The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is excited to welcome Rosalyn “Missy” Ham-Cross as the new director of gift planning in the Office of Philanthropy. With over 25 years of experience in planned giving and major gift fundraising, Ham-Cross brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of success in building and managing donor relationships.
Ham-Cross joins UMB from the American Red Cross, where she served as a gift planning officer for 18 years, raising over $23 million in new planned giving commitments and an additional $1 million in outright gifts. Her extensive experience includes developing and executing comprehensive gift planning strategies, providing technical support to regional staff, and managing relationships with key stakeholders such as board members, volunteers, and donors.
Prior to her tenure at the Red Cross, Ham-Cross held various roles at the Smithsonian Institution, where she managed a prospect pool of 200 potential donors and successfully closed nearly $4 million in planned gifts. Her work in building and maintaining the Smithsonian Legacy Society and overseeing the bequest and charitable gift annuity programs has been instrumental in the institution’s long-term fundraising success.
Ham-Cross is an active member of the National Capital Gift Planning Council (NCGPC) and the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners. In 2022, she was honored with the NCGPC’s Distinguished Service Award in Planned Giving, recognizing her significant contributions to the field.
In her new role at UMB, Ham-Cross will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to grow the University’s gift planning program, working closely with internal and external partners to secure transformative gifts that will advance UMB’s mission. Her commitment to donor stewardship and her ability to engage with diverse groups of individuals will be invaluable as we continue to build a culture of philanthropy at UMB.
Ham-Cross will start her new position in October. Please join us in welcoming her to the UMB community. We are confident that her leadership will greatly enhance our efforts to foster lasting relationships with our donors and secure the resources necessary to support the University’s goals.