March 2017 Member Spotlight

Name: Melanie Gregg

Institution: Lutheran Homes of South Carolina Foundation, Inc.

Position: Director of Annual Giving and Donor Relations

ADRP member for 9 years

How long have you worked in donor relations/stewardship and how did you get involved in this profession?
I started working at the Lutheran Homes of SC Foundation as the Donor Relations Coordinator in 2004.  Prior to that, I had worked in various accounting positions at several companies. The Secretary/CFO of the Foundation, with whom I had worked at another company, wanted me to apply when the position became available with LHSC Foundation, because he thought I would do well in this field. He knew I cared about the well-being of others and had enjoyed volunteering on the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event committee. It turned out to be the best job transition I ever made.     

What do you like most about being a member of the ADRP?
While there are many good things about being a member of ADRP, what I like most is the annual international conference. Each year, I look forward to learning from the great sessions offered and getting the chance to meet people in my field in person, as well as continuing the relationships from previous conferences.

What is your greatest donor relations/stewardship achievement?
The LHSC Foundation has been able to increase our employee donors from 8% to 45% over several years and I developed the employee donor recognition program. With the various employment positions we have at hospice, and our continuing care retirement communities, there are many employees who would not be able to donate at the level needed to reach our annual giving recognition levels. However, we still want our employee donors to be recognized and know that their gift is appreciated. I tried different options, including lunches and dessert socials, but with employees on three shifts, in several buildings on campus and in five communities across the state, and it proved difficult to include everyone. I moved to a personal letter to welcome each new employee and thank them for their contributions. I then follow up with a special employee donor pin, which many choose to wear proudly on their name tags. I have continued this for two years now with success and positive feedback.

What is the most important professional goal you are currently pursuing, i.e., attaining a degree, preparing to give a presentation, launching an initiative at work or in your community, etc.?
I was recently promoted from Donor Relations Coordinator to Director of Annual Giving and Donor Relations, so this will be the first year that I am in charge of the annual giving appeals. While our annual appeals have a good structure, I’m looking forward to being able to add to and, hopefully, enhance them.

How big a role does the use of social media play in your work?
Currently, social media plays a very small role in my work. We only use Facebook, since that is the biggest trend among our constituents. I like to stay informed about the different platforms and changing trends in case the day comes that we see a need to make a move into a larger social media role. Until then, I plan on expanding what we do on Facebook as another route of communication with donors and to help spread the word of what the LHSC Foundation does to help the older adults and hospice patients served by Lutheran Homes of SC.

Is there a resource, i.e., book, blog, website, etc., that you would recommend to other ADRP members?
I recommend using all resources available. If members are not sure where to go, start with the ADRP listserv, and take advantage of the webinars and the monthly Hub publication. Also, never stop looking for new reading material, from newsletters of related organizations and books, to the daily news to keep current on local and world events.

What is the best piece of professional advice you have ever received?
This is a hard one, because I have learned a lot of good things from so many people over the years, but what comes above everything else is: Learn to say no. This can be a hard one for people in our field, who are usually trying to make others happy, but we have to know how to keep ourselves happy, as well. If we take on too much, promise more that we can deliver, or don’t give ourselves enough time to rest and recharge, we will not be any good to anyone else, or to our job.

Are there any particular stories, insights, etc., from your experiences in donor relations and stewardship that you would like to share with our colleagues?
What I would like to share – and many may already know this, but I don’t think it can be expressed enough – is to take the time to get to know your donors and listen to their stories. Something you think is a small detail you remember about a donor may mean so much to them. There was one donor that I only talked to at an annual event, she was in her mid-90s and very proud that she still walked a mile every day.  When I would say hello to her and ask about her walks and whether she was still going a mile, she would just get a big smile on her face, because she was surprised I remembered. 


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