigns; and managing programs for which funding was generated.

Ms. Hargis' other endeavors include serving as the Director of Marketing & Communications for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), a membership-based organization of more than 5,000 substance abuse and violence prevention coalitions nationwide; serving as the Marketing Coordinator for Britches of Georgetowne, Inc., a menswear retailer located in Northern Virginia until 2002; and serving on the Board of Directors of Literacy Volunteers of America – National Capital Area from 1999-2002.

Ms. Hargis holds a BS in International Business/Marketing and a minor in Psychology from The American University and an MBA with a concentration in Marketing from The George Washington University.