Major gifts, fundraising, planned giving, start-up nonprofit organizations, capital campaigns

debra@capacitypartners.com

Debra uses her 20 years in banking to support her work in philanthropy for the last 23 years. Over the years, Debra has helped small to large nonprofits process their philanthropic strategies. She has spoken before many public forums sharing information about finance, nonprofits, and philanthropy.

At Capacity Partners, Debra has recently supported the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Food for Montgomery campaign and provided counsel to nonprofits on planned giving, capital campaigns, and fundraising. She has served other nonprofits as Director of Capital Campaigns, Senior Development Officer, Development Director, Director of Philanthropy, Development Officer, Major Gift Officer, and Legislative Liaison for Montgomery County, Maryland State, and US Federal Government Legislators. She teaches two classes at Montgomery College in Workforce Development Department about Nonprofit Fundraising and Grants: Writing to Win.

She has worked with several nonprofits improving their capabilities, including the American Red Cross National Capital Region, Family Services Inc, Hope for Cancer Support, DHS Hospital Foundation(University of Maryland Healthcare), Washington Adventist Hospital Foundation, University of Maryland at College Park, President/CEO of the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, and the YMCA, Metropolitan Washington.

Debra also teaches nonprofit classes at Montgomery College Business Training Center in Gaithersburg and classes for Nonprofit Village in Rockville, MD. Non-Profit Village awarded her an Award for an Individual Who Makes a Difference in 2013.

Debra is a native Washingtonian and a graduate of George Washington University.   She has a Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. She is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE).

Debra has worked with several nonprofits improving their capabilities, including the Greater Washington, Community Foundation, American Red Cross National Capital Region, Family Services Inc, Hope for Cancer Support, DHS Hospital Foundation(University of Maryland Healthcare), Washington Adventist Hospital Foundation, University of Maryland at College Park, President/CEO of the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, and the YMCA, Metropolitan Washington.

Debra is an active volunteer with The Seneca Community Church; The Peoples Community Baptist Church; Xi Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; First Executive Director, Pearl and Ivy Educational Foundation, Inc.; Past President and Treasurer of Jack and Jill of America Montgomery County; and Past Treasurer Boy Scout Troop 96 at The Peoples Community Baptist Church.  Over the years, her service has been with many civic and community groups, including Rotary, Kiwanis, NIH Liaison Committee, and Layhill South Civic Association.

She is presently serving as Parliamentarian for the Board of Directors of the Jewish Council for Aging, Chair of Development Task Force committee, nominating committee and Chief Executive Officer Selection Committee. Also, presently serving as Foundation committee chair for Downtown Silver Spring Rotary.

Debra is a Past Board Chair of Leadership Montgomery County, Maryland, and served on the Leadership Montgomery Programs Committee, having served as Past Chair.  She has also served on the Leadership Montgomery Core Recruitment and Selection Committees. Her service also includes Past Board Member of Interfaith Works, Montgomery County, Maryland.

Debra lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with her husband, Reverend Kenneth Nelson (Seneca Community Church), and is immensely proud of their four grown children (Justin, Michael, Isaac, and Michelle).