Anna Schlia, vice president of business development at Graham-Pelton, brings expertise in principal and major gifts, collaborative solicitation strategy and management, program building, and leading solicitation teams.
Prior to joining Graham-Pelton, Anna served as senior director of advancement at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester. There, she led a team to surpass fundraising goals while creating a regional prospect model for the advancement team. With a focus on major giving, Anna collaborated with division colleagues to develop joint solicitations and prospect management strategies and coached university deans and faculty members to cultivate donor relationships and solicit major gifts.
Previously, at Rochester Institute of Technology, Anna solicited major gifts, identified departmental fundraising priorities, and created a new leadership giving program and corporate engagement programs. Anna also served in development roles at Cornell University, Cristo Rey Network and Vanderbilt University.
Anna is a frequent presenter with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Association of Fundraising Professionals, SUNYCUAD and more. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Loyola University New Orleans; her Master of Education in higher education administration, institutional advancement at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College; and is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education at the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education.
