Kelly Gerlach
Director of Development @Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum Milwaukee
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WORK HISTORY
Director of Development @Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum Milwaukee
US
Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum has been part of Milwaukee\'s landscape since 1850, long before the city had public parks. Today, it\'s a National Historic Register site, a working arboretum, and a place of genuine community significance. I joined to build a development program worthy of that history.In this role, I lead all philanthropic strategy and donor engagement, with a focus on preservation, community connection, and the long-term sustainability of the organization. I work closely with the President and Board to shape a fundraising approach that is relational, mission-driven, and built to last- Building the annual giving program, major gifts pipeline, and grant strategy- Managing donor communications, acknowledgment, and stewardship across all giving levels- Overseeing development-related marketing and storytelling to connect Milwaukee residents to Forest Home\'s history and mission- Implementing Little Green Light CRM and GiveButter for donor management and online giving- Collaborating with the Board and leadership on fundraising goal-setting and campaign planning
EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Master of Business Administration - MBA, Management
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science - BS, Public Administration
Alverno College
Vocal Performance
SKILLS
ABOUT KELLY GERLACH
I\'ve spent my career working for organizations I actually believe in. From Habitat for Humanity to children\'s theater to community health to historic preservation, the throughline has always been the same: I show up for missions that matter, and I work hard to connect people to them. Right now, that means building the development program at Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum, one of Milwaukee\'s most historic and beautiful places. I joined because the mission resonated with me personally, and because there\'s something genuinely powerful about an organization that has been part of this community since 1850. My work spans individual giving, major gifts, grants, events, and donor communications. I\'ve built programs largely from the ground up, and I bring both the strategy and the follow-through to make them sustainable.What I care about most: authentic relationships, fundraising that centers the donor\'s connection to mission, and work that I can be proud of. I don\'t do fundraising for just any organization. I do it for places I believe in.If you\'re in the Milwaukee nonprofit space, in the development world, or just passionate about historic preservation and community, I\'d love to connect.
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