Annual Campaigns: Building a Case for Support

michelle Poesy is a seasoned fundraising professional with extensive experience in annual giving, special gifts, and event management. Since September 2014, she has served as the Senior Director of Annual and Special Gifts at Development and Alumni Relations at the University of California, Davis. In this role, Michelle oversees key fundraising initiatives, building and maintaining relationships with alumni, donors, and supporters to enhance UC Davis’s philanthropic efforts.Prior to her tenure at UC Davis, Michelle was the Director of Annual and Special Gifts at Washington State University, where she led fundraising campaigns for four years. With over fifteen years of experience in event management, Michelle has worked on a diverse range of projects, including university events, community festivals, and city and county tourism promotion. Her broad experience allows her to combine strategic fundraising with successful event execution, making her an expert in driving engagement and building support for higher education and community initiatives.Michelle holds a B.S. in Communication-Advertising from the University of Idaho. At UC Davis, she also shares her knowledge and expertise through the course Annual Campaigns: Building a Case for Support, where she teaches students the key components of successful annual fundraising campaigns. Her leadership and innovative approaches to alumni relations, fundraising, and event management have made her a valuable asset to the university and the broader philanthropic community.