By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Pacific Science Center (PacSci) recently announced the appointment of Freeda Warren as Chief Advancement Officer (CAO).
Warren, who previously served as Senior Vice President of Advancement at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, will join PacSci in this newly created position and will be tasked with spearheading the marketing, communications, public relations, government affairs, fundraising, and other activities to build PacSci’s capacity for impact.
Warren brings more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising leadership and communications, including relationship-focused fundraising, donor development, and capital campaigns. Most recently, she led a 43-member team in philanthropy, marketing, communications, data analytics, and membership at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, where she grew their advancement program and helped secure a transformative $20 million gift for special projects.
Prior to her role at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Warren also held senior leadership positions at Genesys Works, University of Puget Sound, AARP Foundation, American Heart Association, and the National Black MBA Association.
A native of California, Warren spent several years as a criminal prosecutor for King County before honing her fundraising skills working with several non-profits in Chicago and Denver before returning to the Pacific Northwest in her new capacity.
“I have had quite a journey from practicing law to immersing myself in the world of nonprofit fundraising,” Warren continued. “I enjoy the fundraising process building relationships, crafting compelling stories about our mission, and gaining loyal support for the organization.”
PacSci Board Chair Sarah Buhayar and CEO Will Daugherty are excited about the hiring of Warren and the extensive experience she brings to the PacSci family.
“I am thrilled that Freeda is joining the leadership of PacSci,” says Buhayar. “She brings such valuable experience and expertise that will significantly enhance our ability to advance our mission and increase our impact in the community. The board is looking forward to working with her.”
“I am delighted that Freeda Warren is joining the PacSci team, especially now as we embark on ambitious projects such as the Maker & Innovation Lab,” said Daugherty. “Freeda brings a gift for storytelling, a passion for community partnerships, and a deep commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.”
The opportunity to contribute her skills to an organization dedicated to inspiring curiosity and education, especially as it relates to communities that have been historically underserved, aligns perfectly with Warren’s values and interests, and was a key factor in her decision to pursue the position with PacSci.
“I’m a lifelong learner and I’m a strong advocate for education,” says Warren. “So, when the Pacific Science Center opportunity came available, I really did deep research and along with the opportunity to bring such a wonderful iconic experience to children and people of color and those marginalized and open their curiosity in their minds to the opportunities that the world has to offer. That’s what really inspired me to throw my hat in the ring and see where it landed. I was very fortunate and happy that they selected me for this position.”
During Warren’s tenure at PacSci, she aspires to raise awareness of all the great work they are doing in the community and to secure the funds needed to restore the campus to the iconic place Seattle has come to know and love.
When asked about what this position means to her at this point in her career, Warren was extremely excited and humbled when she reflected on how everything along her journey has prepared her for this opportunity.
“Oh, my goodness, I am so honored and to be honest with you, this is the pinnacle of my career,” says Warren. “Everything I’ve done from after law school and creating a career around fundraising, which is not easy to do to transition from law to nonprofit, my goal has always been to be a chief of something and fundraising. This is where I’m hoping that I will retire and I just want to jump in feet first and tread water until I learn to swim and get my sea legs and do wonderful things for the center.”
Warren has a B.A in African American studies and U.S. history from the University of California Davis, and a law degree from The Seattle University School of Law.