About Me

Kate Fitzsimmons possesses more than twenty-five years of business and nonprofit experience. Her interviewing and writing skills were honed as a Contributing Editor to The San Francisco Review of Books and Maiden Voyages magazines. She also worked as a freelance reporter for the Pacific Sun and contributed commentaries to KQED’s “Perspectives” series. Just prior to beginning her consulting career in 2004, she served as a Development Director for an Oakland-based nonprofit with a budget of over two million dollars. She believes that crafting stories to effectively communicate the heart, vision and mission of an organization is second only to the important work done in service to that mission. To be truly successful, communication and fundraising efforts require acceptance and support from the entire organization. The story comes from people engaged in the work – whether it is the staff person answering the phone, the board member attending a community luncheon or each person in between – especially those people who change their lives, because the organization helped them gather the tools to make it happen. The craft is in telling the story in a way that motivates people to act. Kate has studied the craft of storytelling. Her interviews with writers like John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates, and Alice Walker required her to pay close attention to their novels and short stories. She understands the value of knowing her subject. Good writing engages the reader – otherwise, they don’t turn the page, or give generously to support a good cause. Compelling materials highlight work that can help an agency stand out. Kate brings both a solid business sense and a passion for effective communication to her role as a writer, who fund raises. In working on grants with smaller non-profits, or larger ones creating new programs, she is skilled at assisting program staff to articulate the nuances of program design, development and evaluation. Her project management skills help guide the grant process from initial idea, to researching the match of programs to potential funders, through individual proposal development, submission and funder stewardship. She possesses extensive experience writing case statements for fundraising campaigns and developing communications strategies. As a former member of the media, she appreciates an effectively pitched story. She also knows that many nonprofits are not prepared to speak to the press, especially when the opportunity comes unexpectedly. Reporters often can’t wait for a call back from “just the perfect spokesperson.” It is no secret that getting the media’s attention is often one of timing and relationships. She works with organizations to provide simple tips to use “old” media and “new” media to keep an organization’s name in front of their target audiences. Many organizations worry that they don’t have an official Public Relations department in this overdosed information-age. She works with organizations to develop simple ways to engage the board, volunteers, participants and key staff in the media process. Education BA Double major in Creative Writing and English Literature - magna cum laude, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 1988