Benjamin Cohn

About Benjamin Cohn

As an early career Development professional, I have a passion for using data-driven storytelling to connect donors more deeply with a cause. I believe that donors respond best to a multi-pronged approach, one that uses easy-to-digest numbers as a foundation for personal stories. At Brooklyn Botanic Garden, I’ve had the opportunity to write copy that embodies these ideals for the 2024 year end appeal and Spring acquisition campaigns, both of which saw record engagement. Storytelling doesn’t only exist on the page or screen, either. Every interaction with a donor – whether at an exclusive event or over the phone – is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship and bring a new partner into the fold. My background in English and Sociology helped me understand how language, culture, and politics intersect to shape our world and society. Balancing the political and social environments with calls-to-action and personal touches is essential to stewarding potential donors into partners of the organization. I have honed my communication and critical writing skills through various experiences in teaching, publishing, media, and nonprofits, as well as through my academic and creative work. While interning at non-profits like PEN America and the Los Angeles Review of Books, I performed large scale grant prospecting projects, created in-depth research on donors and constituents, ran social media campaigns, and supported on the execution of large-scale events. In college, I was recognized for my academic and creative excellence as an early inductee into national honors society Phi Beta Kappa, and by winning the Outstanding Senior and Creative Writing awards from the Occidental English Department.

Experience

1. Development Associate

   Brooklyn Botanic Garden

   May 2024 — Present · Brooklyn, NY, US

   Maintain clean and concise data in CRM database Raiser\'s Edge, utilizing complex queries and exports to create mailing lists, perform budget reconciliation, and track donor interactions for non-profit success, leading to BBG\'s most successful year outside of a capital campaign- Write, research and copy edit a variety of written materials, including copy for a year-end-appeal campaign going to over donors, marketing for public events of 15-100 constituents, acknowledgment letters for trustees and major donors, and research profiles of current and prospective donors to support the cultivation work of the Sr. Vice President/Institutional Advancement- Assist in the execution of 5-10 special events each year, such as the Spring Gala, by guiding attendees, answering their questions, troubleshooting donation technology, and coordinating the event partner staff- Perform general administrative tasks such as donor acknowledgment letter printing, the creation of budget trackers and detailed procedures documents, check processing, folder and archive management, office supply maintenance, and regularly interfacing with donors over the phone and in-person.

Education

• Occidental College

  Bachelor's degree

  2019 — 2023