Rising Stars
Associate Director,
According to Kieran Wilson, marketing director at Changing Our World, Kate Amore is a brilliant, young professional in the fundraising field who raised millions of dollars for her clients last year. Among her successes: securing the first million-dollar gift in the history of one of her client schools, an elite private school on Long Island; implementing the most significant capital campaign in the history of the Toronto Waldorf School; and helping run a $1 billion campaign for another client university.
All impressive. But Kate also contributed to an important thought-leadership report, "The Young and the Relentless: A Survey of the Next Generation of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leaders," that examined important trends that are shaping the competitive environment all sectors must confront in attracting the next generation to high-level management and leadership positions. She was published in Advancing Philanthropy for that work and also selected to moderate a panel for the UN Programme on Youth/UNDESA, "Giving It Back, Passing It On: Corporate Engagement and Youth Philanthropy as Pathways to Development."
We think Kate is a Rising Star not only because of her early and impressive successes in fundraising for her clients, but perhaps more importantly for her dedication to the future stability of nonprofit leadership and her grasp of the importance of engaging the next generation of both managers and donors.
Assistant Director of Development, Individual Giving,
Janice Adelson, now the development associate for Single Stop USA, worked with Daniel Blakemore at Third Street Music School Settlement where, in a matter of months, he was promoted from annual giving coordinator to associate manager of annual giving — a quick rise in recognition for his entrepreneurial efforts to create effective fundraising programs on behalf of the historic, community-based organization.
Among his noteworthy accomplishments are launching the Senior Class Gift Campaign; administering an individual-giving program that raised more than $500,000 annually; and taking the helm of planning, coordinating and executing a variety of annual special events.
From there, Daniel went on to join the development team of International House, where he designed and built a comprehensive stewardship program, creating solicitation strategies to help meet — and exceed — a $2 million, multiyear challenge grant. Daniel exhibits a deep understanding of the importance of stewardship and has a commitment to rallying fundraisers around it. In addition to his own example, he authors a well-received and informative blog, The Good Steward.
Faithful stewardship of donor dollars is key to any fundraising program — and to fundraising and philanthropy as a whole. A new fundraiser who recognizes this, practices it and is committed to sharing it with fellow fundraisers is, indeed, a Rising Star in the sector.
Manager of Individual Giving,
As manager of individual giving at the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Brittany Lavalleur's body of work over the past year is impressive. From a strictly fundraising perspective, she exceeded the telefundraising goals for the orchestra for the 2011 fiscal year, as well as exceeded goals for several direct-mail campaigns. She has successfully managed her portfolio of 75 donors, including an upgrade of three donors to the orchestra's Amadeus Circle, a special group of high-level donors; 23 increases in individual giving from the 2010 fiscal year; and a return to the fold of eight lapsed donors.
But Christina Sorgi, former coordinator of education and community engagement for the orchestra, nominated Brittany for much more than her fundraising successes. She points to Brittany's desire and ability to form personal relationships with donors, board members, foundation members and staff alike as a key trait that should serve her well throughout her career. "Donors smile and call out her name to go say hello when they see her at concerts on the weekends, and I know that many of them look forward to receiving her phone calls. She brings a joy with her to her work that is appreciated by everyone she comes in contact with," Sorgi writes.
She describes Brittany as "extremely disciplined and uncompromising in regards to her morals and character," and notes her fearless commitment to ethics, integrity and professionalism, as well as getting the job done and keeping her eye on her goals. Add her dedication to forming genuine relationships with donors and not treating them as "blank checks," and we can't think of better qualities in a Rising Star in fundraising.
Major Gifts Officer,
West Chester University Foundation
Dana Raftas is in her fifth year as a major gifts officer at the WCU Foundation. When she was hired, she was given the task of starting multiple programs — but what she wasn't given was a prospect pool to dive into to jump-start her efforts. In two years, according to Meredith A. Sossman, associate executive director of the WCU Foundation, Dana built a major-gifts prospect pool that includes more than 200 qualified donors.
In addition, Dana organized a women's philanthropy program called Women in Leadership & Service (WILS). Within six months the group reached the minimum endowment level ($15,000) for a women's scholarship on campus for nontraditional students. She then led the women to reaching $40,000 within eight months of the beginning of the program. During its second year, Dana expanded the program to a $1 million goal and continues to recruit committee members for that goal. She also added two signature events to the group's yearly mission that include both social and fundraising components to increase the WILS endowment.
"These events have attracted women from all ages and walks of life to further the commitment to women as philanthropists in the greater Philadelphia region," Sossman writes.
We think Dana has shown great vision in thinking beyond individual donors and ensuring the longevity of the WCU Foundation by solidifying a group of like-minded donors to establish and grow a powerful giving circle. She also is a leader in recognizing the potential of committed women philanthropists. It's that kind of thinking that helps secure the future of philanthropy and marks Dana as a true Rising Star in fundraising.
Annual Campaign Manager/President's Committee Coordinator,
Jenny Zak met the All Stars Project seven years ago as a high-school student searching for volunteer opportunities. According to Antoine Joyce, development officer for the organization, she quickly became an invaluable member of the organization's volunteer department, leading workshops and giving tours to hundreds of volunteers a week, inviting them to build the All Stars programs in surrounding communities.
In 2006, when Senior Vice President of Development Chris Street launched an idea to have college students intern for the All Stars Project and take to the streets to raise money for its youth programs, he called on Jenny to lead the initiative. She accepted the challenge and led a team of six college students for two months, raising $40,000.
When Jenny graduated from college in 2009, she was hired to join the All Stars' development staff, and now at 24, she is the New York office's annual campaign manager, overseeing its $1.08 million campaign. She leads a staff of two development officers, a database manager and four senior volunteer fundraisers. Part of her responsibility is driving the President's Committee, a group of more than 300 individuals who give $1,000 to $25,000 annually. In June 2011, she raised more than $260,000 for the All Stars' 30th anniversary.
We are honoring Jenny here because it looks like she is well on her way to a lifelong love of and dedication to the fundraising sector. FS
- Companies:
- Changing Our World Inc.
