The Value of Benchmarking: Focus on Gift Processing and Records Administration
Benchmarking can reveal patterns of best practices and opportunities for...
Charlotte Davis McGhee
Vice President
Biography
Charlotte Davis McGhee, Vice President, has more than 42 years of experience in fundraising systems and support services in both academic and business environments.
She has a special expertise in the management of gift and pledge processing; database management; system support for prospect management; providing an effective bridge between financial and technical departments and end users in the analysis of business processes in support of fundraising programs; in the definition of computer system requirements and system implementation; and in the management of the interfaces between fundraising and accounting operations. Her extensive managerial experience includes staff training and supervision.
Prior to joining GG+A, Charlotte was Director of Magazine Systems at Reed Publishing, now Reed Elsevier. From 1983 to 1994, she was responsible for system business analysis, design specification, testing, installation, and training. In addition to developing EDP business plans and budgets, Charlotte developed and supervised staff that provided information technology services for all 140 publications and business divisions, including corporate accounting. Her management systems innovations include an executive information system for modeling and forecasting, an international direct mail system for Reed PLC, and numerous marketing, billing, and production systems.
From 1981 to 1983, Charlotte served as Director of Management Information Systems at Brandeis University, where she established the MIS Department and introduced office automation to the campus. Charlotte supervised the design and implementation of systems for the financial and development divisions, created a new chart of accounts, resolved conflicting demands on an institution-wide basis, and established procedures for decentralizing data entry and database management. Charlotte designed an accounting system to meet management decision and reporting needs, and implemented a system to assist the University's loan portfolio management. In addition, she designed a fundraising, marketing, and accounts receivable system that improved transaction processing productivity by more than 300 percent.
At Radcliffe College from 1973 through 1981, Charlotte held two positions. As Assistant Administrative Dean, Charlotte introduced computers to the College, managed the computer facility, selected and installed equipment, and trained and supervised the business computing and accounting staff. She implemented a fundraising, alumni relations, and accounts receivable system that has been adopted by more than 60 major universities and colleges since 1976. Charlotte introduced cost analysis and control systems as well as budget preparation and monitoring procedures that resulted in cost savings for the College. Moreover, Charlotte implemented cash flow management procedures that enabled investment managers to optimize earnings. She also monitored compliance on all grants and contracts. As Director of Development at Radcliffe, Charlotte established an office for government, corporation, and foundation fundraising.
Charlotte received her bachelor’s degree from Chatham College and a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She has completed additional training at the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program and Coopers and Lybrand (now Pricewaterhouse Coopers). She served as Project Director at the Robert Taft Institute of Government and was a Fellow of the American Association of University Women.