Ricardo Benavides resume, director, network and community building, Schmidt Futures.

1. Client Support – With a “white glove” approach, fundraising, stewardship, and management of a
portfolio of UHNW individual, family, and private foundation clients with an annual grant portfolio of
$6M (within the larger corporate portfolio of $100M+). Grant areas range from climate and
environmental justice, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, social justice, collaborative and
community philanthropy. Coordinate production and logistics of deliverables including planning &
tracking project calendars; tracking client interactions; research, synopsis writing, draft creation; and
drafting presentations & supporting logistics for speaking engagements, trainings, & events. Grant
management and tracking. Donor stewardship, process development, and fundraising. Develop and
maintain CRM, grantmaking, and fundraising databases.
Sustainable Business Practices – Manage the firm’s sustainable development goals, implement policies
and practices related to benefit corporation process, and develop and oversee annual and ongoing risk
assessments.
Communications – Develop and operationalize the overall communications and brand strategy including
web presence, blog, and newsletter.
Consulting position with the Foundation where I design and implement a learning plan which will build on
the collective knowledge and competency of staff around issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and
belonging as they initiate plans to hire a full time DEI position.
Deliverables include: Foundation audit, collaborative learning opportunities, workshops, speaker series
and pre- and post-work, virtual learning library, and reporting.
Strategy – Responsible for management of the state-level PAC budgets and processing PAC
disbursements. Oversee the PAC record keeper to ensure appropriate reporting in compliance with
state and federal campaign finance laws.
Communications – Responsible for developing creative content for all PAC communications, including
educational and solicitation materials, annual and semi-annual reports, newsletters, and the PAC
website, that articulates key messages, purpose, vision, and goals.
INT 400 – Global Visionary Leadership, Summer 2022, online/asynchronous. A variable topics course
that examines the life and work of a visionary person or persons outside the U.S. whose theories and/or
actions have effected deep change. The impact of these visionary ideas and actions result in paradigm
shifts within global cultures, institutions, societies, and worldviews.
INT 401 – American Visionary Leadership, Winter 2022, online/asynchronous. A variable topics course
that focuses on the life and work of a significant contributor to the American mosaic and thereby the
United States' vision of diversity.
INT 314 – Life Journeys, Fall 2022, online/asynchronous. Students examine their own identity by
means of personal and critical reflection through works selected from literature, mythology, philosophy,
and art.
EXPERIENCE
Senior Associate
Ktisis Capital | 09/2020-Present
DEI Learning Coordinator
Grand Rapids Community Foundation | 07/2022-Present
Strategist and Communications Director
West Michigan Progress PAC | 10/2021-Present
Adjunct Faculty
Integrative, Religious, and Intercultural Studies, Grand Valley State University | 11/2021-Present
R I C A R D O B E N A V I D E Z
Setting Strategy. Connecting People. Igniting Passion.
I am passionate about people, their identities, and their experiences. I commit my time and energy to finding
new and innovative ways to connect people, move causes forward, and make a difference in the world.

2. Donor organizing - Internal donor organizing, created networking opportunities between and amongst
donors.
Donor tracking – Airtable, Bloomerang, and Salesforce CRMs maintenance, audit, & updating, donor
data gathering, analysis, & reporting.
Logistics - Meeting planning, scheduling, and coordinating the O4D team to develop and produce
donor programs, ensuring all details were attended to and executed.
Project management, including coordination ad completion of projects on time, within budget, and
within scope of presidential and university priorities.
Event planning – Work with senior director for executive engagement to plan high-end events for
HNW and UHNW donors, trustees, and community.
Form and maintain mutually supportive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and
organizations.
Supervise student staff of ten and managing and supporting projects for the executive officers of
the university.
Liaison to the organization and foundation boards of directors. Designed annual individual donors and
membership campaigns and led volunteer program.
Designed, implemented, and led the annual individual giving and volunteer campaigns.
Program Manager
One for Democracy | 10/2020-01/2021
Project Specialist for University and Community Service and Enrichment
Office of the President, Grand Valley State University | 05/2020-09/2020
Community Relations Coordinator
Office of the President, Grand Valley State University | 11/2015-05/2020
Executive Assistant to the President & Board Liaison
Local First | 10/2014-11/2015
Concentrations in Public Management and Urban & Regional Policy and Planning
Majors in Public & Nonprofit Administration and History
Concentration in Human Resources Management
Minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
EDUCATION
Master of Public Administration
Grand Valley State University
2019
Bachelor of Science
Grand Valley State University
2014

3. Philanthropy 150
Member | 2022-Present
Community Relations Commission, City of Grand Rapids
Member, mayoral appointment | 2022-Present
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Co-Chair, LGBTQ Fund Advisory Council | 2021-
Present
Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities
President | 2021-Present
Board Member | 2017-2021
21/64
Certified Advisor of Color | 2021
Certified Advisors of Color learning community
inaugural cohort | 2021-2022
Alumni Champions, Grand Valley State University
Chair, Endowment Committee | 2014-Present
Omicron Delta Kappa
Member, Scholarship Review Committee | 2020-
Present
Faculty Advisor | 2016-2020
Collegiate Member | 2012-2014
World Affairs Council of Western Michigan
Advisory Committee Member | 2018-2020
Complete Count Census Committee, City of Grand Rapids
Member, Education Subcommittee, mayoral
appointment | 2018-2020
Education & Workforce Development Committee, Grand
Rapids Chamber of Commerce
Member | 2018-2020
TEDx Grand Rapids, Planning Committee
Member | 2018-2020
Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center
Member, Advisory & Fundraising Committees | 2016-
2020
Student Complaint Review Committee, Grand Valley
State University
Member, presidential appointment | 2016-2020
Economic Club of Grand Rapids
Member | 2015-2020
Detroit Economic Club
Member | 2015-2020
Alumni Association Board of Directors, Grand Valley
State University
Member | 2017-2018
Young Alumni Council, Grand Valley State University
President | 2017-2018
Chair, Development Committee | 2014-2017
Student Senate, Grand Valley State University
Student Body President | 2013-2014
Vice President for Diversity Affairs | 2012-2013
Senator | 2011-2012
Kappa Kappa Psi
Collegiate Member | 2012-2014
Sergeant-at-Arms | 2010-2012
CERTIFICATIONS
Fundraising Essentials, Cornerstone Foundation | 2022
Grant Seeking Essentials, Cornerstone Foundation | 2022
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace, University of South Florida | 2021
21/64 Certified Advisor of Color | 2021
Responsible Conduct of Research | 2019
Institute for Healing Racism | 2019
COMMUNITY SERVICE, ENRICHMENT & MEMBERSHIPS

4. AWARDS & CONFERENCES
Grand Rapids Business Journal 40 Under 40 | 2022
Grand Valley State University Young Alumni Award | 2022
Facing Race Annual Conference, Pre-Conference Presenter | 2022
Funders Network Annual Conference | 2022
EDGE Funders Alliance Annual Conference | 2021
Innovations in International Philanthropy Symposium | 2021
WECAN International Global Women's Assembly for Climate Justice | 2021
Grand Rapids Business Journal 40 Under 40 Nominee | 2021
Graduate Dean’s Citation for Leadership & Academic Excellence | 2019
Young Professionals of Color Conference | 2019
Business Alliance for Local Living Economies Conference | 2015
NASPA National Conference | 2014
Governor’s Cup Award, Kappa Kappa Psi National Committee | 2014
Seykora Leadership Award, Grand Valley State University | 2014
NASPA Fellow | 2013-2014
Superior Achievement Award, Kappa Kappa Psi National Committee | 2013
REFERENCES
Michael Pratt (he/him)
Senior Associate, Ktisis Capital
mpratt@ktisiscapital.com
+1 517.294.2975
Dr. Philomena Mantella (she/her)
President, Grand Valley State University
mantella@gvsu.edu
+1 616.430.9996
Hali Lee (she/her)
Founding Partner, Radiant Strategies
hali@radiantstrategies.co
+1 917.445.5886
Dr. Jason McGill (he/him)
Founder & Principal
jason@justiceassociates.org
+1 646.436.2298
linkedin.com/in/ricardobenavidez
ricardobenavidez.me
RICARDO BENAVIDEZ
hello@ricardobenavidez.me
+1 616.970.3508
472 Crescent St NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503