About Us

Penny Smith Harris, CFRE
Principal

Penny Harris, a Certified Fund Raising Executive, brings a unique combination of expertise and achievement. She has 30 years of professional and volunteer fund-raising and trustee leadership experience.

The CFRE designation is an international credential that certifies fund-raising professionals who demonstrate the knowledge, skills and commitment to the highest standard of ethical and professional practice. She holds a Masters degree in business, and a BS in sociology. She continues to enhance her skills through participation in advanced professional seminars and was selected by the Harvard School of Business in 2001 for their Executive Education Program.

Highlights of her fund-raising success:

• Consistently meeting campaign financial goals, raised $50 million in 10 years.
• Completed feasibility studies conducting more than 300 interviews in 10 states.
• Successfully organized Maine Public Broadcasting’s first corporate support division to increase support by 300%.
• Organized the first development department at Eastern Maine Medical Center and organized a $6.3 million campaign.
• Produced the Children’s Miracle Network at EMMC raising more than $150,000.
• Developed the first major corporate sponsorships for the League of Women Voters of Maine.
• Oversight for League of Women voters United States information management of 200,000 names for direct mail program, mailing 1 million pieces annually.
• Collaborated with a national and a regional fund-raising firm for 8 years.

Philanthropy Consultant

For four years Penny worked with a regional fund-raising firm serving a variety of non-profit organizations throughout New England. In June 2001 she formed her own firm PS Harris Associates. Her experience includes feasibility studies, capital campaigns, development planning, professional searches, major gift program development, Case development, annual giving program planning, and development professional coaching.

Development Staff

She was recruited by Maine Public Broadcasting to create and manage a new division of Corporate Support.

At Eastern Maine Medical Center she successfully completed the largest capital campaign in the hospital's history as their first Development Director exceeding the $6.2M goal and directed the first $5.5 million capital campaign for Northeast Health, a newly organized regional health care system.

Volunteer Leader

Volunteer leadership is critical in fund-raising. With her 28 years of experience as a volunteer leader serving local, state, and national boards. Penny is excellent at strengthening board and staff effectiveness. Significant leadership roles are highlighted below:

• Center for Maine Contemporary Art Board of Trustees/Rockport ME 1991-
  Chair of Board, 2003-
  Chair of President/CEO Search Committee
• University of Maine System Board of Trustees, 1991-2001
  Chair of Presidential Searches 1993, 1994, 1999
  Chair of Human Resources and Labor Relations Committee, 1999-2002
• Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation Board of Trustees, 1992-1995
  Chair of Nominating Committee (Organized the first Board of Trustees of merged Corporation.)
  Oversight of the merger of Public Broadcasting in Maine
• League of Women Voters of United States Board of Directors 1985-89 Washington, DC
  Treasurer 1987-89
  Advisor to U.S. Presidential Debates/New Hampshire, 1986
• League of Women Voters of Maine Board of Trustees/Augusta, 1980-84
  President of Board, 1984
  Produced the first statewide televised debates for US Senatorial and Maine Gubernatorial Candidates, 1980