Maria Lewis, CNP, CFRE
Executive Director
NAUI Green Diver Initiative
Maria Lewis has been served with nonprofits and fundraising all her life and as paid, full-time staff member for over 25 years in Central & West Central Florida. Most recently, Maria has joined NAUI Green Diver Initiative as the Executive Director after completing a consulting contract to develop their Strategic Plan. Prior to that, she was recruited to spearhead a grass roots effort to implement the Senior Care Group Foundation, a subsidiary of Senior Care Group, Inc., a private, 501c3 non profit organization providing skilled nursing, therapy and home health care services. Her previous experience includes: Development Director at Achievement Academy (a cause for developmentally disabled children) in Lakeland, Development Director for Champions for Children (formerly Child Abuse Council) in Tampa, Executive Director of the American Liver Foundation’s Florida Chapter, Development Director for Genesis Preparatory School in New Port Richey, Program Coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Tampa Bay and Director of the American Red Cross in Seminole County.
Maria received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with her major in Marketing from the University of Central Florida. She received her Certified Nonprofit Professional from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance in January of 2019. On August 3, 2016, she achieved the credentials of Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). She also holds the following certificates:
Certificate in Nonprofit Board Governance - Nonprofit Leadership Center – October 11, 2017
Certificate in Nonprofit Financial Management - Nonprofit Leadership Center – Sept 26, 2017
Certificate in Fund Development - Nonprofit Leadership Center – March 31, 2011
Certificate in Grant Writing - Nonprofit Leadership Center – November 17, 2010
Certificate in Volunteer Management - Nonprofit Leadership Center – April 12, 2007
In 2011 Maria won the “Be More Entertaining” Award for the best non-profit special event in the WEDU public broadcasting viewing area for her “Top Chef of the Year Tampa Bay” event. Maria is an alumnus of Leadership Hillsborough where she was on the Board of Directors for 5 years, her final year on the Board she served as President. She has been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals since 1999. Maria was inducted into the Rotary Club of Brandon on September 29, 2015 and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Rotary Camp Florida. Maria has volunteered for numerous nonprofits and sat on several nonprofit boards of directors.
She has a loving husband, Dale, 2 stepdaughters, 2 son-in-laws, 2 grandsons, and 2 granddaughters.
Executive Director
NAUI Green Diver Initiative
Maria Lewis has been served with nonprofits and fundraising all her life and as paid, full-time staff member for over 25 years in Central & West Central Florida. Most recently, Maria has joined NAUI Green Diver Initiative as the Executive Director after completing a consulting contract to develop their Strategic Plan. Prior to that, she was recruited to spearhead a grass roots effort to implement the Senior Care Group Foundation, a subsidiary of Senior Care Group, Inc., a private, 501c3 non profit organization providing skilled nursing, therapy and home health care services. Her previous experience includes: Development Director at Achievement Academy (a cause for developmentally disabled children) in Lakeland, Development Director for Champions for Children (formerly Child Abuse Council) in Tampa, Executive Director of the American Liver Foundation’s Florida Chapter, Development Director for Genesis Preparatory School in New Port Richey, Program Coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Tampa Bay and Director of the American Red Cross in Seminole County.
Maria received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with her major in Marketing from the University of Central Florida. She received her Certified Nonprofit Professional from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance in January of 2019. On August 3, 2016, she achieved the credentials of Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). She also holds the following certificates:
Certificate in Nonprofit Board Governance - Nonprofit Leadership Center – October 11, 2017
Certificate in Nonprofit Financial Management - Nonprofit Leadership Center – Sept 26, 2017
Certificate in Fund Development - Nonprofit Leadership Center – March 31, 2011
Certificate in Grant Writing - Nonprofit Leadership Center – November 17, 2010
Certificate in Volunteer Management - Nonprofit Leadership Center – April 12, 2007
In 2011 Maria won the “Be More Entertaining” Award for the best non-profit special event in the WEDU public broadcasting viewing area for her “Top Chef of the Year Tampa Bay” event. Maria is an alumnus of Leadership Hillsborough where she was on the Board of Directors for 5 years, her final year on the Board she served as President. She has been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals since 1999. Maria was inducted into the Rotary Club of Brandon on September 29, 2015 and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Rotary Camp Florida. Maria has volunteered for numerous nonprofits and sat on several nonprofit boards of directors.
She has a loving husband, Dale, 2 stepdaughters, 2 son-in-laws, 2 grandsons, and 2 granddaughters.