Blog

I have the wonderful opportunity to learn from our clients and their volunteers across the country. The wonderful balance of staff and volunteer engagement makes this work rich and rewarding.

In the course of your career, you’ll likely have a chance to attend professional development conferences. These conferences offer a variety of opportunities to connect, learn and get inspired.

For the past two years, DBD Group has been working with a cohort of nonprofit leaders from across the country on strategies for improving annual giving. While there are many learnings to be shared, I think the most interesting may be what we’ve learned in developed major gift relationships.

During visits to Chicago in a former job, I was struck by an unusually designed building across the Chicago River. This two-acre lot had previously sat undeveloped for decades while stakeholders sought a way to utilize the space for maximum efficiency and impact. 

Fundraising is a lot like yoga. If it hurts, you are probably doing it wrong.

Recently, I was speaking with a close friend who made a bad hire when filling a development position.  "I ultimately went with someone I know, not someone who knew."

This year as a Christmas present, my incredible in-laws made a donation to provide tuition to students in Tanzania. The generous gift will pay for 20 children to attend school for the next year. I can only imagine the happiness felt by the children who received this gift.  

In November, I achieved a personal goal of running my seventh half marathon.  I had not run a long distance in a few years; and, I am admittedly a few years older. Training and preparation are very important for any long-distance challenge. With a very busy schedule, I was concerned about having enough time to train.