Alchemy principal Sharon Benjamin has built her consulting practice on the foundation of her deep experience leading and working for nonprofits as both a staff person and volunteer. Benjamin has raised more than $75 million for nonprofits since 1980.

Between 1985 and 1989, she was the Vice President for Development and Finance at the Environmental Policy Institute (EPI). When she arrived, this $1 million organization had a bank loan of $450,000 to cover operating losses, and was holding another $500,000 in soft debt (monies owed to staff and creditors). When she left at the end of 1989, EPI had an operating budget of $3.8 million, no debts and a reserve fund of $500,000.

In January 1990, she joined the staff of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). Her task was to create a foundation giving program. Within 16 months foundation support for UCS had increased from $250,000 to $1.4 million.

At Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), Benjamin oversaw a 10-person Marketing Department. During her 3.5-year tenure at RTC, organizational revenues increased by an average of 18 percent per year, to a record budget of $5.2 million. Membership increased by a yearly average of 15 percent, to an all-time high of 71,000 individuals. During this time RTC sold over 50,000 copies of organizational publications.

She has organized 35 major special events including the participation of Friends of the Earth in the Paul McCartney Concert Tour of 1989-90; film premieres; major donor trips and receptions; foundation and corporate briefings; and a bluegrass concert at the Lincoln Memorial.

Organizational Experience
Faculty, New York University; USDA Graduate School; Visiting faculty Winthrop University
Vice President for Marketing at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Executive Director of the Human Environment Center
Major Gifts Director for the Union of Concerned Scientists
Vice President of the Environmental Policy Institute
Associate Director of a local United Way in Michigan
Program Officer for a small community foundation

Education
Benjamin holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior, a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Psychology. She is certified to administer The Leadership Circle Profile and is a certified Team Spirit and Mastering Leadership trainer.