Cindy Chyr
Senior Director of Advancement @The American Film Institute
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WORK HISTORY
Senior Director of Advancement @The American Film Institute
Los Angeles, CA, US
As the new Head of Advancement, I rebuilt the team during a very challenging period of transition for the Institute. Today, I lead a high-performing fundraising department of 11, including six direct reports. With clear direction and a collaborative culture, the team is already generating impressive results and advancing our shared mission.Highlights (in under 2 years) has been (1) helping lead the MOST successful gala in AFI history, raising $2.6 million for the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award: Tribute to Francis Ford Coppola (2) securing a 7-figure gift from a new donor and (3) establashing a high six-figure endowment, legacy gift from a long-time AFI donor. Working closely as a collaborative fundraising team, we’ve also secured an extraordinary range of support in a short period of time for a wide range of AFI programs—from individuals, foundations, and corporations including many new and lapsed supporters. These five, six, and seven-figure gifts helped the Advancement team exceed fundraising goals. Alongside these results, we’ve been strengthening our giving programs and operations by introducing new procedures and systems; cleaning and optimizing our database (Tessitura); launching a new donation platform (GoFundMePro); launching AFI’s first monthly giving program; rolling out a new Planned Giving program (Crescendo); rebuilding our membership program to cultivate a major gifts pipeline; and improving efficiency across the department.Together, these efforts have driven our success to date and are positioning both the Advancement team and the American Film Institute for the next phase of growth and financial sustainability—one that requires (1) an organizational strategic plan,(2) formation of board fundraising and marketing committees,(3) commitment to building a culture of philanthropy,(4) employee development and last but not least (5) a major capital campaign.
EDUCATION
City University of New York School of Law
Doctor of Law (J.D.), International Women's Human Rights
Arizona State University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Women's Studies
SKILLS
ABOUT CINDY CHYR
My expertise is both broad and deep, encompassing strategic partnerships, corporate sponsorships, grant writing, and all aspects of individual giving—from annual and membership programs to major gifts. My career spans small, mid-sized, and large nonprofit organizations, giving me hands-on experience in every facet of fund development. And I’ve had the honor of leading very talented fund development teams - big and small. I’ve successfully completed three capital campaigns:$165 million comprehensive campaign at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank;$5 million capital renovation project at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival; and a $16 million capital building project at Covenant House California. Each campaign goal was achieved ahead of schedule, with the above financial targets exceeded by a significant margin. This area of work continues to inspire me, as it is pivotal to building long-term financial sustainability and expanding an organization’s impact.My general ethos on effective philanthropy is that it starts at the top of the leadership hierarchy. Effective fundraising requires strong internal leadership focus and board participation. Strategic planning and transparent communication are foundational to a nonprofit’s success. Strong leadership in this space demands integrity, vision, and accountability—qualities that are essential for building and guiding collaborative teams to achieve measurable impact. I am especially committed to fostering a culture of philanthropy, recognizing it as a cornerstone for nonprofit sustainability. Organizations may survive without it, but they cannot truly thrive.I hold a Juris Doctor (JD) in International Women’s Human Rights from the City University of New York School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Women’s Studies from Arizona State University. My academic path stands as a testament to the egalitarian values I uphold.
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