Beth Whalen

Background

About Beth Whalen

I cut my teeth as a newsroom and industry editor, where I discovered an area of expertise (I was the first woman to receive the Robinson Prize for Copy Editing from the American Copy Editors Society) but couldn’t find personal fulfillment except through ambitiously climbing the ranks of an international community service organization. In I accepted a position as Editor/Copy Editor at the Boy Scouts of America. I grew up hearing tales of my father, his brother, and my grandfather and their Scouting adventures. Scouting had shaped who they became as men, and I was proud to lend my skills to further the organization that contributed so much to my family. Seeing my name printed as editor of the Boy Scout Handbook has been one of the highlights of my career. I was promoted to Managing Editor/Team Leader in 2008 when the BSA reorganized its structure, and I was laid off in 2013 when our department was outsourced to Pearson. I continued working for the BSA through Pearson—in the same office, doing the same job—until Pearson downsized its presence at the BSA in November 2016. The relationships I had forged in the BSA led me to my most gratifying career move: I returned to the BSA in the Office of Philanthropy as “the writer,” creating intricate proposal documents and other published collateral for high-end events and multimillion-dollar solicitations of ultra-high-wealth donors. Nonprofits and fundraising had always interested and intimidated me, so I satisfied my curiosity and conquered my fears by earning a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Texas and acquiring the Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification. I'm now considering a PMP certification to help me manage projects. Through it all, I am grateful for broad range of expertise I have garnered. I’ve spent nearly five years in the development department of a large national nonprofit, working in concert with major foundations and donors to further the BSA mission. I understand the digital and print publishing industry inside and out, from print/media buying through writing/design/production through printing and fulfillment. I function as easily as a manager as I do as an individual contributor. I am a strategist, an innovator, and a creative. I am skilled in conflict resolution, change management, and servant leadership. I am experienced writing for and communicating with C-suite executives as well as directing and mentoring volunteers. And above all, my heart is devoted to the effort of fulfilling community needs through philanthropy and nonprofit management.