Each time Blackbaud publishes one of my writings, I feel an honor and a fulfillment that’s hard to describe. When I was young I wanted to be an author – and a jet pilot, like my father. I’ve accomplished one but not yet the other and I think I may have gotten the better life lesson from my achievement as a writer. When I start to formulate new subject matter on planned gift fundraising, it’s common for me to reflect on past activities, past achievements, past conversations and tutorials from mentors. All-in-all, many things must come together before I feel I’m worthy of sharing my thoughts.
My latest paper “From O.K. to OMG!: How to be an Extraordinary Planned Giving Professional” was recently released and it’s my hope that it will inspire someone, even one person, to be a better planned gift professional. Learning, in my book, is never done. I learn something new every day and I surround myself with others who do the same. It’s from this synergy of experience, sharing and learning that we transform from good to better and from better to great.
It took many years to realize that I was successful in my career. Having disliked my specialty practice of law, I found myself looking for the rewards of a helping profession and fell into fundraising at a law school in Los Angeles. At that time I couldn’t have imagined that I’d love my life as a fundraiser; love to bring inspiration in line with mission and monetary ability in concert with charity. It was a gradual passage. Today, however, consulting annually with hundreds of leaders and development professionals about analytic modeling and planned giving implementation, I can look back and see the roadmap that brought me to this place. I’ve capsulated it in my whitepaper and hope that you’ll enjoy sharing the journey. You can read online or download it at http://www.blackbaud.com/company/resources/whitepapers/whitepapers.aspx#Prospect
I invite you to share your journey too. Please let me know your secret to success and the moments you most remember that took you from O.K. to OMG!
*Katherine Swank is a senior consultant for Target Analytics. You may contact her at [email protected].
By Katherine Swank, J.D. on May 17, 2011
Tagged: Analytics fundraising Katherine Swank Non-Profit nonprofit