Historic St. Mary’s City, MD – Historic St. Mary’s City has announced the appointment of Mike Bellis as the new Director of Advancement & Communications. After an extensive national search that drew a multitude of qualified candidates, the museum’s board concluded that Bellis’s extensive experience and local connections make him the ideal choice for this significant position. Bellis, a Southern Maryland resident, has a proven track record of surpassing fundraising goals, enhancing donor engagement strategies, and cultivating relationships with key stakeholders.
Mike Bellis will bring substantial expertise to Historic St. Mary’s City from his recent tenure as Executive Director of the Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation. Since August 2022, he has led fundraising, grant acquisition, and volunteer services for the 99-bed community hospital in Charles County, Maryland. Bellis holds an associate’s degree in business administration from the College of Southern Maryland and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus, balancing his education with professional commitments.
Before his role at Charles Regional, Bellis occupied various leadership roles, notably as Assistant Director of Alumni & Annual Giving at the College of Southern Maryland and Executive Director of United Way of Charles County. During his time at United Way, he launched the Community Connections program, delivering essential resources to over 3,000 families during the COVID-19 pandemic and securing $1.5 million in rental assistance grants. His efforts led to the successful merger of three organizations into United Way of Southern Maryland.
Beyond his professional achievements, Bellis is deeply involved in his community. He serves as Chair of the Housing Authority of St. Mary’s County and is a board member of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation. His leadership and dedication have been recognized with accolades such as the “VIP Under 40” by the Maryland Daily Record in 2020 and his graduation from the Leadership Southern Maryland Class of 2019.
Historic St. Mary’s City looks forward to the positive impact Bellis will have when he officially begins his role on July 24. The museum and its board are eager to see how his skills and experience will benefit the organization and its mission.
