The Bucks County Historical Society, which operates the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle, named Gloria Pugliese as vice president of development, effective Monday, July 12.
The vice president of development provides leadership and management for the creation and implementation of short- and long-term development plans to support the BCHS’ institutional mission-driven initiatives. This senior leadership position identifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations and government sources to support the BCHS’ mission and achieve the museum’s strategic goals.
Pugliese has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and management. She has secured gifts for medical research, historic preservation, museum exhibitions, higher education and human services. She will apply her talents to steward the next chapter of the Bucks County Historical Society’s fundraising efforts.
Previously, she worked directly with board members and organization leadership in developing and implementing strategic plans, securing partnerships and recruiting directors and volunteers. She has directed successful fundraising events, from gala dinners to charity walks and silent auctions, raising over $1 million in event revenue, and has increased annual giving revenue by over 30 percent through donor-centered language and enhanced storytelling. Over the course of her career, she has secured numerous major gifts from individual donors and over $10 million in funding from corporate and foundation sources.
“The trustees of the Bucks County Historical Society are very excited to welcome Gloria Pugliese as our new vice president of development,” said Heather Cevasco, chair of the board of trustees. “As an accomplished development professional, Gloria will be a great addition to the BCHS team and will help with our goal to continue to strengthen our fundraising and philanthropy efforts. These efforts help support our mission and historic properties, as well as our existing programs, and help to expand upon those programs into the future for the community to enjoy.”
BCHS president and executive director Kyle McKoy added, “Gloria’s appointment was a unanimous decision, and her breadth of experience in the fundraising field will allow BCHS to continue to grow and succeed in the months and years to come.”
In addition to her extensive work as a frontline fundraiser working with individual, foundation and corporate donors, Pugliese also has extensive consulting experience, having worked on campaign feasibility studies, major gift campaigns, strategic plans and rebranding initiatives.
Pugliese is an adjunct faculty member in the College of Professional Studies at Villanova University. She is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Philadelphia Chapter, having served on the chapter board from 2006 through 2012. In 2010, she completed a two-year term as chapter president.
She has also presented training sessions on grant seeking, ethics, presentation skills and other training topics for AFP and other groups. She earned her certified fundraising executive designation in 2006 and became a chartered advisor in philanthropy in 2016.
In her free time, Pugliese is a singer and board member with The Choristers, a concert choir in Montgomery County. She also serves on the board of the Kardon Northeast Branch of Settlement Music School and the Pennsylvania Youth Chorale. She is an active volunteer with the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
“I’m excited to bring my skills and experience to BCHS to help them increase their fundraising and provide the necessary resources to implement programs and services that add value to the community,” said Pugliese. “As a history lover and someone with a background in education, I think this position and organization are a great fit for me. I’m looking forward to learning about the organization and playing a role in its next chapter.”
Pugliese holds a bachelor’s degree in French from Susquehanna University, a master’s degree in education from Lehigh University, and a master of business administration from La Salle University. She lives in Philadelphia.
