Esther Chase

View a list of skills and experience, marketing samples, and training.

Founder & Web Designer

Chase Digital Solutions | Self-Employed
Mar 2015 – Present

Simplicity is the key to great design. Whether it’s your brand, your website, or the way you structure your workflow, we can make it a great experience. Chase Digital Solutions provides online marketing services to artists, freelancers, startups, and nonprofits using the latest technology for the best return on investment. We want to help you establish a confident, strategic, and purpose-driven online presence that turns heads for the right reasons.

• Brand creation and development
• Mobile-friendly web design
• Storytelling and portrait photography
• Email and social media marketing
• Digital and print advertising
• Style management facilitation
• Expert web content writing
• Effective search engine optimization
• Nonprofit capacity building

Communications Manager

UU Santa Monica is a welcoming congregation, a green sanctuary, and a designated peace site. Founded in 1927, we are a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Jun 2022 – Sep 2025 • Remote, part-time

• Navigate competing digital communications priorities
• Design and send weekly announcements email campaign
• Maintain 3 email lists/audiences in Mailchimp
• Manage internal reservations and public website calendars
• Monitor and contribute to Slack for digital worship planning
• Prepare weekly online worship content, livestreams, and archives
• Publish weekly events and monthly worship content
• Develop annual interfaith social media content calendar
• Email/greet guest speakers, request permission to post sermons
• Post social media content and update static webpage content

Finance Assistant & Office Support

Jan 2023 – Dec 2024 • In-person, part-time

• Design our new online giving page
• Migrate our events/rentals calendars to Google
• Record accounts receivable, i.e. contributions, rental payments
• Update donor database and publish member directory
• Generate fund reports, provide tax statements
• Prepare weekly deposits and manage petty cash
• Assist church administrator and volunteer committees as needed
• Front office receptionist, greeter, and customer service for rentals
• Proofread, print, and post the weekly Order of Service for worship
• Collaborate with a member/donor to care for sanctuary plants
• Train successor in-person/online before returning to remote work

WordPress.com Expert

Directly | Freelance
Mar 2017 – Aug 2022

• Provide real-time customer support via chat
• Develop custom reusable answer templates to streamline support
• Assist customers in identifying their website hosting provider
• Guide users through password reset and account access issues
• Support users with the new block editor and theme customization
• Direct customers to plugin developers for third-party support
• Troubleshoot Jetpack-related issues and offer resolution steps
• Advise users on selecting WordPress.com hosting plans
• Explain key differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
• Attend training and webinars with fellow support specialists

Board President

Literacy Volunteers of Western Cook County
2013 – 2019 | Forest Park & LaGrange, IL

Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency in 1987, Literacy Volunteers of Western Cook County provides free literacy education to adults through a network of trained volunteers in suburban Cook County and the Austin neighborhood of Chicago.

• Approve decisions, commitments, and plans
• Formulate, review, and approve organizational budgets
• Evaluate progress toward financial and program goals
• Perform and teach secretarial and treasurer duties

• Design and implement an intentional fundraising plan
• Use our Bloomerang platform to understand trends
• Obtain operational and program grants
• Raise at least $10,000 in unrestricted revenue each year
• Cultivate donor relationships to retain and grow gifts
• Facilitate board involvement in relationship building
• From 2013-2017, raised $348,543, as follows:
• $178,815 in contributions, $169,728 in volunteer hours

• Embrace change and build a sense of urgency
• Manage a $30,000 annual budget
• Manage 3 micro-time employees and 30+ volunteers
• Continuously monitor and prune administrative costs
• Use volunteer resources to develop new initiatives
• Foster partnerships with local libraries
• Implement a cloud-based office and 3 co-working spaces

• Create and disseminate an organizational e-newsletter
• Plan and schedule promotional social media messages
• Manage digital communications systems
• Build and manage the LVWCC website

Development Director

Ephrata Public Library
2018 | Ephrata, PA

The Ephrata Public Library is a physical and virtual community center with a mission to provide resources and promote opportunities for everyone seeking to improve, change, enrich, and enjoy their lives. Operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Library offers free access to information reflecting differing viewpoints in order to support an open and democratic society.

• Develop awareness of the Library’s mission
• Promote its value as a social change-agent
• Sustain partnerships within the community
• Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan
• Research grants and write an organizational case for support
• Secure ongoing financial support
• Oversee a multi-phase capital improvement project
• Oversee the operation of a used bookstore
• Oversee special events and ensure promotional reach
• Collaborate with local nonprofits to share events
• Manage a full-time development coordinator
• Manage a part-time custodian

Marketing & Development Director

Pav YMCA
2015 – 2017 | Berwyn, IL

Formed in 1970, the Pav YMCA is a member-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. YMCAs are for people of all faiths, races, ages, incomes, and abilities.

As Director of Marketing, I actively promoted YMCA membership and programs, led member recruitment, supported member retention, led strategic marketing campaigns, implemented The Y™ brand, and employed the For a better us.™ nationwide campaign.

As Director of Financial Development, I produced engaging fundraising campaigns with a focus on annual fund strategy. Between both roles, I managed a $50,000 annual budget.

FY18 Accomplishments:
• Secure a $100,000 grant for operations and capital
• Assist in the stewardship of a $15,000 major gift
• Support a team to improve fundraising results over 3 event cycles

FY17 Marketing Accomplishments:
• Implement a digital promotion monitor in our lobby
• Implement a new brand-aligning website
• Create a donor portal via Classy at donate.pavymca.org
• Create an events blog at events.pavymca.org
• Pass the 2016 Y-USA brand re-certification
• Work with Finance Director to save $30,000/yr. on printing
• Revamp the department budget

FY17 Development Accomplishments:
• Secure a $10,000 marketing grant
• Secure a $3,000 grant from Y-USA for swim lessons
• Reinstate $2,000 in annual local foundation funding
• Create a “Where the Money Goes” info-graphic
• Implement a peer-to-peer and crowdfunding platform