Girl Scouts of Central Indiana announces Erin Bess as new chief development officer

Girl Scouts of Central Indiana recently hired Erin Bess, a Girl Scout alumna, as the organization’s chief development officer. Her experience in grant strategy, relationship management, and fund development spans a career of 12 years.

Bess

“Being a Girl Scout as a young girl not only allowed me to foster meaningful friendships but also provided me with valuable skills that I carried into various aspects of my life, including athletics, school, and adulthood,” Bess said. “My time as a Girl Scout instilled in me a deep appreciation for the organization’s commitment to fostering leadership, empowering girls, and creating lasting impact within communities.”

Most recently, Bess served as program manager for Amazon research awards where she oversaw grant programs, streamlined operations, and collaborated with diverse stakeholders, including academic researchers and university staff.

“We are delighted to welcome Erin to Girl Scouts of Central Indiana,” said Girl Scouts of Central Indiana’s CEO Danielle Shockey. “She has a proven track record of overseeing successful events and campaigns that aligns with the Girl Scout vision, and we are confident that she will strengthen community engagement while strategically leading fundraising through and furthering existing Girl Scout relationships and building new ones that can support the Girl Scout mission.”

About the Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges –whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit GirlScoutsIndiana.org.