Dayna Carpenter joined RNL in 2016 and assists RNL partners with high-level strategic planning and oversight. Her focus includes annual giving assessments, persona development, and custom consulting experiences through times of program growth and transition. Dayna works with colleges, universities, and other nonprofit organizations throughout the United States and Canada to design and implement successful development programs. Her experience encompasses the establishment of new programs and best practices in annual giving—including strategic planning, development analytics, direct marketing, resource development, and volunteer management.
Previous experience
With more than two decades of experience in annual giving and membership development programs, Dayna most recently served as the director of annual giving at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), where she led a multichannel annual giving program that incorporated direct mail, calling, and innovative online solicitation techniques. In 2011, she introduced UMBC’s formalized in-house student ambassador engagement program. Dayna also led the integration of development initiatives throughout UMBC’s year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration—coordinating efforts between major gifts, advancement services and donor stewardship, alumni relations, and other campus partners.
Dayna has served as a volunteer in a number of leadership positions, including on the board of directors for the both the Northeast Annual Giving Conference and CASE District II, as co-chair of the Venture Capital Fund Committee and Conference Registration.
Education
Dayna has a BA from the University of Maine and an MS in Strategic Fundraising and Philanthropy from Bay Path University.
Connect with Dayna on LinkedIn
Recent Presentations and Content
Research Paper: Schuler National Young Alumni Survey
Podcast: The impact of COVID on donor engagement
Quotes from Dayna
“Sustainable programs are built on both the art and science of fundraising. Both the metrics and storytelling are equally important when it comes to inspiring support.”
“Donors are changing the way they are giving – moving towards more specificity and direction. Many fundraisers feel like this is a marketing problem. In actuality, we have the causes and priorities that donors care about. We just need to present them in a new way. “