Khalia Shaw

About Khalia Shaw

I am a nonprofit development and communications strategist with more than a decade of experience strengthening philanthropic institutions and mission-driven organizations.At The Cleveland Orchestra, I serve on the Growth & Content team, an evolution of Development Operations that supports strategic alignment across development, communications, and marketing. My work centers on prospect research, data integrity, and systems design that empower chief fundraisers and senior leaders to make informed, forward-looking decisions.As the founder of The Khalia Effect, I partner with small and mid-sized nonprofit leaders to build fundraising infrastructure, sharpen communications strategy, and expand access to sustainable capital. I am especially committed to supporting organizations navigating complex civic and cultural environments with clarity, discipline, and purpose.My leadership extends beyond titles. I have served in board governance roles, contributed to communications infrastructure in community institutions, and continue to support educational and neighborhood organizations through mentorship and strategic counsel.I believe strong institutions are built through collective responsibility, cultural awareness, and thoughtful design. When we align strategy with values, growth becomes both measurable and meaningful.

Experience

1. Prospect Development Research & Management

   The Cleveland Orchestra

   May 2023 — Present · Cleveland, OH, US

   As a member of The Cleveland Orchestra’s Growth & Content team, I lead prospect strategy and institutional intelligence in support of major and principal giving. Our division integrates development, communications, and marketing operations to ensure that fundraising strategy is aligned, informed, and forward looking across the organization.I manage prospect research and strategic analysis that strengthens multi-year, multi-million-dollar initiatives. Through data modeling, AI-assisted profiling, and predictive segmentation, I help shape pipeline development across major gifts, annual giving, and planned giving. My work informs regional and international growth efforts, including initiatives in Miami, New York City, Europe, and national trusteeship engagement.I conduct advanced research on individuals, corporations, and foundations to assess philanthropic capacity, affinity, and alignment with institutional priorities. Beyond identification, I translate complex data into actionable strategy for executive leadership, supporting the President, Chief Development Officer, and senior fundraisers with high-level briefings and cultivation intelligence.I oversee research systems, digital tools, and external data integrations, ensuring seamless alignment between third-party resources and our CRM platform, Tessitura. By refining workflows and strengthening data accessibility, I help position research as a strategic connector between discovery, planning, and performance.My role centers on disciplined stewardship of information, ethical data use, and the design of systems that allow ambitious fundraising goals to be pursued with clarity and precision.Professional AffiliationsMember, Association of Professional Researchers for AdvancementMember, Ohio Prospect Research Network

Education

• Purdue Global

  Associates of Applied Science, Information Technology

  2008 — 2010

• Wright State University

  Management Information Sytems

  1999 — 2002

• Purdue Global

  Bachelor of Science, Organizational Communication

  2010 — 2011

• University of South Florida Muma College of Business

  Program Certificate, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace

Skills

• Training
• Community Outreach
• System Administration
• Visio
• Outlook
• Teaching
• Quality Assurance
• Microsoft Office 2010
• Help Desk Support
• Customer Service
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Office 2007
• Access
• Blended Learning
• Jira
• Technical Training
• Microsoft Word
• Team Leadership
• E-Learning
• Software Documentation
• Adobe Acrobat
• Social Media
• Active Directory
• Xp
• Hardware
• Webex
• Microsoft Excel
• Powerpoint
• Databases
• Wikis
• Windows
• Troubleshooting
• Marketing
• Technical Writing
• Public Speaking
• Event Planning
• Google Drive
• Technical Support
• Jd Edwards
• Leadership