Hi. I’m Bill Simmons.

Consultant

&

Advocate


Committed to helping non-profits thrive.

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Experience & Expertise

  • I bring more than 30 years of experience as a fundraiser, arts administrator, educator and theatre maker to my work with local, regional and national organizations.

  • I have successfully organized everything from small events to seven-figure funding campaigns.

  • I passionately believe that meaningful relationships between organizations and stakeholders lead to transformational philanthropy.

  • I believe that non-profits that engage in radical honesty about their opportunities for change and growth inspire confidence in their stakeholders. This confidence will result in the support non-profits want to nurture their communities and achieve their missions.

I work with each client to grow new and strengthen existing relationships so that stakeholders understand how their investments will significantly empower the organization and its community. Not-for-profits committed to changing the world by working in partnerships with their communities are worth the financial investments made by stakeholders. Together, we can create a thriving ecosystem of not-for-profit organizations that leads to long-term impact and sustainability.

Consulting Services

    • Create a comprehensive Calendar of Activities and Events for nurturing current and developing new relationships with stakeholders to invest in your work.

    • Design and implement Special Cultivation Events to inform and inspire stakeholders.

  • Build a Case Statement for Support to share with your community of stakeholders.

  • Develop a Comprehensive Prospect List of individual and organizational stakeholders who could invest in your work.

    • Structure a Donor Gift Table of stakeholders with their potential giving ranges.

    • Construct a Donor Communication, Recognition and Stewardship Plan to acknowledge your stakeholders and continue to engage them long term.

    • Nurture a robust Planned Giving and Endowment Building Plan to support your organization in the years to come.

    • Coach you and your team to engage with stakeholders and ask for support of your work.

    • Guide your efforts throughout our working relationship with a Schedule of Benchmarks and activities to measure progress.

    • Support you by being an easily accessible resource for guidance.

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As a consultant and advocate, I work every day with a heart-centered mission to grow resources and nurture relationships with organizations and leaders who are moving us toward a happier and healthier world.

Heart-Centered Mission

About Me

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I began my career as an arts administrator in 1993 in public relations and marketing. In 1996, I joined the Madam Walker Theatre Centre (now the Madam Walker Legacy Centre) as director of development and marketing. A key element in my work was stewarding the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund grant application and the subsequent award to develop new audiences as well as overseeing requests to Lilly Endowment for annual operating support and special projects.

A key evolution in my growth as a fundraiser of major gifts for capital campaigns and endowments came when I joined the Indianapolis Art Center as director of development in 1998. I was part of a three-person team that successfully concluded a campaign that led to the Michael Graves-designed, 40,000-square-foot facility that serves the Indianapolis Art Center to this day. I helped to create the Art Center’s Renaissance Society to recognize those who have made planned gifts in their estates. I later returned as a consultant to oversee the case statement and launch of the campaign that led to ArtsPark, a 9.5-acre outdoor creativity and sculpture garden surrounding the Art Center, which was also designed by Graves and opened in 2005.

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Beginning in 2015, I led the Phoenix Theatre’s campaign, Phoenix Rising, to build a new state-of-the-art, 20,000-square-foot facility in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. The The Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre celebrated its grand opening in April 2018. I was named Artistic Director and co-CEO in June 2018.

In 2022, I stepped away from my role with the Phoenix and created Bill Simmons Consulting. My first project as an independent consultant was stewarding the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre’s $6 million Ignite Passion & Purpose Campaign to:

  • Retire outstanding construction debt

  • Develop new plays

  • Invest in a new career-development program based on the organization’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility

  • Infuse the existing endowment with donations and pledges of planned estate gifts.

For many years, I have worked professionally as a Sanford Meisner Method Technique trained actor, director and teacher (Butler University, University of Indianapolis, Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre and Indiana Repertory Theatre). From 2011-2015, I was a resident artist at Emmy Award-winner Jeff Daniels’ Purple Rose Theatre Company. I am a two-time recipient of the Arts Council of Indianapolis’ Creative Renewal Fellowship. As a theatre maker, I have worked with the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Indianapolis Shakespeare Company, Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre, Purple Rose Theatre Company, Cardinal Stage (now Constellation Stage & Screen), Human Race Theatre Company, NYC’s Ohio Theatre and many others.

Clients

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to consult with many notable and heart-centered clients doing important work. I encourage you to take a moment out of your day and check out some of these gems.

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Testimonials

  • Bill's care and expertise were invaluable. He helped me navigate the new territory of working to connect with new individual donors. The people Bill has connected me with are kind, caring people interested in helping us achieve our goals.

    Ryan Artzberger

    Executive Artistic Director

    The Indianapolis Shakespeare Co.

  • The Naptown African American Theatre Collective has been blessed tremendously by Bill’s ability to assess the needs of our new organization and give us the tools we need to help create an efficient and effective fundraising strategy.

    LaKesha Lorene

    Founder / Producing Director

    Naptown African American Theatre Collective

  • Based upon the outstanding work that Bill has done on two major capital campaigns that I am personally familiar with, I believe he will do an excellent job in conducting a major fundraising campaign or in a consulting capacity in a campaign.

    Frank Basile

    Indianapolis-based philanthropist

  • When I became the Artistic Director at the Phoenix, we were millions of dollars in debt. Within 18 months, Bill had secured the funding to retire most of the debt, rebuild our endowment and expand our programming.

    Constance Macy

    Christel DeHaan Artistic Director

    Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre

  • We really enjoy working with Bill. He is patient, thorough, and actually fun to work with. He leads and listens. Bill knows what he is talking about because he has actually been in the trenches. He shares not only his knowledge, but also his personal experiences and relationships that he has built over the years in fundraising and development.

    Ophelia Wellington

    Founding Director

    Freetown Village, Inc.

  • I’ve known Bill for a long time, and yet, we just recently started working together in a professional capacity for Trinity Haven. I know his experience and expertise around thoughtful, heart-centered, relationship-based fundraising and development are critical in a time when we are feeling less and less connected as humans—to each other, let alone the causes we support.

    Jenni White

    Executive Director

    Trinity Haven