New Director of Development Appointed for Florida Grand Opera

Florida Grand Opera (FGO) has announced the appointment of a new Director of Development, Amy Funk, effective Jan. 7, 2013. She will work closely with FGO's General Director and CEO, Susan T. Danis, a former colleague, in mapping out the fundraising program as the company approaches its 73rd anniversary.

"I am very excited to work with Amy again, this time as part of the Florida Grand Opera family," said Danis. "She is an engaging and results-driven professional with a gift for cultivating relationships, and her expertise will be a great addition to our Development team."

Most recently, Funk served as the Senior Associate Director of Annual Giving for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, where she started the initial rollout of a $4 million capital campaign, engaging board members and executive directors across seven YMCA centers to expand local board membership and giving. She was also fundamental in securing a $1 million gift for the YMCA and helped oversee a $12 million capital campaign at Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter while running their annual giving program.

Funk began her nonprofit career working side by side with Danis in 2006, serving as Campaign Manager for the public phase of Sarasota Opera's $20 million capital campaign. Prior to entering the nonprofit field, she made strides in the corporate sector with companies such as MBNA America and GE Capital.

Funk has a Bachelor of Arts in history from Millikin University and earned a master's degree in non-profit management, with distinction, from DePaul University in June 2012. Funk is currently in the process of moving to Miami with her husband, Andrew Funk, an established operatic bass, and their seven-year-old daughter.