C.I. Partners Direct, Inc., is a national fundraising and consulting firm headquartered in Southern California. We specialize in the strategic planning and implementation of multi-channel direct response programs for nonprofit organizations in the healthcare, higher education, academic medicine, social service, and cultural markets. We partner with our clients to provide customized programs tailored to achieve their fundraising goals.
I wanted to share a personal story, one that has really made me realize the important need for fundraising and the great work our employees do here at C.I. Partners Direct. Of course the story would be incomplete without including my dog and company mascot, Gandalf.
In 2015 I was diagnosed with cancer. It was a brutally numbing moment when that call came in. Since then, I have undergone dual hormone therapy, high dose radiation brachytherapy, external beam radiation and finally chemotherapy. All of these treatments lasted a combined 18 months, during which I met with many doctors and visited several academic medicine facilities. I also had unconditional support from local cancer support groups.
Why do I share this? All of these services from hospitals to nonprofits depend on raising funds. I experienced it firsthand. Today, I am in remission and am personally involved in helping these organizations raise funds. I am also a donor, and will be for the rest of my life.
This is my story and will forever be part of my fabric. I am extremely proud to have cofounded this company with Francis. I now see more than ever how what we do matters. We honorably help each and every client develop donors and raise funds. As Francis says, “We are our clients allies not just service providers.”
As for my dog Gandalf, he was my treatment buddy. He would faithfully curl up with me whenever I was down and out and bring up my spirits. Now, he is our company mascot, coming to work every day and bringing joy to all of our employees.
Our company name says it all, we partner directly with our clients to exceed their fundraising goals while creating an excellent customer service experience.
Every member of our team is committed to doing whatever is in the best interest of the clients – always!
(805) 407-1753
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Chief Strategy Officer
Shawnda brings over 19 years of direct-response fundraising consulting experience to her clients. Her depth and breadth of experience means that she primarily works with clients in need of high-level fundraising strategies.
Shawnda specializes in program planning and results analysis with an emphasis on achieving targeted response and ROI goals for donor and membership acquisition and retention programs.
Shawnda has been our lead consultant for the following notable clients:
Shawnda is a sought after guest speaker for her direct-response experience, having spoken for the following organizations:
As the mother of a 10-year-old boy, she “enjoys” stepping on & picking up endless amounts of Lego’s, battling with action figure superheroes, and watching cartoons. When not traversing her living room she also enjoys camping and fishing with her husband, son and dog, Traxx (Lucy the cat stays home).
805-585-5272
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Chief Operating Officer
Nadia joined CI Partners Direct in May 2018 and brings with her over seven years of Project Administration experience. She has a keen eye for detail and a “perfectionist” drive that shows in all of her work.
Nadia says she looks forward to working with great organizations to help make an impact on people’s lives. “I’m excited to see the kind of success our clients will receive through our projects.”
In her free time, Nadia loves traveling as well as trying new food – either cooking up new recipes or finding new restaurants.
“One item on my bucket list is to pilot a plane…even if just for a minute.”
805-585-5271
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Senior Project Manager
Mia joined the C.I. Partners Direct team in August 2017 as the first Junior Project Manager. She brings in years of customer service and an overall great work ethic and has shown her value as a Project Manager to her customers.
As a former executive assistant to financial CEO’s, helping others has always been her forte. “I was always in the business of helping other people. There is no greater feeling than seeing and hearing goals being achieved, and being a part of that is fulfilling for me.”
Mia says that she loves working at C.I. Partners Direct. “The clients are great people and the office environment is the best I have ever worked in.”
On the personal side, Mia was a professional dancer and teacher. Today she still dances at a local studio and is hoping to go back to teaching while working at C.I. Partners Direct.
“One item on my bucket list is to travel the whole world and eat all their cuisine!”
Project Manager
Jasmine started with C.I. Partners Direct in September 2019 as an administrative assistant and has steadily worked her way to her current position as a Project Manager. She deeply enjoys working with her clients to be able to help them raise money to make an impact on people’s lives.
In her free time, you can find her weightlifting, enjoying the local beaches, and exploring the world through large and small travel expeditions.
Jr. Production Project Manager
Debbi’s background in education has led to a position with C.I. Partners Direct as a copy editor. Her penchant for examining text for grammatical accuracy and fluency helps make this position a natural fit for her. “I appreciate being a part of an industry where every individual has an opportunity to contribute to the greater good in a way they might find unattainable on their own. Helping C.I. Partners Direct create partnerships between non-profit organizations and donors is an endeavor I find both meaningful and worthwhile.”
On the personal side, Debbi loves spending time in nature, particularly underwater. On her bucket list: swimming alongside a marine iguana in the Galapagos Islands.
Project Manager
Michelle joined C.I. Partners Direct in August 2019 and brings years of administrative and compliance experience to her position as Project Manager. As one example, in a previous position as an office manager in charge of all HR duties, she ensured local, state and federal compliance in homecare staffing, JCAHO and HIPAA, where attention to detail was pivotal in identifying needs of clients and employees to ensure continuity of care. “I immensely enjoy working with our clients; helping them meet their fundraising goals enables so many vital nonprofit programs to innovate, discover and enrich the lives of those they serve. I’m proud to be a small part of their success.”
In her personal life, Michelle enjoys backpacking, camping with her family, horseback riding and baseball. “I have so many items on my bucket list! I’d have to say that a top item is to travel to Petra, Jordan and marvel at the ancient ruins.”
Senior Graphic Designer
Cara started with C.I. Partners Direct in fall of 2021. She has over 15 years of experience in graphic design and comes to C.I. Partners after several years working as an in-house designer for a liberal arts college. She enjoys creating eye-catching designs that help clients reach their fundraising goals.
In her free time, she loves to be outdoors, and volunteers with the local chapter of the Sierra Club. “One of my bucket list items is to hike the John Muir Trail!”
805-585-5276
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Senior Project Manager
Trisha brings many years of customer service and patient care experience to our company. These lend themselves well to her success as an exemplary support for our clients.
Trisha says that she is very proud working at C.I. Partners Direct because she knows that the projects developed by our company in partnership with our clients truly help to make a difference in people’s lives.
When not at work, Trisha enjoys spending time with her daughter and traveling and is passionate about learning different languages and embracing various cultures.
“One item on my bucket list is to visit Machu Picchu in the Andres Mountains of Peru.”
805-585-5278
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Senior Consultant
Gail Siegel brings almost 30 years of fundraising experience to her clients. She most recently led direct response efforts at the top-ranked Texas Children’s Hospital, where she drove changes which resulted in a 10-year high in direct mail channel revenue, an improved donor profile, and increased channel integration. She also guided programs focused on high-end direct mail giving and stewardship, grateful patient education and outreach, and membership.
Gail has filled key roles for donor development programs at a nationally-known adult hospital (Houston Methodist), an academic medical center (UT Health in Houston), a medical education and research organization (Baylor College of Medicine), and a national disease organization’s Houston office (American Cancer Society). She has in-depth experience in prospect research and management, major gift proposals and collateral, and stewardship reports and communications.
805-585-5270
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Senior Project Manager
Bea has been a Project Manager with C.I. Partners Direct since 2012. With her high level multitasking and time management skills Bea helps keep her clients on task and on schedule to meet and exceed their fundraising goals.
Bea says she especially enjoys collaborating with social and cultural organizations to help them achieve their goals. “I love that I’m always learning and growing by working with these organizations and learning about their wonderful causes.” She remembers seeing her very first project through from start to finish and the tremendous sense of accomplishment and pride she felt.
On the personal side, Bea is passionate about her family, which she says is her “everything!”
“One item on my bucket list is to travel the world!”
805-256-1611
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Chief Executive Officer/Co-founder
John has over 23 years of executive leadership experience with the development and operations of nonprofit direct mail marketing including customer service, programming, creative and production activities. John has experience managing more than 100 employees and delivering 132 million mail pieces annually from multiple regional production facilities.
John met company President/COO and Co-founder, Francis Baysinger over 20 years ago and since that time they have worked together for various companies. They often discussed their common goals of owning and operating a company that delivered the very best products and services while providing the very best work environment for their employees. After their employer decided to close down its California fundraising facility, John and Francis knew it was time to launch C.I. Partners Direct and the rest is history.
John is certified by the United States Postal Service as a Certified Direct Mail Professional (CDMP) and an Executive Mail Center Manager (EMCM). He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree from the University of Phoenix and is a US Army veteran having served time with Army Airborne and Ranger units. He recently completed the Leadership Course at The USC Marshall School of Business and the Board Leadership Institute at California Lutheran University.
John is a member of the Ventura County Nonprofit Leadership Council, hosted by the Center for Nonprofit Leadership at California Lutheran University. John is also on the Board of Directors and Development Chair for the Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara Chapter.
Click here to hear from John as he shares his personal story about cancer and the life-saving importance of fundraising.
805-585-5279
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Lead Project Manager
Kim has worked with non-profit organizations for over 12 years, with a primary emphasis on direct mail programs. She especially likes the challenge of working with complex campaigns for universities and hospitals and prides herself on accuracy and on-time delivery. Kim is vigilant about creating the best customer service experience possible for her clients ensuring a successful campaign with fantastic results.
Kim says she loves knowing that she is part of helping good organizations fulfill their missions by helping them to reach their fundraising goals. “I love when something that seems impossible turns out to be possible with our team guiding the way.”
On the personal side, Kim is passionate about spending time with her family and doing activities together, which often includes their four-legged family members!
“One item on my bucket list is to participate in a mushing event with my Siberian Husky!”
(346) 816-6028
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Consultant
Debbie Campbell joined C.I. Partners in April 2018 as Senior Consultant, bringing over 20 years of experience in the creation and execution of strategic, multi-channel fundraising initiatives.
Prior to joining C.I. Partners Direct, Debbie served as Senior Associate Director at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where she wrote proposals and executed integrated direct marketing strategies for the Annual Fund Program. She implemented the expansion of the direct mail acquisition effort that grew from a regional area covering the States of Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma to a nationwide program. She initiated strategies that included Annual Fund donors in an external telephone program and a capital campaign that led to increased revenue, retention and response.
Before joining MD Anderson Cancer Center, Debbie served as Program Manager at the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center where she managed marketing communications and designed a targeted, multi-channel strategy to enhance the donor experience and increase the awareness of the continuous need for blood donations.
Debbie earned her Bachelors of Science in Marketing from the University of Phoenix and recently completed the Strategic Planning and Major Gift and Capital Campaign courses offered at Rice University in Houston.
Debbie supports animal welfare organizations and donates blood when she’s eligible. She resides in Texas with her husband and two cats. Debbie spends her free time cooking, reading and gardening.
858-405-7273
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Senior Consultant
Donna joined C.I. Partners Direct in January 2017 bringing with her over 15 years experience in the management and implementation of strategic multi-channel fundraising campaigns.
Before joining our company, Donna designed and launched the implementation of Cedars-Sinai’s inaugural direct response and grateful patient fundraising programs. Utilizing her expertise with process improvement analysis, Donna successfully executed a streamlined and effective approach to donor segmentation and was instrumental in creating a strategic vision driving donor acquisition, retention, and engagement to new heights.
Prior to her work at Cedars-Sinai, Donna served as a director for the United Jewish Federation in San Diego, where she established a robust annual giving plan for the young leadership division, significantly increasing the amount of revenue and gifts received. She also led the strategy and implementation of a landmark team fundraising web initiative.
Donna earned her Bachelors of Science in Psychology from San Diego State University and a Master’s in Evaluation and Organizational Behavior from Claremont Graduate University.
Donna is the consultant for many notable foundations, including:
Donna also gives of her time and expertise to further the missions of these important causes:
Donna resides in Los Angeles, California where she enjoys exploring nature with her husband and children. When not serving her clients, Donna can be found appreciating the things in life that put her in her happy place – sweets, a great cup of coffee, a good book and painting!
805-585-5266
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Senior Project Manager
Our clients help people in many different ways from advocating for the hungry and protecting the environment to funding medical research and technology—all working to make lives better. Stephanie loves the small but vital role she plays in helping these noteworthy organizations with their worthwhile causes.
Since joining C. I. Partners in 2013, Stephanie has contributed to her client’s success through her commitment and attention to detail and says she loves everything about her day-to-day work. “I am proud each and every time I help my client achieve and exceed their fundraising goals.”
On the personal side, Stephanie is passionate about … the DODGERS! She also very much enjoys exploring new music and food.
“One item on my bucket list is to visit the pyramids of Egypt.”
805-256-1628
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Art Director
Jessie has over 20 years graphic design and print experience in both the commercial and nonprofit markets. She has conceptualized and developed a diverse array of projects on behalf of our clients, including direct mail packages, brochures and posters as well as email campaigns, PURL’s and websites. Jessie enjoys working with our clients to create unique, creative and results-oriented designs.
Jessie says she enjoys the challenges presented by unique marketing projects. She is motivated every day by the opportunity to find creative, effective solutions and says it’s what makes her job so interesting. “I get the most gratification from discovering that something I did or for which I was partially responsible helped others attain their worthwhile goals.“ We are proud that some of Jessie’s nonprofit designs have received print industry design awards!
In her spare time, Jessie enjoys walking, traveling, jewelry making and knitting.
“One item on my bucket list is to some day go on a long-term excursion with my husband to discover some of the world’s most exotic and intriguing places.”
805-585-5273
[email protected]
President & Chief Operating Officer
Francis is a direct mail, project management and customer service veteran. She spent a combined 17 years as a customer service manager for CSG Systems and DataProse Inc., where she led a highly trained project management team responsible for all nonprofit deliverables including the management of more than 12,000 projects annually.
She and our CEO, John Ray met while at DataProse, sharing a common belief that a company should always do what’s in the best interest of the clients – always! This common goal led them to create C.I. Partners Direct after their employer laid off 65 employees, shutting down its California fundraising facility and essentially getting out of the fundraising market. Francis ensures that our clients see C. I. Partners Direct as allies rather than simply service providers.
Francis also feels strongly that treating employees and vendors with respect is key to company success. Francis and John are hyper-focused on creating a work environment second to none – from flexible work schedules to stellar benefits to free online training for all employees and more. Ultimately, our clients benefit from a dedicated staff with extremely low turnover.
303-802-9747
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Senior Consultant
With over 10 years of annual giving consulting experience and 18 years in the fundraising field, Shawna Peterson has a unique flair for developing and guiding clients through creative and effective annual strategic plans to optimize results and grow donor support.
Before joining our company, Shawna served as the primary fundraiser at non-profits across the region including the University of Colorado Cancer Center, AMC Cancer Research Center, Lorenzen Cancer Foundation, Inner City Health Center, “I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County, and Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
Shawna’s passion for fundraising began as a child due to her family’s many affiliations with Orange County (Southern CA) non-profits. Today, she applies her love of fundraising every day for her clients as she believes “we all benefit in providing for our community, when we share our experience.”
Shawna is a credentialed CFRE, Certified Fund Raising Executive. She received a Masters of Social Work and an undergraduate degree in Child Psychology from Arizona State University.
Shawna is the consultant for many notable foundations, including:
Shawna also gives of her time and expertise to further the missions of these important causes:
Shawna resides in Boulder, Colorado with her husband, two stepchildren and her dog Tenley. When not serving her clients, Shawna can be found hiking and snowshoeing the local trails or wakeboarding at the local reservoir.