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Danielle
DeSimone
Marketing + Storytelling
About Me
Hi there!
I’m Danielle DeSimone – a content marketer, writer, and editor with 10+ years’ experience in the nonprofit industry. I’m also a pasta enthusiast, an avid swimmer and traveler, and – objectively – my golden retriever’s #1 fan.
I spent part of my childhood growing up in southern Italy, which has led to a love for travel, cooking, and cultural exchange in equal measure. I channeled much of those life passions into the early years of my career, when I worked in international education, the travel industry, and cultural foundations.
Today, I lead content marketing at one of the nation’s leading nonprofits. My favorite part of the job? Talking to strangers and crafting a strong story. That’s why, in my free time, you can find me taking salsa dancing lessons, founding a local horror movie club, and eating dinners with strangers at Washington, D.C. supper clubs. Any chance I have to connect with others and get to know their story, I’m there.
And I firmly believe that to be a good storyteller, you have to be curious about the world. That curiosity shapes my approach in everything from personal hobbies to my professional career, and I’m a stronger marketer for it.
Learn more about my professional experience below!
Work Experience
Senior Content Marketing Manager
United Service Organizations (USO)
April 2022 - Today
In this role, I craft the strategy and production of the USO Marketing department's editorial content, leading storytelling efforts for a top tier global nonprofit organization with a follower base of 1.5M followers across channels. From writing impactful stories, website copy, and producing social video content, to managing international film shoots from Poland to Okinawa, to guiding cross-functional teams through digital campaigns and establishing brand standards, I'm a marketing professional who can carry a project from start to finish.
Senior Marketing Content Specialist
United Service Organizations (USO)
July 2018 - April 2022
Previously at the USO, I produced copy for key marketing and fundraising campaign initiatives, bringing the mission to life through compelling storytelling in website copy, social media, video scripts, print materials, annual reports, and more. I enforced brand consistency across the USO and created a brand writing guide for the entire organization.
Work Experience (cont'd)
Social Media Manager + Assistant Editor
National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)
June 2015 - July 2018
At NIAF, I combined my love of writing and Italian culture, crafting everything from quippy social media captions about pasta trends, to stories featuring New York Times bestselling authors. My magazine assistant editor role provided me with my foundation for longform storytelling, and my social media manager role taught me to think on my feet while wearing many, many hats.
Marketing & Communications Assistant
University of Queensland (UQ): North America Office
January 2015 - June 2015
In this role, I wrote editorial and marketing content featuring updates from UQ, promoting Australian and American relations, and adapting complex scientific research into engaging articles. I also managed social media channels and a global campaign with UQ alumni.
Freelance Writer
GoAbroad.com and The McClatchy Company
2014 - 2020
Over the course of six years, I was a freelance writer for two companies - GoAbroad.com and The McClatchy Company. In these roles, I wrote on a variety of topics, including international education, travel, state tourism, Native American Nations and construction. It was here that I learned how to quickly adapt to new brand voices and audiences, leveraging SEO and adjusting to the needs of the client.
Contact Me
I'd love to connect! You can reach out to me directly on social, or via email below.
