(Re)Start Your Planned Giving Today, Not Someday

Sharon Bosserman-Benson

Sharon Bosserman-Benson has been a professional fundraiser and trainer for more than 25 years. As the Senior Development Officer of SMART (Start Making A Reader Today), Sharon is responsible for growing SMART’s endowment, overseeing planned giving, and soliciting major gifts. Prior to SMART, Sharon worked for Lewis & Clark College for 14 years where she directed the institution’s annual fund, alumni program, alumni capital campaign, and major gift and planned giving effort. Sharon has increased resources for community colleges, secondary and elementary schools, among others. Sharon led efforts to double private donations for programs serving low-income families connected to Community Action, a social service agency in Hillsboro, Oregon.

As a fundraising trainer and coach, Sharon has worked with more than 100 non-profits, primarily in Oregon. For four years, Sharon was the lead trainer for Portland area non-profits who competed to participate in a 10-month fundraising training series co-sponsored by the United Way and the Nonprofit Association of Oregon (NAO). Sharon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon and resides in Portland, Oregon.