CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY
COMMISSION/BOARD/COMMITTEE APPLICATION
Commission/Board/Committee
on which you would like to serve:
Parks and Community Events Commission
NAME: Ashley McGullam
HOME ADDRESS:
HOME PHONE: CELL PHONE:
E-mail ADDRESS:
LENGTH OF RESIDENCY IN CATHEDRAL CITY: 1 year
IF EMPLOYED, PLEASE LIST WHERE YOU WORK AND POSITION YOU HOLD:
International Rescue Committee, Senior Major Gifts Officer
Ashley McGullam
April 22nd, 2025
Dear Cathedral City Stakeholders,
I am writing to express my enthusiastic interest in a seat on the Parks & Community Events Commission. As a resident of Cathedral City, where my partner and I are building our future, I am deeply invested in enhancing our community's quality of life, and I believe my blend of experience in community mobilization, strategic development, and passion for community engagement would be a valuable asset to the Commission.
My career has been dedicated to fostering impactful social change through strategic campaign development and community engagement. I have a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, where I have consistently demonstrated a commitment to designing and leading successful campaigns, building strong relationships with diverse stakeholders (including community members, partner organizations, and policymakers), and implementing effective strategies that drive measurable progress.
My professional background includes roles with organizations such as the Alcott Center for Mental Health Services, Meals on Wheels West, and the International Rescue Committee, where I honed skills directly transferable to the Parks & Community Events Commission. Notably, at the Alcott Center for Mental Health Services, I developed and managed an Art Therapy program with the mission of reducing stigma around mental health challenges and bringing the community together around art. At Meals on Wheels West, I secured funding and led a program establishing a phone reassurance program for older adults who were socially isolated. I also served on the Board of Directors for the Venice Chamber of Commerce, where I chaired the Chamber in Action committee and led several community events with local businesses.
I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to enhancing the beauty and functionality of Cathedral City's parks, celebrating our city's diverse cultural heritage through community events, creating accessible and engaging recreational experiences for all residents, and promoting community health, wellness, and social connections through park and event initiatives.
My academic background, including a Master’s in Public Policy & Public Administration from American University and a Bachelor’s in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley, has equipped me with a strong foundation in strategic planning, policy analysis, and community organizing. I am confident that I can leverage these skills, along with my passion for community engagement, to effectively serve the residents of Cathedral City on the Parks & Community Events Commission.
I welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience and dedication can contribute to the Commission's work in enriching our city through parks and community events.
In Gratitude,
Ashley
Ashley McGullam
Non-profit
leader with 10+ years of experience making community-based work sustainable by raising funding, managing programs & building teams
Cathedral City, CA
EXPERIENCE
International Rescue Committee, Remote — Senior Officer, Major Giving West
January 2024- Present
Manage portfolio of 150+ major gift donors, consistently secure 6-figure gifts, develop creative long-term donor engagement strategies, collaborate across teams within an organization of 10,000+ staff members globally, Co-chair of Philanthropy & Volunteer Women @ Work group, Chair of ER Culture Committee bringing together staff members globally, and implement front -line activities resulting in funds raised, including event planning & network activations
Alcott Center for Mental Health Services, Los Angeles — Director of Development
June 2021- January 2024
Managed development staff of 4, maintained 2000+ donor relationships, strengthened 50+ community partnerships, wrote 60+ grants annually, developed and managed art therapy programming, managed 200+ volunteers, grew budget by $9 million to $15 million, planned events for 300+ , boosted social media engagement by 150%, solidified branding both internally & externally
Meals on Wheels West, Santa Monica — Director of Development & Community Relations
September 2019- June 2021
Managed a portfolio of 30+ foundation, civic, corporate and government grants, Maintained 100+ Donor Relationships, Strengthened Community Partnerships by regularly taking leadership positions in various community groups, Planned Events for 300+ , Developed & Managed a new Phone Reassurance Program, Increased Social Media Following by over 100%, & Developed and Executed Department of Mental Health contracts
Good Shepherd Shelter, Los Angeles — Development Associate May - September 2019
Wrote 15+ Grants Monthly, Maintained 60+ Donor Relationships, Strengthened Community Partnerships to Increase Quality of Care, Planned Events for 250+ ,
EDUCATION
American University-
Masters of Public Policy &
Public Administration
2022- 2024
University of California,
Berkeley— Bachelor of
Arts, Social Welfare
2015- 2018
Torcuato Di Tella
University, Buenos Aires,
Alberto Hurtado,
Santiago— Human Rights
& Cultural Memory
Research
2017
SKILLS
Web Design: Squarespace &
WordPress
Graphic Design: Canva &
Adobe
Microsoft Office: Word, Excel,
Powerpoint, Publisher, & Project
Google Suite, SalesForce, Hubspot,
MailChimp, iWave, Eventbrite &
Constant Contact
Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok,
LinkedIn & X Marketing
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Pi Alpha Alpha National
Public Policy Honor Society
Member
4000+ Volunteer Hours
USAID Farmer to Farmer, Big
Brothers Big Sisters, Boys &
Managed 2 Development Interns, Managed Event Committee of 10+ & Increased Social Media Following.
Peace Corps, Cameroon & Oakland — Health Education
Coordinator & Public Affairs Intern
August 2015- March 2019
Developed Health Education Program for Community of 3,000+ , Presented Malaria Prevention Techniques to 10+ Cameroonian Government Officials, Helped to Birth 3 Babies, Recruited 500+ Potential Volunteers, Increased Peace Corps Social Media Following, & Worked with 20+ News Outlets.
Avery Dennison, Glendale — Human Resources Intern
July 2018 - August 2018
Developed Innovative On-Boarding Processes for a Global Team, Researched and Analyzed Best Practices for Internal Startups, Changed Corporate Sustainable Practices & Presented to Corporate Headquarters of 300+ on Sustainability.
MISSSEY, Oakland — Policy & Advocacy Committee Member
September 2015 - June 2018
Developed Media Kits for 15+ News Outlets & Worked with Local & State Government to Eradicate Minor Sex - Trafficking in the Bay Area.
Public Rights Project, Oakland — Development Intern
January 2018 - May 2018
Developed 100+ Donor Profiles, Managed Donor Events, Increased Social Media Following, Researched & Developed Impactful Community Partnerships.
Golden Bear Sleep & Mood Research Clinic, Berkeley — Research Assistant Lead
May 2017 - May 2018
Managed & Coordinated a Team of 10+ Research Assistant
CERTIFICATIONS
Social & Behavioral Research- CITI Program (Issued 2023) Yoga Instructor- My Vinyasa Practice (Issued 2023)
Evaluation for Impact - Center for Nonprofit Management (Issued 2022) Mental Health First Aid- Wellnest (Issued 2021)
Leadership in Crisis - Center for Nonprofit Management (Issued 2021) Supervising for Success - Center for Nonprofit Management (Issued 2021)
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Girls Club, Bay Area Urban
Debate League, Project Angel
Food, Surfrider, Looking
Ahead, Habitat for Humanity,
Big Sunday, International
Justice Mission, Global
Leadership, MPV , Women in
Film etc.
Venice Chamber Board
Member & Chair of the
Chamber in Action Committee
SAG/Aftra Union Member
InterNations Changemaker
Consul
Optimist Youth Pottery
Volunteer Teacher
Santa Monica Chamber Young
Professionals Member
Co-Founder of GPSSquared &
Create the Change
Advanced French &
Elementary Spanish
PROJECTS
American University, School of
Public Affairs, MPP Policy
Practicum, Spring 2024,
Student Consultant, U.S.
Government Accountability
Office
Farmer to Farmer, USAID,
Summer 2023, Graphic Design
Specialist, Cooperativa
Agroindustrial y de Servicios
del Centro Poblado de Bella
Farmer to Farmer, USAID,
Summer 2022, Website Design
Specialist, Cooperativa de
Producción Agropecuaria
Emprendedores Cafetaleros
Colinas de Manabí