Michelle Poesy is a seasoned fundraising leader whose work at UC Davis has shaped annual giving campaigns, donor engagement strategies, and special gifts programs. Serving as the Managing Executive Director of Annual & Special Gifts at the UC Davis Office of Development and Alumni Relations since 2014, she has been instrumental in building a high-performing development team and expanding philanthropic initiatives, including the university’s annual Give Day campaigns. With deep expertise in digital engagement, donor stewardship, and campaign innovation, Michelle Poesy stands out as a key figure in university advancement strategy.
Professional Role at UC Davis
Leadership in Annual Giving and Donor Relations
Since joining UC Davis in September 2014, Michelle Poesy has overseen the Annual & Special Gifts Program under the Development and Alumni Relations division. In her role as Managing Executive Director, she coordinates fundraising efforts, donor communications, and outreach strategies that help sustain and grow donor support across multiple campaigns and initiatives.
Championing Give Day and Crowdfunding Campaigns
Michelle has played a central role in organizing UC Davis’s Give Day events intensive, 29hour online fundraising campaigns that mobilize alumni, staff, faculty, and community supporters. These events, which generate millions in donations each year, demonstrate her ability to scale digital giving programs successfully.
Strategic Innovations in Fundraising
Digital Engagement Leadership
At recent national conferences on advancement and philanthropy, Michelle has shared insights about designing donor pipelines using digital tools emails, texts, video, and virtual engagement to build strong, sustainable annual giving programs. Her presentations emphasize practical models that exceed one million dollars in revenue annually.
Experiential Campaigns and Growth Tactics
Under her leadership, the Crowdfund UC Davis initiative has scaled from modest beginnings into a major community-driven platform supporting diverse campus projects. Michelle has championed the use of challenge gifts and peer-based crowdfunding to expand participation and renew donor engagement.
Teaching and Mentorship Contributions
Educational Outreach and Curriculum Leadership
In addition to her administrative role, Michelle has taught courses on fundraising, including subjects like Annual Campaigns: Building a Case for Support at UC Davis Extension between 2016 and 2020. Her teaching reflects hands-on expertise and a commitment to developing future advancement professionals.
Impact and Recognition
Record-Breaking Fundraising Results
Give Day events under her stewardship have achieved record totals from $1.9 million one year to more than $2.6 million in following years through broad-based engagement and smart campaign strategies.
Institutional Influence
Her strategic work in annual giving aligns with UC Davis leadership priorities and pushes the university’s philanthropic reach forward. As a senior leader in Development & Alumni Relations, she supports campus-wide giving goals, partner relations, and fundraising innovation plans.
Core Skills and Approach
Strong Donor Stewardship
Michelle advocates personalized communication techniques tailored to segments of donors, reinforcing long-term commitment and stewardship. She emphasizes consistency in engagement across the donor lifecycle.
DataDriven Campaign Design
Her approach combines analytics with storytelling, using metrics to refine outreach, benchmarks to assess performance, and challengebased tactics to unlock new levels of participation and revenue.
Collaborative Team Management
Leading a team within a large advancement structure, she works across units principal gifts, endowed funds, regional giving to align fundraising operations and maximize impact.
Broader Contributions and Vision
Advancement Thought Leadership
Michelle’s involvement in national forums and conferences highlights her reputation as a forward-thinking advancement professional. She shares case studies, frameworks, and examples of donor-centric innovations that benefit institutions at large.
Community-Oriented Philanthropy
Through Give Day and crowdfunding projects, Michelle has expanded philanthropic participation among students, faculty, staff, and local stakeholders. This inclusive model fosters campus unity while supporting academic, student, and research priorities.
Why Michelle Poesy’s Work Matters
- She has elevated UC Davis’s fundraising culture through consistent donor growth and digital innovations.
- Her efforts demonstrate how focused annual giving strategies can generate substantial revenue for scholarships, research, and campus programs.
- Her mentorship and teaching build capacity among emerging fundraising professionals.
- Her inclusive crowdfunding model brings diverse ideas and communities together for shared impact.
Looking Ahead
Expanding Digital and Annual Giving Initiatives
Michelle’s future focus likely includes further expansion of digital engagement platforms, refining Give Day tactics, and piloting innovative donor programs to sustain growth and reach underserved audiences.
Strengthening Educational Outreach
Continuing her role in educating future fundraisers, Michelle may extend her teaching and mentoring work helping build advancement curricula and supporting skills development across institutions.
Michelle Poesy’s tenure at UC Davis exemplifies how strategic leadership can transform annual giving and alumni relations. By combining data-driven tactics, digital engagement frameworks, and inclusive campaigns, she has elevated philanthropic performance and enriched institutional culture. Her dual role as an administrator and educator makes her a standout figure in advancement, fostering both immediate results and long-term growth in the fundraising field.