The Development Debrief

Follow The Development Debrief
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Podcast by Kathryn Van Sickle *The views on this podcast are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/devdebrief/support

Kathryn Van Sickle


    • Jun 11, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 32m AVG DURATION
    • 171 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Development Debrief podcast is a must-listen for anyone working in development or fundraising. Hosted by Kathryn Van Sickle, this podcast offers valuable tools and talking points for development professionals. Whether you're new to the field or an experienced fundraiser, this podcast provides actionable advice and insights that can be applied to your work. The guests on the show are experts in their respective fields and offer valuable perspectives on contemporary challenges and opportunities faced by fundraising professionals.

    One of the best aspects of The Development Debrief podcast is Kathryn's ability to engage with her guests through thoughtful interviews. She asks insightful questions that lead to actionable information, allowing listeners to gain practical advice that they can bring to their work. The topics chosen for each episode are relevant and cover a wide range of subjects within the field of development. This diversity ensures that there is something for everyone, whether you work at a smaller organization or a large institution.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is the quality of the guests. Kathryn brings on smart experts who have valuable insights to share. Their experiences and advice provide listeners with new ideas and approaches to development work. The conversations are enlightening and thought-provoking, making each episode a worthwhile listen.

    There really aren't any major downsides to The Development Debrief podcast. Perhaps one minor criticism could be that some episodes may focus more on Ivy League institutions or larger organizations, which may not resonate as much with those working at smaller institutions or in different sectors. However, this is a minor issue as there are still plenty of episodes that cover topics applicable to all development professionals.

    In conclusion, The Development Debrief podcast is an invaluable resource for anyone working in development or fundraising. With its insightful interviews, actionable advice, and relevant topics, this podcast offers something for everyone in the field. I highly recommend giving it a listen and subscribing to stay updated on the latest trends and strategies in fundraising.



    Search for episodes from The Development Debrief with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from The Development Debrief

    164. Robin Aviv: Sharing Our Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 27:38


    Today's guest, Robin Aviv, is a force in the nonprofit world—a leader who's redefining how missions are amplified and communities are engaged. Robin is the Founder and Executive Chairperson of Generation S.O.S., a prominent non-profit organization that empowers teens and young adults to make lifesaving decisions about substance use and other mental health issues. She'll share how the right speaker can transform the right room, why a participatory board is essential, and what she believes is more valuable than money. We'll explore how she tracks real growth, tells compelling stories that move donors to action, and leverages one signature event a year to fuel lasting impact.

    163. Craig Shelley: High Performing Teams

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 28:29


    Today's episode will focus on leadership and specificallytouches on the challenges of current times. We talk about how to build a high performing team regardless of your current circumstance. Craig Shelley is the President, Fundraising and Strategy Services at Carey & Co. he gives specific examples and does some forecasting on how to manage some of the challenges coming at education and non-profits today.

    162. Susan Murray: Raising Unrestricted Capital

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 38:45


    This episode takes a deep dive into the organization Year Up. Year Up United equips students with the skills they need for success through tuition-free job training. Through access to hands-on experience and skills-first training, they help young adults achieve the future they dream of, while impacting organizations from day one. When it comes to fundraising, Year Up stands out because they take the approach of a multi year unrestricted capital campaign every five years. Our guest Susan tells us why this has been successful for them. Their work seems quite applicable to education and there is a lot to learn from their strategy.  Susan Murray leads Year Up's revenue teams and servesas an officer of the company and a member of the executive team. She is responsible for creating and executing a strategy to fund Year Up's operations, growth, and innovation, working closely with Fortune 500 companies and philanthropic investors. She joined Year Up in February 2011, first as Senior Philanthropic Advisor. She led the development team for 8 years and assumed leadership of Year Up corporate engagement team in 2023.Susan and the development team raised nearly $800 million in philanthropy 2011 – 2023, connecting more than 42,000 young adults to quality jobs and partnering with more than 200 major employers on their talent strategies. As the head of corporate engagement, Susan oversees a talent placement business that connects more than 4,500 young adults annually to employers in need of talent. Prior to Year Up, Susan raised capital for the University of Pennsylvania, served as a Director of the Columbia University College Fund, and was part of the NYC2012 team that led New York's bid to host the 2012 Olympics. She co-founded a youth lacrosse program in Brooklyn and has served on the Domestic Violence Project board. Susan earned her BA from the University of Rochester and her MPA from Columbia University. She is a mom to 3 daughters and lives in Brooklyn with her family.

    161. Julie Braverman and Mathwon Howard: Owning Your Career

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 44:51


    The following episode is a live conversation that took place in person at the Yale Office of Alumni Affairs and Development. This interview is with Julie Braverman and Mathwon Howard, both Associate Vice Presidents at Yale. This is a fun pairing because they compare and contrast their experiences that have brought them to where they are now. If this was your first episode, please connect on LinkedIn and instagram at devdebrief. Please like, share, and subscribe. Thank you to Kathy Townsend who made this interview possible! Say yes, go forth, and be in control of your own journey!

    160. Ashley Budd: Irresistibly Clickable

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 52:04


    Happy Valentine's Day! This week, we have a fun riff onYou've Got Mail! Our guest Ashley Budd explains why we only have 2 seconds to get someone's attention in email. Not only does she explain the context of our high volume phenomenon, but we then talk about ways to work around this reality. Ashley has created an AI tool to help us gift officers and the two of us talk about ways I have applied it in my own work. We are hoping that by the end of this, we will all be irresistibly clickable!Ashley Budd is senior director of advancement marketing atCornell University. She is based in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., working remotely for the university and consulting with colleges, universities, and other nonprofit organizations. Known for her creative and innovative marketing campaigns, Ashley is one of the most influential voices in education marketing and fundraising. She is author of the popular newsletter Ashley in Your Inbox and co-author of the bestselling email marketing book Mailed It! A Guide for Crafting Emails That Build Relationships and Get Results. 

    159. Dr. Tina Bernot: Grit, Growth, and Gratitude

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 29:51


    Welcome to season 15! There are some fun episodes in store this season. This week, we will listen to Tina Bernot reflect on the centennial campaign planning, strategy, and execution for Murray State University. She talks about how she trains her team, raises sites, and stewards big gifts. Dr. Tina Bernot is currently the executive director of advancement at Murray State University.  She has more than twenty-five years of professional experience in planning, leading, and executing development efforts for universities and non-profit organizations.  Most recently, Dr. Bernot has co-led the planning and execution of the University's Centennial Celebration.  She is also leading the University's comprehensive capital campaign, Be Bold – Forever Blue & Gold the Centennial Campaign for Murray State University.  In 2022, Dr. Bernot also established the Murray State Women's Philanthropy Society, an organization that believes high-quality educational opportunities build the foundation for personal and professional growth and thereby invests in the development and empowerment of women leaders.  Tina holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Edgewood College in Wisconsin, a master's degree in organizational communication and a doctorate in P-20 and Community Leadership with an emphasis in post-secondary education.  Both graduate degrees were earned at Murray State University – as a working professional, wife and mother.  Tina and her husband, Gary, love living on beautiful Lake Barkley in west Kentucky with their two dogs and cat.  They are empty nesters with three children.

    158. Walking Through the Gate

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 5:18


    Happy New Year, everyone! This episode is a short solo check-in about approaching the New Year. I hope you had a chance to relax, recharge, and take a break over the holidays. I know I did, but I also know that time between the holidays and jumping back into work can feel a little... disorienting. For me, it's always been a moment to reflect, to get organized, and to try to figure out what's next. In past years, I'd dive into vision boards or journaling, trying to piece together my life's direction. But this year? I decided to do something different. Listen to find out what...

    157. Marc Camille: Chief Storyteller

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 44:55


    This week, Dr. Marc Camille talks to us about his career path and approach to development as a college president. He sees himself as a chief storyteller and talks to us about ways he has built a strong culture of philanthropy while planning the Centennial Celebration of Albertus Magnus College!   Dr. Marc M. Camille took office as the 14th President of Albertus Magnus College in June 2017. His career includes more than two decades of senior administrative experience at Catholic colleges. His leadership is inspired by Albertus Magnus' distinctive, values-based Dominican mission and the College's legacy of prioritizing education opportunity for those who might not otherwise have access. Prior to joining Albertus Magnus, Dr. Camille earned a national reputation for strategic enrollment management and marketing expertise and thought-leadership. Dr. Camille's presidency has seen Albertus Magnus launch an ambitious growth plan, deepen engagement within the greater New Haven area, and adopt a bold new strategic plan, Albertus 2025: Lighting the Way to a Second Century, setting the stage for the College's Centennial Celebration in 2025. Dr. Camille's leadership has prioritized deepened commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and in 2023, Albertus achieved federal designation status as an Hispanic Serving Institution. A comprehensive fundraising campaign is underway to coincide with the College's 2025 Centennial. Dr. Camille earned his Bachelor's degree in English at Rollins College, his Master's degree at the University of Miami, and his Doctorate in Higher Education Management at the University of Pennsylvania. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    156. Liz Elting: Dream Big and Win

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 42:41


    This week, Liz Elting joins us to talk about her book and dive deeply into her philanthropy. We discuss the lessons she learned in creating her foundation and the priorities that guide her decisions as a leader. I have looked up to Liz over the years within the Trinity College community and am excited to share her story with our listeners. Liz Elting, Founder and CEO of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation, is an entrepreneur, business leader, bestselling author, linguaphile, philanthropist, feminist, and mother. After living, studying, and working in five countries across the globe, Liz founded TransPerfect out of an NYU dorm room in 1992 and served as Co-CEO until 2018. TransPerfect is the world's largest language solutions company, with over $1.2 billion in revenue and offices in more than 140 cities worldwide. Liz's recognitions include the Trinity College Alumni Medal for Excellence, the Charles Waldo Haskins Award for business and public service from NYU's Stern School of Business, the American Heart Association's Health Equity Leadership Award and Woman Changing the World Award, and the GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Award. Liz has been recognized as a NOW Woman of Power & Influence, American Express and Entrepreneur magazine's Woman of the Year, and one of Forbes' Richest Self-Made Women every year since the list's inception. Elting is the bestselling author of Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    155. CJ Orr: AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 30:50


    Welcome back! This week, we will talk about some tools within AI that save you time and money! In today's episode, we're breaking down the pros and cons of effective AI usage. We'll discuss how you can save (in our estimation) $30,000 by optimizing your workflow, using simple yet powerful techniques.  A bit more about our guest--Having served as a trusted partner to clients for over 10 years, CJ Orr has broad experience in fundraising and development, executive leadership, strategic planning, campaigns, and event management. He has launched funds, designed and led strategic initiatives, and driven fundraising for large galas and campaigns ranging from $10M to $1B+ in revenue. As an expert project and relationship manager, he executes on the development of strategies and tactics to drive effective fundraising plans that meet or exceed targets.   Internally, CJ is responsible for setting and driving achievement of Orr Group's financial targets and overseeing efficient operations within the firm. Additionally, CJ supports the efforts of Orr Group's Growth team to identify and cultivate new business opportunities and build relationships with nonprofit partners, ensuring that the services offered are best aligned with their partners' needs.   CJ's background in finance provides him with a strong foundation in analytics, metrics and ROI. Prior to working at Orr Group, CJ worked in Institutional Fixed Income Trading at Alliance Bernstein, where he was responsible for funds trading, account management, and reviewing analytical research. He also spent several years in municipal bonds sales and trading at Oppenheimer & Co. On our teams, we are trying to use AI in some form or another each day. One example is putting email chains of correspondence into chatgpt and having it summarize your conversation. This cuts down on a lot of time! If you want to go back and hear what CJ said he knows for sure the first time-- it is episode number 105. Please connect on instagram and Linkedin- I would love to hear from you! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    154. Jessica Carbone: Philanthropy Means Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 31:18


    Welcome to the podcast! Today, we're thrilled to welcome Jessica Carbone, the Associate Director of Development for Major Gifts at Boston College, where she oversees initiatives in Seattle and Denver. A proud alumna of BC herself, Jessica graduated from the Lynch School of Education and Human Development in 2014, and her journey since then has been nothing short of inspiring. After earning her degree, Jessica jumped into the nonprofit world with Partners In Health, where she made a significant impact as a major gifts coordinator and stewardship associate. She played a key role in launching their first fundraising gala, "An Evening for Equity," and was honored to tour nationally with the late Dr. Paul Farmer for the documentary "Bending the Arc." Continuing her pursuit of knowledge, Jessica went on to complete her master's in Education Policy and Management at Harvard. From there, she moved to Denver, where she excelled as a Major Gift Officer at the University of Colorado Boulder. In July 2023, Jessica returned to her roots in Massachusetts, taking on her current role at Boston College. In addition to her impressive career, we're excited to discuss Jessica's book, Philanthropy Means Love, which delves into the deep connections between giving and love in our communities. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Jessica is an avid traveler—having explored destinations like Bangkok, Madrid, and Sorrento. When she's not on the go, you can find her enjoying time at Long Beach in Rockport, MA, where she has made cherished memories with family. Join us as we dive into Jessica's journey, her insights on philanthropy, and the themes of her book. You can find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Philanthropy-Means-Love-Jessica-Carbone/dp/B0DC4S4K1R --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    153. Ben Feller: It's not what you say, it's what they hear

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 46:21


    Welcome back to another episode of The Development Debrief! It's Episode 153, and today we're diving deep into the world of effective communication with our special guest, Ben Feller, who joins us for the second time. If you're interested in looking back, he was also featured in Episode 66, a few years ago. Here's a powerful thought to kick things off: It's not what you say, it's what they hear. Ben, an expert in communications consulting within higher education, is here to explore this concept with us. We'll be discussing the critical role of urgency and language use in making sure your message hits the mark. And stick around for a memorable segment we're calling “The Oatmeal Story”—trust us, you won't want to miss it! Let's get started!  Ben Feller is a partner at maslansky + partners, the firm that finds exactly the right words to ensure audiences will listen, care and act. An award-winning writer during his distinguished career in journalism, Ben now specializes in moving organizations from how they are known to how they want to be known. As a strategic adviser, Ben has a distinctive ability to help companies by asking the right questions and distilling their stories with clarity. His business role follows a 20-year reporting career in which he was honored as a "master of deadline reporting" and served as the Chief White House Correspondent for The Associated Press. During the presidencies of Barack Obama and George W. Bush, Ben helped lead White House coverage for the largest news organization in the world. Ben is also a writing coach, event moderator, public speaker and the author of Big Problems, Little Problems, a children's book on conquering life's frustrations that reviewers have described as "simply extraordinary." He lives in New York City. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    152. Boi Carpenter: Inquisitive Leader

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 47:51


    This week, we chat with Boi Carpenter about her career journey and her business, Inquisitive Leader. In the first half, we dive into her career path, and in the second, we explore her business. We discuss management, the role of curiosity and inquiry, strategies for preventing burnout, modeling behavior, and the importance of unplugging on vacation days. Boi Carpenter serves as Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Johns Hopkins University. In her role, she has operational and frontline responsibilities and manages several large-scale teams. Her professional career in development and alumni relations spans over twenty-nine years, twenty-four of which have been spent in her current organization.  In 2022, Boi started a personal endeavor, Inquisitive Leader, a community inspired by her conversations with bright, enthusiastic, talented professionals. She has a blog covering topics like navigating personal and professional growth dynamics, career management, belonging, managing, leading, recruitment, hiring, and retention. She is also regularly active on LinkedIn. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    151. Justin Fincher: Inhabiting The Gap

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 41:57


    This week, we feature Justin Fincher (Chief Deputy to the President of Stony Brook University and Senior Vice President for Government and Community Relations and Executive Director of the Stony Brook Foundation) for the second time. The first time he was featured was episode 55 where he spoke with Mike Eicher in his former role at The Ohio State University. Justin's view on leadership inspires me. We talk about how he has navigated his career path, ways he has created growth for himself, and how he has guided his team to step up in times of change. Justin encourages us to find the signal in the noise and inhabit the gap! We get to hear a bit about what Stony Brook's “secret sauce” is and I encourage you to think about what it is at your home institution. Let's get started.  Please reach out and follow on @devebrief. Let me know if you decide to explore your secret sauce and if you found this episode helpful. I'd love to hear your thoughts. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    150: Ben Outar: CASE Summer Intern

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 32:14


    As we wind down the summer, I wanted to share a bit about our CASE intern. We had the opportunity to hire someone to join our team and work on a project. This summer's project was a data driven analysis. We hired a student who told us he was interested in human behavior and economics, and we thought that might be a fun combination. Special shout out to my colleague Emma Wellspeak who ultimately chose and hired our intern, Ben. Listen to learn the perspectives from a current college student who was immersed in development for 8 weeks this summer! Ben Outar is a rising sophomore at the University of Toronto, studying economics and psychology. At Toronto, he is a resident at Trinity College and an editor for Trinity's newspaper. He hopes to study behavioral economics in the future, particularly its applications to data and human behavior. At Yale this summer, he has been working with the Parents Gifts team, specifically using data to analyze and provide insights into the Parents Leadership Council program. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    149. Chris McGowan: Best practices for working with volunteers and parents

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2024 50:22


    Last week, I attended the Parents Fundraising conference hosted by Cornell University. Chris McGowan (Yale's former co-chair of the Parents Leadership Council) joined me for a live audience conversation about working with parent volunteers and donors. It is worth listening to the end where we will have a live Q and A! Chris McGowan is the General Partner of CJM Ventures (“CJMV”), a Chicago growth equity and private equity investment firm. McGowan's private equity career began 29 years ago with AEA Investors in New York City, after earning an undergraduate degree in theoretical mathematics from Columbia University's College of Arts and Sciences, and following two years of mergers and acquisitions training at Morgan Stanley. After completing an MBA at Harvard Business School, he joined Madison Dearborn Partners (“MDP”) in Chicago, where he co-headed their basic industries practice for the last five years of his 12-year career there.  At MDP, he oversaw more than $2 billion of equity investments focused on buyouts and growth equity globally in the industrial, consumer, and energy & power sectors.  He continues to serve on the Board of prior MDP portfolio company Boise Cascade (former Chairman of Audit Committee, NYSE: BCC) and formerly served on or advised the boards of Smurfit Kappa Group (LN: SKG), BWAY Holdings, FirstWind, US Power Generating, OPENLANE, The Illinois Venture Capital Association, and others. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    148. Elizabeth Keppel: 5 Ways to Take Your Team to the Next Level

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 37:23


    This week we talk about management and leadership. Elizabeth has developed training materials to help managers at all levels increase the performance and retention of their teams. Elizabeth Keppel is the Senior Director of Annual Giving & Digital Strategy at Johns Hopkins University, where she leads a comprehensive, university-wide annual giving program. Prior to joining the Hopkins team in 2020, Elizabeth served in several roles at the University of Florida, most recently as the director of development for annual giving and strategic initiatives. In that role, she led UF's leadership annual giving program which served as the organization's talent pipeline for major gift fundraisers. At the outset of her fundraising career, she worked as an assistant director on the advancement team at her alma mater, the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from William & Mary and a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    147. Heather Kopec: Advancing, not replacing the human brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2024 31:21


    This week we hear from Heather who just relocated to Houston, Texas for a new role as Executive Director, Annual Giving at Rice University. She talks to us about how we can get started using AI in our work and she suggests a few places to start. She equates learning new systems like training for a marathon--start small. A few places to start include but are not limited to: Google Gemini, Microsoft co-pilot, learning how to write prompts, developing an awareness of bias within what AI creates, and large language models. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    146. Mark Koenig: How do we work alongside AI?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 33:26


    This week, we continue to drill down into the burning questions about AI and how it will change our work. What comes up again and again with Mark is, how do we work alongside this? Listen to discover the answer to that overarching question.  Mark Koenig is the vice president for technology and chief innovation officer for the OSU Foundation. In this role, he serves as the Foundation's technology strategist, including oversight of relationship insights, pipeline development, analytics, data and CRM operations, and technology services. Mr. Koenig is the past chair of the Ellucian Advancement Executive Advisory Committee and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VIII. In 2019, he received the Distinguished Service Award from CASE District VIII recognizing his many years of service to the organization and in 2018, he received the Ellucian ‘EllumiNation' Community Award recognizing his dedication to infusing innovation throughout the advancement profession. Mr. Koenig earned his bachelor's in history and economics from the University of Houston and a master's in adult education and organizational capacity from OSU. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    145. Deb Lin: CFR 101

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 33:53


    This week, Deb shares her perspective as a corporate and foundation relations professional. In the second episode on this topic, we compare it to individual giving and learn more about how the space is unique. Deborah Lin is the Director of Corporate, Foundation, & Association Relations at Stanford Medicine, leading the team closing and facilitating organizational philanthropic support to the School of Medicine and Stanford Healthcare. She has built over a decade of experience in academic research fundraising and programmatic strategy and operations. Before Stanford University, Deborah was the Associate Director of Corporate Relations at UCLA Engineering, spearheading engagement and partnerships for the school with industries such as tech, aerospace, and energy. She was a founding team member of Partnership UCLA, a department that engages alumni in helping student career development, creating and launching campus-wide programs supporting thousands of students' professional and academic development. In addition to academia, she has also worked in the media and tech industries. Before UCLA, Deborah worked in the Television and Film industry for companies such as Disney ABC Studios and 20th Century Fox, managing global marketing partnerships, production, talent management, and television comedy development. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    144. Andrew Gossen: It is No Longer Abstract

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2024 48:25


    This week we get some AI forecasting from Andrew Gossen. He reflects on how much technology has developed over the past six years, and shares predictions about ways our work will change and evolve. Andrew outlines the risks and rewards of keeping up with artificial intelligence and how we should think about the use of human time verses machine time. Andrew Gossen is the executive director for communications, marketing, and participation in Cornell University's Division of Alumni Affairs and Development. He joined Cornell in 2010 to integrate emerging digital technologies – among them social media and crowdfunding – into the division's strategic plan. Previously, Gossen spent eight years at the Alumni Association of Princeton University in a number of diverse roles. His focus is using digital technologies and approaches to engagement to build audiences and mobilize them on behalf of a range of causes and organizations. In addition to speaking frequently on this topic to domestic and international audiences, he has served CASE Commission on Alumni Relations, co-chaired the CASE Joint Commission Task Force on Social Media, and received a CASE Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence in 2018. Gossen holds a bachelor's degree from Princeton and a doctorate in social anthropology from Harvard University. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    143. Stephanie Cook: Building a non-natural constituency base

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 40:12


    This week, I get the opportunity to talk with Stephanie Cook about her career journey and most recent experiences with the National Audubon Society. We talk about how her broad higher education experience prepared her to work in a more niche area with a non-natural constituency base.   Stephanie Cook brings over 20 years of experience to her work as a fundraising executive for the National Audubon Society—leading operations, donor services, and fundraising teams on behalf of the international conservation NGO. Prior to joining Audubon, she led NYC-based regional advancement teams for Syracuse University and Villanova University, where she led teams of development professionals charged with building relationships with and securing philanthropic support from alumni, parents, and friends. Her early career included service as a major gift officer for Columbia University and the Wildlife Conservation Society as well as in support of the fundraising efforts on behalf of the Central Park Conservancy. She is a native of Madison, Wisconsin and holds a BFA from the University of Kentucky in acting/theatre and an MS from Columbia University in fundraising and non-profit management. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    142. Jennifer Zaslow: Working Through Difficult Conversations

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2024 56:51


    Hello and welcome to Season 13! This season is different because ½ of the 8 episodes are going to be focused on AI. However, there are a few episodes that aren't focused on AI including today's. While understanding AI is important, we also need the EQ that occurs in between skilling up and one of those huge skills is navigating difficult conversations. As Jennifer says, contact and context before content! This episode is the pep talk you perhaps didn't even know you needed. Jennifer empowers us to tackle our challenges head on, eliminate negative self talk,  and take care of ourselves throughout the process. We go through three real life examples and Jennifer talks through how she would handle them. These examples were submitted by real life listeners with their real life challenges. Jennifer Zaslow is an Executive Coach who believes that harnessing your full potential begins with finding your voice. She began her professional life in New York as an aspiring opera singer, an experience that led to a twenty year career as a leader and senior fundraiser in the non-profit sector.  Today, as Partner at Clear Path Executive Coaching, Jennifer's signature mix of intuition, directness and humor enables her to work successfully with clients ranging from CEO's to young leaders, helping individuals to reach their full potential, and organizations to achieve their strategic goals.   Jennifer has worked with leaders and teams from a wide variety of sectors, including higher ed (Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, University of Pennsylvania), arts and culture (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The New York Public Library, The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, BAM, The High Line), sports/media/entertainment (The NFL, Sundance Institute, BuzzFeed, WNYC, KCRW) and tech/startups (Google, CHIEF, Angi, and TodayTix).   Prior to coaching, Jennifer held the chief development officer role at three New York City cultural institutions: Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City Opera, and The New York Public Library.  There, she successfully completed a $500 million capital campaign during the 2008 recession and grew the Library's endowment to over $1 billion.    Jennifer holds a B.A. cum laude from Wesleyan University and a CPCC coaching certification from CTI. She is certified in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, is a Gallup Clifton Strengths Coach and is a recipient of Harvard Law School's PON certificate in Mediation and Conflict Resolution. She is also Director of the Floria Lasky Institute for Arts Leadership, sponsored by The Jerome Robbins Foundation.  She lives and practices in New York City. Resources: 1. Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury 2. Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen 3. Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Emily Gregory 4. How to Work with Anyone (even difficult people) by Amy Gallo --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    141. Looking forward and looking back

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2024 13:34


    This is a two-part episode but the two parts are inextricably linked. The first is looking back at the past six months—and the second is looking forward and creating visions of an ideal future.   Part 1 is a six month update on my time in New Haven and at Yale! Part 2 is a 5-step process at creating a vision board, a tradition of mine... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    140. Chad Paris: The Making of Parisleaf

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 46:08


    First and foremost, Happy Birthday to today's guest, Chad Paris! Ever wondered how a campaign is born? How firms get started? What matters most with communications? Chad Paris tells us about his firm, Parisleaf and how it has grown into an international brand and digital partner working with a wide array of non-profits. With over 15 years of experience in brand, digital, and fundraising, Chad is the CEO of Parisleaf, a branding agency that helps nonprofits fund progress through branding their major fundraising campaigns. His passion is in making connections - between humans, or between seemingly disparate pieces of a puzzle. Chad has dedicated his career to brands that are changing the world. As CEO, he supports the firm's ultimate ambition - to help their partners raise $25B by the end of the decade. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    139. Elizabeth Hines: Investing in Generations

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 42:41


    Liz comes from a family of story tellers. This week we learn about how she found her voice as a communications specialist, a trustee, and so much more. Liz tells us how her education impacted her and lead her to write about her great uncle and philanthropist, A.G. Gaston. His investment is his family and ultimately her- is an inspiring story. Liz sights “movement moments” and her mentors along the way. Throughout her career, Ms. Hines has dedicated herself to helping non-profits grow, in part by serving on the boards of a wide variety of organizations, including: The Third Wave Fund, The Women's Media Center Advisory Board, LIFT (Legal Information for Families Today), People's Production House and The Independent Media Institute. In 2018, Hines was named a fellow of the New World Foundation, where she oversaw the organization's research on the state of local media, investigating opportunities to support local journalism and journalists in the face of widespread media corporatization.  Ms. Hines holds a B.A. from Yale University and conducted her graduate studies at Harvard University. She lives in New York with her partner and their three children. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    138. Brandon Baker: From 10M to 1B

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2023 42:04


    This weeks episode explores what is looks like to work for a younger institution and realize exciting potential, the way that our guest combined a variety of skills for his current role, and the critical aspect of leadership along the way. Brandon Baker is the associate senior vice president for University Advancement at the University of Southern California (USC) where he works across campus on principal and transformational gift opportunities. Baker has experience in launching and leading campaigns and prior to joining USC, Brandon spearheaded the $400 million Tomorrow Demands Today Campaign at the RAND Corporation. Baker previously served as assistant dean of external affairs at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. He and his team were responsible for a $250 million goal as part of the school's campaign, a component of UCLA's $4.2 billion effort. He has more than sixteen years of experience in both public and private higher education institutions. He also served as a development director at Villanova University and Columbia University Graduate Business School. Baker holds an M.A. in higher education administration from New York University and a B.S. in biology from The University of Tennessee Southern. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    137. Anna Schlia: Providing a Framework

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2023 33:20


    This week, my guest and I explore the concept of academic research in the field of fundraising. We dig into donor motivation and ways in which scholarly research can help provide framework and clarity of thinking. Frontline fundraiser, researcher of donor inclinations, and status quo breaker, Anna Schlia is an expert in philanthropy research, principal and major gifts, program building, and executive leadership coaching. Relentlessly inquisitive about nonprofit institutions and the donors who support them, Anna is an emerging philanthropy scholar. She is pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Rochester studying philanthropy for higher education. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    136. Anna Dugan: Next Generation Fundraising

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2023 24:01


    This week, I talk with Anna Dugan about her work with next generation donors at Carnegie Hall. Since I knew her there, she has moved on to work at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Anna talks about building a pipeline program, answers why younger donors want more metrics and data, and explains why creating a feeling with events must always go back to the mission.   Anna Dugan is a frontline fundraiser with a passion for helping people actualize their philanthropic goals. She is currently Senior Associate Director of Development at the Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine, working with a variety of specialties, including Alzheimer's Disease, Geriatric Psychiatry, Community Psychiatry, Acquired Brain Injury, and DEIB initiatives. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, she spent seven years at Carnegie Hall in a variety of roles, including individual giving fundraising, stewardship, and events. She attended Columbia University, The Juilliard School, and Manhattan School of Music and performed for many years as a professional musician. Follow along for more on linkedin and instagram @devdebrief --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    135. Matt Abrahams: Think Faster, Talk Smarter

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2023 41:59


    Hello! Today you are in for a treat. The following episode will explore themes of being put on the spot, networking, and sparking connections. Listen to learn how to start and stop event conversations, make a cogent pitch, and understand a tough audience. Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in the field of communication. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting and has received the school's Alumni Teaching Award. Matt also teaches public speaking and co-teaches Improvisational Speaking in the Stanford Continuing Studies Program. When he isn't teaching, Matt is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and communications consultant and coach. He has helped numerous presenters prepare for high-stakes talks, including IPO road shows, Nobel Prize award presentations, and appearances at TED and the World Economic Forum. His online talks garner millions of views and he hosts the popular, award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart, The Podcast. His book Speaking Up without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident and Compelling Presenting has helped a wide audience manage speaking anxiety and present more confidently and authentically. To relax and rejuvenate, Matt enjoys hiking with his wife, talking and watching sports with his kids, hanging out with his friends, and being continually humbled at the karate dojo. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    134. My First Team Retreat

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2023 25:30


    Welcome to Season 12. In today's solo episode, I talk about the process I took to plan our team retreat. Special thanks to Lisa Alvarez-Calderon for guiding me through the planning and execution. Planning tips: 1. Set your intention- what is the goal? 2. Space 3. Timing 4. Outside inspiration- mentor, volunteer, or donor can share their expertise! 5. Order of information 6. Follow up plan --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    133. Wendy Sealey: Live Audience, FRDNY, AFP 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2023 42:05


    This episode is the last conversation of Season 11. The episode took place in NYC with a live audience of over 1,000 people. AFP-NYC puts on a fundraising day for fundraisers every year-- we were lucky enough to be the morning keynote. Enjoy the live format featuring Wendy Sealey and thank you AFP-NYC! Wendy Sealey has over 20 years of non-profit management and fundraising experience, overseeing teams in the areas of leadership gifts, campaign fundraising, annual fundraising, and special events. Currently, she currently oversees a $30 million fundraising program as Vice President for Development at the Guttmacher Institute, a leading research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) worldwide. Wendy is a sought-after fundraising coach, advisor, and speaker who has worked with a variety of nonprofits in New York City. Prior to joining the Guttmacher Institute, Wendy raised funds for the ACLU's Centennial Campaign, East Harlem Tutorial Program's capital campaign, Bank Street College of Education's strategic initiative campaign, and the Astraea Lesbian Foundation's multi-million-dollar grant-making program. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    132. Emily Kernan: The joys of Annual Giving

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 36:56


    Emily and I talk about preparing for fiscal year end, annual giving trends and changes, and her passion for leadership. Emily Kernan is the Executive Director of The Penn Fund at the University of Pennsylvania, where she oversees all annual giving efforts primarily engaging undergraduate alumni. She previously led the annual fund team at Rice University and started her career in development at Lafayette College. Emily has remained committed to annual giving throughout her professional life because she loves building relationships with donors and volunteers at every level as well as collaborating with almost every other team across development in some way. She is a volunteer herself as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Philadelphia Ballet and the outgoing Chair of the Annual Giving Directors Consortium (AGDC). Emily holds a BA in English from Binghamton University (SUNY) and an MS in Nonprofit Leadership from Penn's School of Social Policy and Practice. Her instructional experience includes presenting for AGN, CASE, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), teaching about annual giving at Rice's Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, and being a course assistant for a class on human-centered design through Penn's School of Social Policy and Practice. She lives in Philadelphia with her two cats—Alvin and Simon. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    131. The Wells Collective: You Can Only See From Where You Sit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 43:29


    The Wells Collective was born out of both necessity and the right amount of mimosas. After six Black women, who worked individually as public and private school educators, researchers, educational administrators, and psychologists, gathered together for a bubbly brunch, the kinetic energy that manifested itself at their table confirmed that by coming together, they could have a greater impact in promoting inclusion in their communities. These women rallied together to identify ways in which they could leverage their individual talents to develop a unique framework that would equip organizations with the tools  to be successful as change agents and architects for liberation. I was lucky enough to hear them speak at a conference last March at Mohonk Mountain House. I knew immediately, that I wanted to share their message on the Debrief. If you want to work with them or learn more, please reach out! Kalea Selmon, Areas of Expertise: Restorative practices, teacher coaching, social-emotional wellness, assessing school culture for inclusion and anti-racist practices. Kalea hails from the Washington DC area. She is a proud alumna of Howard University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. After undergrad, she began her career teaching and facilitating a youth employment program. Kalea returned to school attending Johns Hopkins University where she earned a Master of Science in Counseling. Later, she transitioned into Independent Schools where she served as a school counselor and then a Director of Diversity and Inclusion where she focused on developing equity programming, providing professional development, curating curriculum, and hiring and retention of diverse staff. Jenifer Moore, Areas of Expertise: Anti-racist & anti-bias curriculum, teacher coaching, assessing school culture for inclusion and anti-racist practices. Jenifer is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Key School in Annapolis, MD. Previously, she has served as the Head of School and Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Sela Public Charter School. Jenifer has served children of Washington, DC since 2003 as a teacher, tutor, and school leader. She earned a Master's degree from Trinity Washington, DC in Educational Administration and a Bachelor's degree from Howard University. Akailah Jenkins McIntyre, Areas of Expertise: Anti-racist & anti-bias practices, employee and teacher coaching, assessing organizational culture for inclusion and anti-racist practices, public speaking. Akailah is a native of Charleston, SC who began her career in education at Vanderbilt University. She went on to contribute to multiple education research projects at the institution, resulting in two published works. In this time, she discovered that her areas of interest were racial justice in education, and exploring Black girl joy and freedom in educational spaces. She earned both her Bachelor's degree, and Master's Degree from the institution. She now serves as Chief of Staff at a nonprofit. Dr. Shari Baker, Areas of Expertise: Anti-racist & anti-bias curriculum, teacher coaching, assessing school culture for inclusion and anti-racist practices Shari began her career in education at Duke University. While there, she joined a women's scholarship group, the Baldwin Scholars, in which she continues to be an active member. Dr. Baker obtained her social studies teaching certificate and went on to teach social studies in Prince George's County Public Schools for a decade. She has also had extensive training on cultural responsive/sustaining pedagogy and restorative justice in schools. Dr. Baker also has experience implementing and measuring DEI initiatives at both large and small independent schools, notably including her most recent position as Director of Diversity & Inclusion at one of the largest independent high schools in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    130. Marcela Hahn: Women in Development

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 27:32


    This week, I speak with Marcela Hahn about her role as president of the Board of Directors of Women in Development (WiD). We explore the importance of community and tradition. Marcela Hahn is the Vice President, Development at Bank Street College of Education. For eight years, Marcela Hahn served as the AVP for Strategic Partnerships at CARE, a leading humanitarian organization. In this role she focused on corporate and foundation partnerships. Prior to CARE Marcela was the fundraising lead for Americans for UNFPA, Grand Street Settlement, and Project Reach Youth.  Marcela served as a Peace Corps volunteer and employee for four years in Senegal; she received an MPA from New York University and a B.A. from Cornell University. Marcela is the president of the Board of Directors of Women in Development (WID), NY. She lives with her family and two cats in Brooklyn and loves to hike, x-country ski and read mysteries in her free time. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    129. Andy Rathmann-Noonan: Expand Your Mission

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 31:05


    This week, we learn from Andy Rathmann-Noonan from the perspective of a non-profit CEO. Andy talks to us about changes his organization made to expand their mission and therefore grown their fundraising needs and goals. Andy is the President of the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation. Over the last ten years, he has been responsible for various leadership and oversight responsibilities, including management of staff and programming, development and fundraising efforts, and ensuring that the Foundation's mission is evident in all of its work. Andy has a deep personal connection to the foundation and its broader effort to build a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable future in STEMM. He recognizes his privilege and his responsibility as an ally to empower, enable, and serve his team, its mission, and the communities that can be positively affected by the NSTMF's efforts. Andy earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity College (Hartford, CT) in 2009. He resides in Silver Spring, MD, with his better half Julia, their son Nolan, and their dog Lulu.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    128. Christine Pina: Engendering Pride in People

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 39:24


    So far I am loving being back in Connecticut. Let's learn more about Connecticut and this amazing guest's career. This week, we hear from Christine Pina, Chief Advancement Officer at Miss Porter's School. Christine and I talk about admissions, graduate work for fundraisers, building a community with pride, and how to educate your communities early about fundraising (especially at an all-girl's school). Christine Pina is the Chief Advancement Officer, Miss Porter's School where she is a member of the school's senior leadership team.  She is responsible for all fundraising and alumni engagement activities and she has more than 25 years of experience in education administration. See some data about giving to women and girl's here: https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/institutes/womens-philanthropy-institute/research/wgi.html --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    127. Mike Hoffman: The Power of Proximity

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2023 37:54


    If you follow me on instagram @devdebrief, you saw that I went out to Annapolis in March. There, I met the US Navy development team and learned about their approach to fundraising. Mike Hoffman is an amazing leader who is growing programs, posting new positions, and argues teams are best built in person. Mike joined the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation in March 2013 and currently serves on the Foundation's senior leadership team as the Vice President, Development. Mike began his tenure at Navy as a Major Gifts Officer and grew into a series of roles with increasing responsibility before taking the VP position last year. As the Naval Academy Foundation builds out a team in anticipation of their next campaign, Mike will lead a staff of 15 on the Development team, which includes the Regional Development program, which is comprised of the organization's major gifts and high-end leadership annual giving initiatives, and the Planned Giving program. In his role, he also works closely with the Foundation's EVP, Board of Directors and other organizational leaders to play a central role in campaign planning and execution. Additionally, Mike manages a portfolio of top donors across the country with a focus on principal gifts. Since 2004, Mike has worked in education at both the independent school and higher education levels, with most of that experience in development positions. Prior to joining the Foundation, Mike was at Johns Hopkins University in their Regional and International Programs development office. Mike graduated from Loyola University Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. He lives in Annapolis with his wife and three children.   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    127. Mike Hoffman: xxxx

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2023 0:19


    xxxx --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    126. Making Moves with Christopher Haight

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2023 33:30


    About one year ago, Christopher Haight started the process of moving from Director of Development, Discovery Team at Cornell University to now Associate Dean for Development at Stanford University. Today, I will start at Yale University as Director of Parent Gifts. In this episode, I explain my journey and move to New Haven, Connecticut. Hopefully our stories will inspire you to take the leap you've been dreaming about! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    125. Paul Sullivan: You Just Ask

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 41:52


    Hello All, this is the final episode of Season 10! I am closing with this conversation because it offers a fresh perspective on wealth both as a writer and as a donor. Paul Sullivan has had and continues to have an exciting career that we can all learn from. Sit back, relax, and listen to Paul reflect on his journey to date and what money has had to do with it! Paul is the founder of The Company of Dads, the first platform dedicated to creating a community for Lead Dads. Its mission is to help Lead Dads feel less isolated and more confident that they have made the correct choice to take on the bulk of the parenting and family duties - or at the very least not embrace stereotypes around who does what at home. As a Lead Dad himself, Paul understands intimately the joys, frustrations, isolation and reticence around talking about being a Lead Dad. It's a role that is growing in numbers but is far from normalized. Before starting The Company of Dads in 2021, Paul wrote the Wealth Matters column in The New York Times for 13 years. He also created the Money Game column in GOLF Magazine. As a journalist for 25 years, his articles also appeared in Fortune, Money, Conde Nast Portfolio, The International Herald Tribune, Barron's, The Boston Globe, and Food & Wine. From 2000 to 2006, he was a reporter, editor and columnist at the Financial Times. He got his start as a reporter at Bloomberg and Institutional Investor. He is the author of two books Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don't and The Thin Green Line: The Money Secrets of The Super Wealthy. Paul has been interviewed on podcasts, radio and television programs across America, including NPR, Marketplace, CNN, and Fox News. He has also given key-note talks to audiences from 50 to 500 people in the United States, Mexico and Chile. Paul lives in New Canaan, Connecticut, with his wife and their three daughters and three dogs. He received degrees in history from Trinity College and the University of Chicago. When not running The Company of Dads or being a Lead Dad, he is an obsessive golfer. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/devdebrief/support

    124. Jan Abernathy: Building Your Personal Brand

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2023 35:16


    Last week, I went with several of my colleagues to the NYSAIS advancement conference at Mohonk Mountain House. NYSAIS stands for the New York State Association of Independent Schools. At the conference, I had the opportunity to speak about building your personal brand for career success with today's guest, Jan Abernathy. Before we did our talk, we recorded it to share with all of you! Jan Abernathy is the Chief Communications Officer at The Browning School, a K-12 boys' school in New York City. Formerly the director of marketing and communications at The Elisabeth Morrow School in Englewood, NJ. At Browning, she is a member of the Health & Safety Team, responsible for managing COVID response, and co-chaired the school's successful search for its new director of equitable practice and social impact. She is president of New York City Independent Schools Communications Professionals, a professional association of over 100 members from schools throughout the tri-state area, and the co-founder of Black Advancement Networking Group, which works to gain further representation and greater professional growth of Black professionals in advancement roles in independent schools. Jan is chair of CASE-NAIS 2022, the most prominent international advancement conference in the independent school sector. A journalist by training, she has written for NAIS' Independent School Magazine on crisis communications (Winter 2019) and the “Black at” movement (Winter 2021). She is a trustee of Grace Church School, a K-12 school in New York City, and was on the board of Stevens Cooperative School in Hoboken, NJ, for 13 years, spending six years as chair. Her consulting firm, Jan Abernathy Strategic Communications, provides communications and DEI counsel for educational institutions and non-profits. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/devdebrief/support

    123. Taylor Wood: Vanderbilt's Regional Hubs

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2023 34:12


    The tale is as old as time- do you have regional major gift teams based in the cities they manage, or on campus? Vanderbilt University is rolling out a new initiative they are calling Vanderbilt Regional Hubs. Through these hubs, prospective students, current students, parents, alumni and friends will connect with Vanderbilt through professional opportunities and custom programming. This week, we will learn about how the program has been launched from the leader himself, Taylor. Taylor Wood joined Vanderbilt's Development and Alumni Relations team in November 2018 to manage fundraising for the School of Medicine, including Basic Sciences, and the School of Nursing. In October of 2022, his portfolio has expanded to include oversight of development for the School of Engineering and DAR's new regional development initiative. He previously served in development leadership at the Syracuse University School of Architecture, one of the top architecture programs in the country, as well as the College of Design at the University of Kentucky. Wood is a native Kentuckian and earned his bachelor's degree in English at the University of Kentucky and master's degrees in business administration and sports administration at Ohio University. **Special shout out to Becca Jensen for suggesting this episode and making this episode possible. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/devdebrief/support

    122. Lisa Alvarez-Calderón: The Golden Ingredient to Recruiting, Talent, Retention

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2023 45:15


    In this week's episode, we talk talent, recruiting, and, retention. Lisa Alvarez-Calderón is the founder of Shine Consulting, dedicated to advising leaders on people strategy, global organization effectiveness, leadership development and building high performing, inclusive cultures. Lisa is an executive coach who helps people connect, share and accomplish big things so we can thrive and shine. Lisa is a dynamic leader with extensive global human resources experience working across diverse sectors and geographies. Lisa was Chief Human Resources Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, where she worked closely with the foundation's executive leadership team through the COVID-19 pandemic. Lisa lived in Chile serving as HRVP for BHP in the mining sector and Academic Director for the University of Chile ́s Center for Organizational Engineering. She developed her career in the pharmaceutical sector as HRVP for Johnson & Johnson in the United States and Asia, including living in Singapore and leading HR across 14 countries; and with Bristol-Myers Squibb as HRVP for Research & Development, and HR and talent roles in Latin America and US commercial operations. Lisa began her career as a leadership trainee with CIGNA and spent the first decade of her career as an HR business partner and talent management specialist in the insurance industry. Lisa serves on the Board of Trustees of Trinity College and on several Advisory Boards including Enspira, a strategic human resources consulting firm; Untapped Potential, a social enterprise dedicated to attracting professionally trained women caregivers (i.e., Moms) back into the workforce; and The Company of Dads, a community platform for Lead Dads and an advocate for more open and productive work environments for parents. Lisa is an active member of the International Women's Forum, a global network of accomplished women dedicated to advancing women's leadership and championing equality worldwide. Lisa is known for building trust and connecting with people to help them perform, learn and grow. She brings passion, courage, authenticity, integrity, asense of adventure and joy to all she does. Lisa knows that If it's not energizing, it is probably not worth doing. Lisa received an MBA with Distinction from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Lisa and her husband have raised two grown sons and divide their time between Seattle, Washington and Chincoteague, Virginia. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/devdebrief/support

    121. Eric Almonte: A True Partnership

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 39:18


    This week, my guest Eric and I talk about Reunion and Annual Giving, portfolio optimization, engaging the next generation of donors, and what to say when people ask you why a wealthy institution needs their support. Ultimately, the team at Princeton is building what they call, a true partnership with their donors. Eric R. Almonte serves as Assistant Vice President for Capital Giving at Princeton University, Princeton, NJ. In this role, he supervises an extremely dedicated and professional staff including; three frontline fundraising teams and the support staff for Leadership Gifts, International Development and the Office of Gift Planning. The Capital Giving team focuses on fundraising to increase access and affordability opportunities, endowed professorships, and research funding to intensify innovation, curiosity and intellectual risk taking at Princeton University. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/devdebrief/support

    120. Maria Di Mento: A Conversation about The Chronicle of Philanthropy's Philanthropy 50

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2023 26:36


    Yesterday, the much-anticipated Philanthropy 50 by The Chronicle of Philanthropy went live. This list profiles America's 50 largest donors including their location, wealth source, and top cause. Previously, I thought this list was for principal gift officers and Vice Presidents. Luckily, I was able to interview the reporter, Maria Di Mento and quickly learned that this list is for all of us. Maria has been writing about wealthy philanthropists and key trends and insights related to high-net-worth donors for nearly two decades and leads the Chronicle of Philanthropy's annual Philanthropy 50. I hope this interview inspires you to think bigger and more broadly than ever. There is so much opportunity in our industry. To learn more about The Development Debrief, connect with us on Linkedin or on instagram @devdebrief. I would love to hear from you! I'll be back, same place, same time next week. (Special shout out to Bob Lasher who made this interview possible!) Here is the list: https://www.philanthropy.com/article/the-philanthropy-50/?cid=gen_sign_in#id=browse_2022 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/devdebrief/support

    119. JD Beebe: The Origin Story of ThankView

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2023 28:15


    If you are listening to this—it is likely you either have access to ThankView through your organization or have at least seen their unicorn logo. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's the cloud-based platform that lets you easily create and send personalized videos to raise awareness, promote events, update stakeholders, and thank those who matter most. Today, we will talk with JD Beebe, ThankView's co-founder and CEO. JD tells us how and why he became an entrepreneur and shares the story of how ThankView was originally created to make completing his wedding thank you notes more enjoyable. ThankView now works with over 1,000 annual partners, including The Boys & Girls Club, Boston University, Cornell, Pepperdine, Miami University and Colorado State University. In November of 2021, ThankView merged with EverTrue, the top-rated data, software, and services solution for fundraisers. He now serves as President of EverTrue (www.evertrue.com). Before founding ThankView, JD founded New Antisocial, a digital marketing agency, and Beebe's Buttcamp, a fitness studio that was named "One of the 9 Best New Studios in NYC" by Racked.com. He and his team built everything with no outside investment and have successfully generated millions of dollars while staying cash positive. New Antisocial worked with top global brands including Intel and Spartan Race as well as fledgling startups. Prior to founding New Antisocial, JD was Creative Director for Noise, a digital advertising company in NYC. His work has appeared on CNN, NBC, AdAge, Fast Company, MTV and has won accolades including the Platinum Cannes Lion and top One Show awards. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/devdebrief/support

    118. Laurel Richie and Bob Lasher: The Inside Story of Dartmouth's $3.5 Billion Campaign

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2023 42:57


    Today's episode marks the beginning of Season 10! If you've been here from the beginning, thank you for sharing this journey—if you are new to The Debrief, we have been running for just over three years and have content with industry experts in nearly every corner of the fundraising profession. One thing I have always been curious about is the dynamic between the Chief Development Officer and the Board Chair. How do they talk to one another? Who ultimately makes the call? But those conversations are often had in private. I am honored to open this season with Bob Lasher, Senior Vice President for Development at Dartmouth College and Laurel Richie, Marketing, Communications, and Management Executive as well as former Dartmouth Trustee and Board chair. In the following 45 minutes, we will talk about wins, stalls, pain points, and women in philanthropy all during a multi-billion dollar campaign. To Learn more-- follow us on instagram @devdebrief and connect on LinkedIn, I can't wait to hear from you! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/devdebrief/support

    117. Katy Herbert Kotlarczyk: Checking The Boxes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2022 37:47


    Hello! I want to close out this season with a heart-warming episode. Today's guest, Katy, tells us about how she went for her dream job-- and got it. We talk about her rise to Vice Chancellor for Advancement and how this affected her career, family, motherhood, and leadership. She gives great tips for working professionals who are parents, and leaves you feeling inspired. As Vice Chancellor for Advancement for the University of Colorado Boulder, Katy Herbert Kotlarczyk (cut-lar-chick) oversees all campus efforts related to private fundraising, philanthropic outreach, and alumni engagement. Under her direction, the CU Boulder Advancement team identifies and partners with constituents who contribute their time and talent to advance the university's mission. With CU Advancement since 2010, Katy previously served as Assistant Vice President for Central Advancement and led CU's gift planning and annual giving efforts. Prior to her time at CU, Katy led fundraising for a scholarship program at Georgetown University that supported first-generation, low-income, and diverse undergraduate students. She also served as a director of Orr Group, a fundraising and strategy consultancy for nonprofit organizations. A life-long learner, Katy is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education degree in leadership in educational equity, with a focus on higher education. She completed her MBA at DePaul University. She has both an undergraduate and master's degree from Stanford University, where she served as captain of the women's gymnastics team. When she's not working, Katy serves as a Boulder County court-appointed special advocate for youth struggling with truancy. She and her husband enjoy exploring Colorado with their three children. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/devdebrief/support

    116. Maddie Hansen: What is the impact?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 30:52


    Today's episode is nostalgic I sit down with an old friend and fellow fundraiser, Maddie Hansen. We share a few memories from our time singing together in our College a cappella group and analyze what skills we learned there that we can apply to fundraising. We then learn from Maddie about her grateful patient fundraising and how she has built an authentic voice and path finding meaning in her work. Madeleine Hansen is a Senior Associate Director of Development for Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center. In this role, Maddie works closely with physicians, scientists, and grateful patients to support diverse research and patient care programs for women's cancers. This includes Penn's Breast Cancer Program, 2-PREVENT Translation Center of Excellence (TCE), Ovarian Cancer Research Center (OCRC), and Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Research Unit. Maddie also serves as a point person for fundraising for diversity, health equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the Division of Hematology Oncology. Maddie is a graduate of Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut where she received her BA in American Studies. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/devdebrief/support

    115. Adam Doyno: Who is "Frontline"?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 32:02


    Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful for all of you this week. Thank you for listening, sharing, and supporting the Development Debrief! This week, Adam Doyno and I debate about the meaning of the term "frontline fundraiser". Should we continue to use it? Or is this a problematic term? We polled all of you on the @devdebrief instagram and learned that 63% of you identify as a frontline fundraiser, 29% of you do not, and 7% of you don't know. We asked you if the term was necessary and 46% of you said yes, 33% of you said no, and 21% of you weren't sure. Take a listen, and talk about it with your teams. We would love to hear your thoughts. Please see Adam's article that inspired the conversation here: https://nycafp.org/News-Events/News-Blog/its-time-to-rethink-the-frontline-fundraiser Adam M. Doyno, a Certified Fund-Raising Executive, is the Founding Executive Director of the CUNY SPH Foundation and Inaugural Director of Development for the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. Since 2018, he has been an essential catalyst in the graduate school's achievement in becoming an independent, accredited, top-ranked public health authority in New York City and the nation. In his role, he is the architect of the school's fundraising operations and drives forward development activities that support CUNY SPH students, the 500,000+ students and continuous learners within the CUNY system, and New York City broadly. Active in the fundraising community, Adam serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals-NYC Chapter as co-Vice President of Member Engagement. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the 125th Street Business Improvement District in Harlem. In 2021 he was honored by NYNMedia Nonprofit as part of their annual 40 Under 40 Class. Adam earned a BA from Hofstra University and an MPA from CW Post, Long Island University. He lives on Long Island with his wife and two young children. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/devdebrief/support

    Claim The Development Debrief

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel