Michael Bussey comes to Donor By Design following a terrific YMCA career spanning nearly four decades. The foundation of Mike’s Y work is rooted in many summers as a camp counselor, experiencing first-hand the impact that YMCA camping has on kids. It was then he knew that he needed to dedicate his career to a mission-driven nonprofit that truly makes a difference.
In her role as Director of Operations, Dani supports both our valued clients as well as the Donor By Design Team.
Michele Goodrich brings a strong and varied background in a wide range of management disciplines including financial development, program innovation, operational oversight, volunteer and staff development, marketing and public relations to her work with the Donor by Design Team. She is passionate about helping nonprofits increase their capacity to fulfill their missions and better serve their communities.
I generally hate to make New Year’s resolutions. No sooner have I made one than I find myself falling short. But I decided I could make one resolution this year… and… I may make it each year for the rest of my life.
Topics: Stewardship, Fundraising, Gratitude, Resolutions, Donor Recognition
Sara comes to Donor By Design fueled by an enthusiasm for helping organizations craft and present the right message to help further their mission. Coupled with her passion for non-profits and the life-changing work they do each day, Sara is eager to find creative and effective solutions to marketing/communication challenges.
A fascination with people and service has been the essential driving force behind Thom’s work with local YMCAs and not-for-profit organizations. The foundation of Thom’s career in service began with that first summer as a camp counselor back in college. From there, he went on to build a 30-year career within the not-for-profit industry.
Good fundraisers understand the value of asking questions in pursuit of answers. Great fundraisers aren’t satisfied with getting answers; they crave clarity. To understand a potential donor’s true interests, motivations and reservations we need to move beyond simple Q&A, taking the time to understand the deeper meaning behind their responses. To achieve greater clarity, we need to push past their initial response and invite them to share more. A few follow up questions can unlock a wealth of important information.
Topics: Leadership, Clarity, Interviewing
Jan Brogdon, CFRE, is an experienced fundraising professional, serving the YMCA movement for more than 20 years. Her deep understanding of annual and capital fundraising will help our clients prepare and run successful campaigns. Her experience in working with volunteer leaders will help our clients make the most of this invaluable resource.
I’ve never really shared my resolutions or talked with others about theirs. It always seemed a private thing to me. At the end of each year, I like to think about what I could have done better and what that means to how I will live in the coming year.
That being said, my resolutions usually turn out to be “character improvement”-type resolutions. I usually take on just one a year – and it will take me years to run out of things to work on!Topics: Gratitude, Resolutions, Kindness
Robyn Furness-Fallin, CFRE, offers financial development and volunteer leadership consulting for nonprofits and higher ed.