Missy Aupperle
Chief Philanthropy and Marketing Officer
Prior to taking on the role of Chief Philanthropy and Marketing Officer, Missy Aupperle served Leader Dog in the role of Director of Personal Giving for six years.
Before coming to Leader Dog, Missy worked for over a decade at Grace Centers of Hope, a nonprofit organization which provides programming, life skills and shelter for those experiencing homelessness, chemical dependency and abuse. Missy specifically raised funds to support women and children experiencing homelessness. During her time at Grace Centers of Hope, Missy worked closely with the program team identifying critical needs, specifically pertaining to that community and advocating for services.
As the Director of Children’s Programs at Grace, Missy worked on the capital campaign for a new childcare center, raised funding for the project, secured state licensure and funds for the ongoing sustainability for the program benefiting this underrepresented community. Missy partnered closely with the CEO in cultivating and stewarding the organization’s major donors and longstanding partners. She facilitated components of the organization’s programming and funding and oversaw operational areas including volunteer management.
Missy worked with that organization’s communications team in a forward-facing role, speaking on live radio each morning and appearing on local television sharing the critical needs of the organization.
Missy partnered with the marketing team to create organizational assets, materials and written communications including their quarterly magazine and developing the organization’s narrative across multiple platforms.
Missy has spent her time at Leader Dogs for the Blind advocating and raising funds to benefit the mission and working closely with our clients in sharing the Leader Dog story nationwide. As Director of Personal Giving, she worked with the Leader Dog team and board to steward our major donors. This past fiscal year, working with her team, she secured the highest major gift revenue the organization has ever achieved.
