Director, Fundraising & Project Development
Rick Whitlow is founder, CEO, and principal consultant of Bizops Consulting Group, a ten-year private consultant firm that specializes in resource development, project management, and capacity-building assignments. Rick provides leadership and direction for the development, oversight, and execution of a diversified fundraising program aligned with the organizations mission and overall strategic plan. Rick works in conjunction with organizations to plan and implement special initiatives, commemorative events, fundraising activities, and manage/track progress of strategic and programmatic plans. As the senior member of the fundraising team he ensures overall success of development efforts, creating and designing promotional materials for planned giving programs; developing and implementing successful solicitation strategies for major and planned gifts, and supervises project research and grants management activities to maintain accountability and track milestone completion. Representative clients and collaborative partners of Bizops Consulting include, Solicom, Inc., Russell Law Firm, PLLC, The Giftshoppe, and TEAM, Inc.
Projects include special campaigns and sponsorships activities; feasibility studies; proposal development; workshop facilitation on various aspects of fundraising, strategic planning and institutional readiness; and arts and heritage project development, campaign coordination; event planning and project management.
Mr. Whitlow is an active partner with MMEAN and in addition to serving as a subject matter expert in marketing and media relations. He has readily provided supportive responses during periodic requests for membership support and collaboration, to include participation in MMEAN’s micro enterprise roundtable. Among other things, he was able to identify nonprofit-experienced legal counsel to guide the organization’s efforts, assisted with activities leading to increased public awareness of the organization’s mission and presence, and has proactively sought to forge partnership links and liaisons with complementary organizations with which he is involved.
In addition to his work as Principal with Bizops Consulting, Mr. Whitlow has broad work experience which includes community based education and services; assisting organizations and individuals in project development and obtaining required resources. He developed and implemented Athletes in Action, a creative learning and mentoring program for young athletes; works closely with TEAM, Inc. a school/community based collaboration that uses technology to reach broader audiences and less advantaged students; served as executive director for Safe-city Watch. Safe-city is a crime watch dog organization that works with neighborhood associations, law enforcement agencies, and other citizen groups who are interested in crime prevention. Rick served on the Jackson Public School Strategic Core Planning Team and was part of the core group of planners for programs to improve educational opportunities in the District. He served on Board of Directors of Make-A-Wish Foundation and Metro Jackson YMCA and maintains an active support role for organizational activities and programs.
Mr. Whitlow is a member of the Baptist Health System Board of Directors. He has served on Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour 2004 Transition Team; and is an alumnus of Leadership Jackson (MS) Class of 2004. Rick graduated from Illinois State University where he is a member of the Illinois State University Athletic Hall of Fame. Rick was an All-American Basketball Player; drafted by the NBA Houston Rockets and the ABA Memphis Sounds.
