People in Fundraising, ep. 109: Erica Marken, Development Director, Utah Clean Energy

Welcoming my former managers as guests on "People in Fundraising" is a goal of my podcast, and today I am pleased to feature the first guest in that series: Erica Marken hired me to my current role at Weber State University in summer 2021. It was great reconnecting with her!

She is now the inaugural Development Director fundraising for Utah Clean Energy, an environmental nonprofit in a state facing several climate and energy crises, such as air quality, the receding Great Salt Lake, access to water in a high-desert state with rapid population growth the last 10+ years.

Erica discusses:

* Utah Clean Energy's four main objectives: transitioning to renewable energy; reducing emissions from dwellings; climate change leadership; and clean/electric transit - and how her role raises funds for these sectors

* Where Erica's passion for environmental and animal rights advocacy originates, and why these issues are close to her professionally and personally

* Resilience and finding value in being open about realizing when an organization is not the right "fit" for a fundraising professional. Erica mentions the uncomfortableness that can accompany this experience, yet she also shares how being transparent about this step with others enables people who have had (or are having) similar experiences to connect and boost each other.

Thank you Erica for a very interesting, candid, and enjoyable conversation! While not covered in our conversation, thank you also for your role in shaping prospect development's Utah chapter of Apra International in its earliest days and iterations.