Cap® R. Sylvester Owens

R. Sylvester Owens, CAP®, has a diverse work experience spanning over two decades. From 2019 to the present, Owens has been with the Human Rights Campaign, initially serving as a Planned Giving Officer, where they cultivated and solicited current and prospective planned giving donors. Owens was then promoted to Director of Estate Planning and subsequently to Senior Director of Estate Planning. In these roles, they have developed and maintained relationships with donors, conducted stewardship visits, and enhanced commitment to the organization.

Prior to joining the Human Rights Campaign, Owens worked as the Director of Individual Giving at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington from December 2018 to May 2019. Before that, they spent almost six years at The George Washington University, serving as the Senior Associate Director of Alumni Relations for the School of Medicine and Health Sciences. In this role, Owens planned and directed alumni events and programs, strengthened engagement among recent graduates, and implemented various volunteer opportunities.

Owens also has experience at Winthrop University, where they held two positions. First, they worked as the Philanthropic Advisor from July 2008 to March 2013, responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors on behalf of the university. R. Sylvester also collaborated with senior leadership and served on major university committees. Prior to that, Owens served as the Director of Alumni Programs from May 2006 to June 2008, where they developed and managed logistics for alumni gatherings, collaborated on major university events, and supervised alumni relations staff.

Lastly, at Clinton Junior College, Owens held two roles. From 2003 to 2005, they served as the Enrollment Manager/Community Outreach Coordinator, assisting with stewardship and recruiting volunteers for college events. R. Sylvester also contributed to the creation of marketing material. From 2003 to 2005, they served as the Registrar/Academic Advisor.

Overall, Owens has demonstrated expertise in estate planning, donor cultivation, alumni relations, event planning, and volunteer management throughout their career.

R. Sylvester Owens, CAP®, has a strong educational background. R. Sylvester earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Winthrop University, where they were enrolled from 1999 to 2003. Following this, they pursued a Master of Education degree in Counseling and Development from the same university, studying from 2004 to 2006. Additionally, Owens has obtained certification as a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® from The American College of Financial Services in May 2023.