Jessica Martinez

About Jessica Martinez

My work has always focused on helping mission-driven organizations sustain the things that matter over time. I have spent most of my career in the nonprofit sector, first in marketing and communications and later in fundraising and donor relations. Along the way, I developed a particular interest in the philanthropic support of higher education. Most recently, I worked on scholarship stewardship and the behind-the-scenes systems that make philanthropy work well. I especially loved the challenge of improving processes and building programs that helped donors and students feel more connected to each other. My academic path followed the same thread: a background in journalism (BA), followed by a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration and Leadership and a Master of Legal Studies. Together, those areas of study shaped how I think about institutions: how stories, structures, and long-term planning all come together to support meaningful work. In my current role as a Client Administrator with KeyBank Institutional Advisors, I support the investment and stewardship of nonprofit and institutional assets. It feels like a natural extension of my time in philanthropy, working on the long-term sustainability side of the same missions I cared about in donor relations. I remain interested in and moved by stewardship and donor experience, and I hope to stay connected to that work through occasional consulting with smaller nonprofits and future board service. Before moving into institutional advising, I also spent 12 years working as a bartender, which taught me how to read a room, adapt quickly, and connect with people from all walks of life. Outside of work, I’m a four-time marathon finisher and Ragnar relay runner with a long-term goal of running a marathon in all 50 states. Distance running keeps me grounded and reminds me that the best work happens one steady mile at a time.

Experience

1. Client Administrator, Institutional Advisors

   KeyBank

   Feb 2026 — Present · Cleveland, OH, US

Education

• Cleveland State University

  Master of Nonprofit Administration and Leadership, Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management

• Cuyahoga Community College

  Associate of Arts (A.A.), Liberal Arts

  2009 — 2011

• Cleveland State University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Journalism and Promotional Communications

• Cleveland State University

  Master of Legal Studies, Law

Skills

• Networking
• Research
• Vocus
• Project Management
• Leadership
• Event Planning
• Public Speaking
• Editing
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Social Media
• Teamwork
• Ap Style
• Events Coordination
• Microsoft Office
• Blogging
• Long Distance Running
• Facebook
• Public Relations
• Creative Writing
• Community Outreach
• Teleprompter
• Fundraising
• Press Releases
• Video Editing
• Social Networking
• Media List Building
• Google Docs