People in Fundraising: A Nonprofit Podcast by Tim Wilson

People in Fundraising, season 3, ep. 25: Blackbaud's Steffanie Brown

When someone like Steffanie Brown is a longtime, enthusiastic supporter of my "People in Fundraising" content, it's an honor to connect with Steffanie as a guest herself! Steffanie and I have both worked in prospect development/ prospect management and research for ~25 years.
And any chance for me to cite one of my favorite songs, the Grateful Dead's "Ripple," is an opportunity to spread goodness. Thankfully, Steffanie gives me that moment by talking about another Dead song that inspired her recent LinkedIn post: "What a long, strange trip it's been," from "Truckin.'"
Steffanie also shares these anecdotes, related to trying to help "what little corner of the world I can":
* her records of longevity at prior shops, including one where "there was no one left in the building who had been there longer than me" when Steffanie left. She saw "a lot of changes to the org chart!"
* how she marked her 25th anniversary in the field by leaving her last job :-) after considering what Steffanie wants the next chapter of her career to look like, and taking a really interesting and re-charging sabbatical
* the critical soft skills that Steffanie had, and enhanced, through her work at faith-oriented shops and in church choirs, and how she brought those with her to more secular shops in time.
Thank you Steffanie for a wonderful interview! I wish you continued success and fulfillment, now in your new role at Blackbaud!

People in Fundraising, season 3, ep. 24: Singapore American School's Austin Tomlinson

For the first time in “People in Fundraising’s” two-year broadcast history, I interviewed a guest who was a day ahead of me time-zone wise! Austin Tomlinson joins the program from Singapore, where he has been the Chief Advancement Officer for the Singapore American School for about 10 months. We enjoyed naming people we both know – future PIF guests Nida Januskis and Julie Anne McNary; season 3 guest Paola Horvath; and the awesome Janet Cahill!
Speaking of people, Austin mentions mentors Bob Pallone, Joanne Shoveller, and Tom Boasberg as being instrumental in his career to-date.
Austin also discusses:
*His educational background, including how being a Rotary Exchange Student at age 16 set his trajectory in international education
*Living and studying in Switzerland, Bolivia, and Hungary; being fluent in Hungarian, Italian, and Spanish, and how this fluency helps to connect across multiple cultures with donors and constituents
*Living in Singapore for the last 9+ years, after nearly a decade in development at institutions in Switzerland (Franklin University Switzerland) and at INSEAD
*How education in much of the world, outside of the U.S., is state- and government-funded; lot of work to be done to educate constituents about how private education is funded “and the role that philanthropy plays in shaping these organizations."
Thank you Austin for a very interesting conversation! I learned a good deal about international advancement work and connecting across cultures with donors and constituents.

People in Fundraising, season 3, ep. 23: Harvard Kennedy School's Jessica Muñoz-Sainz

Jessica Muñoz-Sainz had just returned from her first development trip to London, before our “People in Fundraising” interview! She talks enthusiastically about this weeklong series of fundraising events, and that excitement carries over to our entire conversation.
Jessica and I got connected through “People in Fundraising” season 1 guest Jessica McNeill. Thank you Jessica!
In our conversation, Jessica covers:
*Being one of 10 children in a first-generation family, and the first in her family to attend college
*How her academic background in criminal justice, bioarcheology, and anthropology honed her research skills, enhanced her ability to connect with people, and give expression to Jessica’s innate curiosity
*How getting an internship through CASE, and being placed at Johns Hopkins, began her career in fundraising. This opportunity led to Jessica being a mentor to many students with similar family and economic backgrounds as herself.
*Starting at the 20-minute mark, how Jessica as a young fundraising professional looks at development processes with a fresher perspective
*Socio-economic and cultural differences in how people think about philanthropy (e.g., some communities feeling like a phone-a-thon call is intrusion; being surprised that people would give money to a cause)
*Hiring for a more inclusive workplace – what can institutions and hiring managers do better? What policies and unconscious biases are at play in less-inclusive workplaces?
Thank you for a very thoughtful and interesting conversation, Jessica! I am excited to see your career in fundraising continue!

People in Fundraising, season 3, ep. 22: New Mexico State University's Stacey MacDonnell

Stacey MacDonnell is my first guest to represent New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, in "People in Fundraising!" Stacey and I worked together on the New England Development Research Association's (NEDRA's) board of directors, and I loved reconnecting with her. In her nonprofit career to date, Stacey has worked in New England, New Orleans, and now, in keeping with the "New" theme, New Mexico.
In our conversation, Stacey shares:
* Her current role as the Assistant Vice President of Advancement Services at New Mexico State University Foundation, and how this role came about after her prior roles focusing on prospect development. At the time of our interview, Stacey had been in this AVP role for two months, with oversight of stewardship, data, corporations & foundations, and prospect research.
* the impact of mentors and people like David Eberly, Stacey's supervisor at Boston Children's Hospital Trust, on her career. She particularly credited David for advising her "you have to know when to stop" researching a donor, and focus on being concise and accurate to help frontline fundraising colleagues.
* Her reflections on one of my favorite quotes, from Henry Ford: "If you need a machine and don't buy it, you will ultimately find that you have paid for it - and don't have it."
* What brought her professionally and personally to New Mexico, and what she has learned about herself from living in a variety of U.S. states. Stacey also describes what is captivating about NMSU's mission to support first-generation students, and how she feels very connected to this mission.
Thank you for a wonderful conversation, Stacey! It was great to have you as a guest and I appreciate you sharing your career story with me and our audience.

People in Fundraising, season 3, ep. 21: Karrie Swanson of CommonSpirit Health

Karrie Swanson is my first "People in Fundraising" guest from Arizona, and the first guest to talk specifically about branding and marketing. For those reasons, as well as the fact that Karrie recruited my friend and former Intermountain Health manager Jason Befort, I was excited to talk with her and now to share her fantastic interview!
Among other topics, Karrie discusses:
* How through mergers and related job relocations, Karrie "became a remote worker before remote work was a thing," and how she added prospect research to her graphic design portfolio. "I am a self-taught prospect researcher!" she excitedly adds. She is also the sole Brand Specialist for CommonSpirit Health!
* The variety of graphic design, branding, social media, and communications work that Karrie handles for CommonSpirit Health, which with 65 foundations and 80+ hospitals is the largest nonprofit healthcare system in the U.S.
* The turnaround time Karrie needs for her projects, such as gift proposals and events, with graphics, elevator signs, charts, and other visual guides for co-workers and donors.
* Being in charge of CommonSpirit Health's social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram), and using Google Chat to communicate with colleagues across the country to plan out projects of all sizes, paying special attention to the demographics of populations and the topography in the specific health facilities. Karrie has over 65 million branded images to choose from as she develops content!
* Serving as Vice President of SWARO, the Apra prospect development chapter that covers Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada - and how prospect research brings her a lot of enjoyment.
* Reflections on psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's concept of "flow," and a quote from Talking Heads co-founder and lead singer David Byrne, who recently said (with the re-release of the band's 1984 documentary "Stop Making Sense"), "I think you can develop a willingness to try new things, but curiosity is kind of self-motivated." Karrie replied, "His first sentence is my life in a nutshell!"
Thank you Karrie for a phenomenal conversation! I learned so much about your work, and I am sure others in our profession will enjoy and benefit from the insights you shared. It was a delight to have you as a guest!

People in Fundraising, season 3, ep. 20: Carrick Davis of UC-Davis, Immediate Past President of Apra

Talking with Carrick Davis, the immediate past president of Apra International, was such a treat, we almost went a full hour! I loved hearing how Carrick deliberately chose to enter the nonprofit/social impact sector, whereas many people in fundraising have a more circuitous route to this profession. Or as the Crosby, Stills, & Nash song "Delta," referenced in our conversation, goes: "of fast-running rivers of choice and chance."
In our super enjoyable conversation, Carrick:
* describes the goals, achievements, and lessons learned from being President of Apra International from 2022 through 2023; the importance of being involved as a volunteer in our profession; and enhancing Apra's perception among members
* shares his reflections from a 2017 interview with Joan Ogwumike, MPA Ogwumike (season 3 guest) that “the thread that I can string through all my positions [in my career] is a focus and commitment to promote social good.” Where does this originate in Carrick's life?
* offers thoughts on this quote from theologian, philosopher, and civil rights activist Howard Thurman: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive!” What makes Carrick come alive?
* describes has learned about himself from living in various parts of our country personally and professionally. "Geography is deeply important to me. Place, whether the built or nature environment, has a really profound affect on us as social creatures - how culture and space have influence over a person. I have been almost a different person in each of the places where I've lived."
* "the generational opportunity" he had at his current employer, the University of California-Davis, and how this allows him to allocate "professional energy into changing lives through public education." Carrick oversees a team of 14.
* shares how "the fast-running river of chance" at work led Carrick to meet his future wife, his future best man, and some fantastic friends all at work.
Thank you Carrick for an awesome, wide-ranging, and totally fun interview! Looking forward to meeting you at Apra PD in Seattle this summer.

People in Fundraising, season 3, ep. 19: Auctria.com's Laurie Hochman

Laurie Hochman joins "People in Fundraising" from Florida to enthusiastically discuss her career history prior to and since joining the nonprofit world. Thank you to Merryn McKeough of Lexus Marketing for connecting me and Laurie! She is currently the Director of Business Growth & Strategy at Auctria, which runs all types of online and in-person auction and event fundraisers. This specific area of the fundraising landscape was really new for me to learn about, and Laurie does an incredible and fun job of explaining it well for me and our audience!
Laurie also discusses:
* the skills that translated well from Laurie's earlier extensive career in sales and client services to the social impact sector.
* the skills she felt needed additional building in her nonprofit-specific roles.
* at about the 15-minute mark, Laurie's advice for other people looking to transition from corporate roles to fundraising.
* Auctria is headquartered in Ontario, with 80% of its business coming from the U.S.; 10% from Canada; and the remainder from other countries in North America, as well as Australia, the U.K., and elsewhere. At the 20-minute mark, Laurie excitedly talks about the stunning breadth of nonprofits that she is acquainted with around the world.
This was a gem of a conversation with Laurie! Not only did I learn a great deal from her about auction and event fundraising, but Laurie you brought a lot of sincerity and kindness to our interview. Thank you for your time!

People in Fundraising, season 3, ep. 18: Mariame Sano of Make-a-Wish Massachusetts & Rhode Island

I am so excited to share this "People in Fundraising" conversation with a rising star in the fundraising world, Mariame Sano! Mariame and I got connected through my former Harvard Business School co-worker and season 1 podcast guest Jessica McNeill. Like Jessica, Mariame is an alum of Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, where my father has worked for decades.
In our terrific interview, Mariame discusses:
 
* her experience as a first-generation immigrant, what brought her to the U.S., and what she has learned about herself as a person and professional
* her role as the Senior Manager of Corporate and Community Partnerships for Make-a-Wish Massachusetts & Rhode Island
* her response to teacher and writer Margaret Wheatley’s observation that “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”
* volunteer leadership experience at Bridgewater State University
* the benefits of being a super-early riser. In Fall 2023, Mariame posted this on LinkedIn: “I wake up and do what my heart desires…uninterrupted. At 5 a.m., I am no one’s friend, sister, or employee. I JUST AM!”
* Mariame's goals and aspirations in fundraising, specifically for social impact initiatives in focused on women and girls in her native Guinea and Africa in general. "Somebody has to go do the work there, to make it better. I hope and wish to see more of that!"
Thank you Mariame for a phenomenal and motivating conversation! I look forward to seeing your career continue to advance and see the dreams you set for yourself to uplift and inspire others come to life.

People in Fundraising, season 3, ep. 17: Past NEDRA President Susan Grivno

I am excited to share this reflective conversation with Susan Grivno. She and I served on the board of directors of NEDRA (the New England Development Research Association, one of the largest chapters of Apra International), from 2016 to early 2018. Susan later became President of NEDRA, her tenure coinciding with the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among the reasons I wanted to chat with Susan was to have her share what it was like to pivot NEDRA's famous, multi-day, in-person conference, with just weeks' notice. 
Susan also discusses:
* How the decision to cancel the 2021 NEDRA Conference was actually more difficult than the 2020 conference, yet it set a precedent for the NEDRA conferences going virtual in 2021 and 2022
* Susan's reflections on former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers' impression that Americans were "working unsustainably hard" during the pandemic
* Her take-aways from being NEDRA's President about managing bandwidth and expectations (including her own), planning ahead, and allocating and delegating responsibilities - Susan began using a quadrant to segment her personal, work, and NEDRA assignments
* What Susan misses about working for a university, as a fully remote staff member (Susan works for the University of New Hampshire, and is based in the San Antonio area)
* The example of her friend Joyce Newton for the latter stages of one's career
 
Thank you Susan for your thoughtful conversation and for doing so much for NEDRA and the broader prospect development community!

People in Fundraising, season 3, ep. 16: PhilanthropyOps founder Jenny Kleintop

To help celebrate her birthday today (!), I am so excited to share Jenny Kleintop's energetic "People in Fundraising" conversation. In addition, Jenny is my podcast's first guest to represent Delaware. We got connected on LinkedIn when I started seeing Jenny's frequent posts and immediately realizing how freely and kindly Jenny shared her expertise and excitement for fundraising, specifically philanthropy operations.
In our conversation, Jenny discusses:
* How she developed and launched her company, PhilanthropyOps, in 2023. Happy one-year anniversary! Link to Jenny's company here: https://www.philanthropyops.com/about
* Burnout - how she has experienced it, how she addresses it earlier now, and how she encourages others to acknowledge this stressor and pivot as needed
* How being a prolific content-generator and content-sharer on LinkedIn has enriched Jenny's career, and her life in general
* Her November 2023 post that encouraged her network to "Go find your remarkable!" I loved Jenny's answers to my questions, "What is your remarkable? And what have you learned about getting to this point when you know what your remarkable is?"
* Her effort to build an awesome partnership between the philanthropy operations and frontline fundraising teams, especially in small- and medium-sized fundraising shops
* Fractional fundraising - what it is, how it works for Jenny, and how many clients she works with at a time
* Being married to a frontline fundraiser, Jenny joked, "The shop talk never stops!"
* Jenny's post about a backpack and visiting Panera after getting laid off - how these elements got her through a difficult phase in her career: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jkleintop_layoffs-community-movingforward-activity-7153139692647890945-9WsP/
Thank you Jenny for a phenomenal interview! What a treat, and I am sure our audience will totally enjoy your insights as well.