Benita Blessing, PhD
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Nonprofit leader in fundraising, governance, and association management
Two decades of building programs, donor relationships, and inclusive communities for education and health-focused nonprofits.
About
Benita Blessing is a thoughtful, nimble leader with more than two decades of experience guiding nonprofit educational and professional programs. Today she is a Senior Development Specialist at Samaritan Health Services Foundation – Albany, where she coordinates donor recruitment, retention, and reactivation. Previously she served as Executive Director of the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies and Operations Director of the German Studies Association.
She is an accomplished administrator, interdisciplinary scholar, grant writer, and storyteller, skilled in building relationships, creating collaborative spaces, and shaping strategy. Dr. Blessing is inspired by the role of education in building civil society, in and out of the classroom.
Professional Experience
Senior Development Specialist
Samaritan Health Services Foundation · 2026-Present
Foundation supporting nonprofit hospital. $250,000 budget, $5 million in assets. Fundraising for medical equipment, program services, financial support for patient and community wellness programs, and assistance for low-income individuals to obtain medical care.
- Coordinated annual employee donation campaign
- Individual and corporate donor recruitment, retention, and reactivation
Executive Director
American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies · 2022-2026
Professional academic association for the study of eighteenth-century history. 1,500 national and international individual and institutional members, $500,000 budget, $2 million endowment.
- Led bylaws revision and governance modernization
- Diversified and expanded the Board of Directors for greater accountability and member representation
- Launched the Planned Giving program and secured the first major ($1 million+) estate pledge
- Implemented a 3-year strategic budget model that eliminated a structural deficit
- Led the DEIA grant “Africa in the 18th Century Mentor Fellowship” with the African Studies Association
- Implemented the Society’s first Association Management System, a new website, and more accessible elections software
Operations Director
German Studies Association · 2019-2022
Professional academic association for the study of the history of German-speaking lands. 2,000 members, $300,000 budget, $500,000 endowment.
- Developed and managed the organization’s first online and first hybrid conferences
- Professionalized the Operations Director position from occasional contract labor to a regular W-2 role
- Implemented a new Conference Management System
Board & Leadership Service
Serving on boards and committees that advance dialogue, education, and fair decision-making.
Vice President
American Institute of Parliamentarians, Betty S. Green Chapter · 2026-Present
Develops and supports skillful, highly trained parliamentarians and works to improve parliamentary procedure in organizations that want a fair, democratic, and effective decision-making process.
Treasurer
The Lois Roth Foundation · 2026-Present
Promotes and encourages dialogue across national, linguistic, and cultural boundaries, with an emphasis on the humanities, arts, and social sciences.
Secretary
Corvallis Sister Cities Association · 2026-Present
Creates opportunities for the people of Corvallis and cities around the world to build friendship, awareness, and understanding.
Member
Zonta International of Corvallis · 2026-Present
Part of a leading global organization of individuals working together to build a better world for women and girls.
Skills, Certifications & Education
Core Competencies
Leadership & Governance · Strategic Planning & Operations · Fundraising & Grant Writing · Donor Relations · Technical Modernization · Accessibility & Inclusion · Communication & Outreach · Parliamentary Procedure · Mentoring · Education & Curriculum Development
Certifications
- Certificate in Fundraising, Oregon State University, 2026
- Certificate in Association Management, ASAE, 2026
- Certificate in Administrative Skills, American Institute of Parliamentarians, 2025-2026
- Certificate in Nonprofit Board Education, BoardSource, 2025
- DEIA Microcredentials, ASAE, 2024
- Certificate in Nonprofit Management, Oregon State University, 2023
Education
- PhD (dual), History and Educational Policy Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- MA (dual), German Studies and International Policy Studies, Middlebury Institute of International Studies
- BA, German and French, Trinity University (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa)
Sample Work
Selected examples of advocacy, storytelling, accessibility, and communications work.
Advocacy
Fall 2025 special edition from Bucknell University Press. [Add a sentence about your contribution.]
Storytelling
Member spotlight on the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies, published by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon.
Get in Touch
Interested in nonprofit development, governance, or association leadership? I’d be glad to hear from you.
benita@benitablessing.com · LinkedIn
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