Sonia has worked with our organization for several years, in the Development office and as a project leader bridging marketing, development and community engagement. She is a versatile and creative professional with outstanding management, planning, program development and problem-solving skills. Recently, Sonia took on the role of Interim Director of Development while our Director was on maternity leave. She did a terrific job leading our Development team for about five months, during a time of especially high expectations for growth in contributed income. As a client, I know that when Sonia takes on a project, she gives her best and delivers the results needed.
Sue Ann Schiff, Executive Director, San Francisco Botanical Garden Society
Sonia Gonzalez Banks was hired to produce the Garden’s 75th anniversary Community Day event in SF Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park. She curated, planned and organized what turned out to be a huge success complete with a meditation hour, yoga, bird watching, larger than life roaming puppets, a tea ceremony, a poetry hour and international music and dancers all day long from South Africa, Brazil, China and more. Even more than producing a historic event with record breaking attendance, she engaged the whole staff so that everyone felt united with a sense of ownership afterwards.
Brendan Lange, Director of Visitor Experience & Marketing, San Francisco Botanical Garden Society
“I worked closely with Sonia for over a year when we hired her to reenergize San Francisco Botanical Garden Society’s membership program. She carefully studied our organizational history, met with key stakeholders including long-time donors and Trustees, and worked with our staff to turn a struggling point-of-entry donor program into a streamlined, meaningful and profitable giving program. At a time of major staff transitions in our development department, Sonia lead the charge to create a unique experience for our members that has increased membership enrollment and revenue year-after-year. Sonia is an organized and creative professional who takes great integrity in her work; I cannot recommend her skills, experience and expertise to others more highly.”
Lillian Archer, Director of Development, San Francisco Botanical Garden Society
“Sonia Gonzalez Banks was a creative force and inspiring team player who helped to re-energize many aspects of our programs. Her work resulted in significant increases in membership during one of the worst economic periods in New York City, an award winning Centennial direct mail package, more effective operating systems, and more. Sonia had an excellent track-record for completing projects on time, under budget and often ahead of goal. She was also a wonderful force for building connections across the organization.”
Leslie Findlen, Vice President of Development, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
“Sonia is one of the most creative and articulate people that I have ever worked with. She brings such great energy and drive to every project that she takes on. While at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she significantly grew the membership program—building a robust base of donors that will continue to grow over the years—in large part because of her leadership.”
Tamara Tripp, Assistant Director, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
“Sonia Gonzalez Banks’s work at Jazz at Lincoln Center led to record revenue year after year. More importantly, she was relentless in cleaning up the Raiser Edge database for the entire fundraising department while creating engaging new member events and an integrated messaging campaign that aligned perfectly with the organization’s mission.”
Anika Dill Grant, Sponsorship Manager, Jazz at Lincoln Center
“Sonia was a true master of both the art and science of fundraising. She had the skills to rallying people in support a vital cultural and community organization. As the icing on the cake, Sonia was adept at database management and team management. Bottom line, she is a fundraising powerhouse who re-framed Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s membership department.”
Robby O’Sullivan, Director of Major Gifts, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
“Sonia was integral the success of the multi-day international Curators Forum and Directors Forum conferences. Her boundless enthusiasm made this difficult position look easy and her meticulous attention to detail was the key to the flawless administration of the events. She is an asset to any team that is lucky enough to work with her.”
Anne Palermo, Assistant Editor, American Federation of Arts
“Sonia worked with Envision Schools during a time of transition in the development and communications department and helped keep several large and time sensitive projects moving toward completion. She is well organized, pays great attention to detail (she is a fantastic editor) , and manages well multiple deadlines and projects. In addition, she is a delightful colleague with whom I hope to have the pleasure of working with in the future.”
Jane Breyer, Vice President of Communications and Development, Envision Schools
“Sonia approached her work with a very positive attitude and commitment to expand JALC’s membership program, and she was successful in doing so. She applied a very thoughtful kind of creativity, and many of her materials are still in use today because they were so effective. Sonia was an ideal colleague because while she was professional and focused, she had a great perspective that came through in her sense of humor at all the right times.”
Carter Van Pelt, Grants Writer, Jazz at Lincoln Center
“Sonia is a very creative person. Her ideas and insights were extremely helpful in building the membership program at the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society. She knows how to plan and manage membership programs, growing and engaging the members throughout the year. I hope I have the opportunity to work closely with her again soon and recommend her highly.”
Suzanne Irwin-Wells, Philanthropic Counsel, Irwin Wells Associates