national arts marketing project
Workshops

Panelist Bios

Michelle P. Keegan
Director of Development, Ford’s Theatre, Washington, District of Columbia

Ms. Keegan is currently director of development at the historic Ford’s Theatre where she is responsible for all fundraising activities including the $50 million Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign, the largest and most comprehensive renovation effort in the theater’s long history. She manages a portfolio of over 80 corporate partners through Ford’s Theatre’s annual corporate membership and sponsorship programs that are responsible for over 60 percent of annual contributed revenue for the organization. Through the campaign, she is working on several major multilayered partnerships with Fortune 100 corporations including ExxonMobil, The Home Depot, and AT&T; and is in the process of developing cause-related marketing strategies. 

Prior to her work at Ford’s Theatre, Ms. Keegan was head of Major Gifts at the national headquarters of Volunteers of America, where she managed a very successful national partnership with the Major League Baseball Players Association as well sponsorships for VOA’s national conference and tribute dinners. She came to Washington, DC, from New York City where she managed special events and alumni relations for the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University and was the head of marketing and events for the famous Village Gate jazz club. Ms. Keegan also consulted on marketing, fundraising, and special events for several arts organizations in New York including The Ensemble Studio Theatre and New York Performance Works; and worked as a Special Assistant to one of NYC’s top wedding and event planners, Marcy Blum.  She is originally from Portland, Maine. She holds a B.A. in communications from the University of Southern Maine and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She is also an accomplished professional actress and singer. Ms. Keegan is also secretary of the Board of Directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Washington, DC Chapter.

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