April 2018 Member Spotlight

Name: Michelle Greenspoon

Institution: Pathways to Education

Position: Associate Director, Donor Relations & Stewardship

ADRP member for 5 years

How long have you worked in donor relations/stewardship and how did you get involved in this profession?

I have been involved in donor relations and stewardship for almost 12 years. While completing my master’s degree, I volunteered with various non-profit organizations and planned fundraising events on campus. Through my volunteer work, I realized I wanted to pursue the field full time upon the completion of my degree. I tried a few different fundraising roles first, and when I shifted into a stewardship role, I discovered that it is truly my passion! I see it as a real privilege to get to acknowledge people for a living.

Could you tell us something about the organization you work for?

Pathways to Education is an incredible organization in Canada that supports youth living in low-income communities to graduate from high school and successfully transition to post-secondary education, training, and employment. Youth in these communities face significant barriers to education that are often outside of their control. Since 2001, Pathways to Education has been supporting youth to overcome these barriers and build the foundation for a successful future through a holistic combination of academic, financial, social, and one-on-one support tailored to each student’s specific needs. And I’m proud to say that, because of the work that Pathways does across the country, graduation rates have improved in the communities Pathways serves by an average of up to 85 per cent. I’m so grateful that I get to help share the successes of the more than 10,000 hardworking Pathways youth with our donors every day.

What do you like most about being a member of the ADRP?

I love the sense of community, the resources, shared knowledge, webinars, and conferences. Basically everything! It’s great to be part of ADRP, where the work that we do in donor relations and stewardship is the central focus.

What is your greatest donor relations/stewardship achievement?

I am fortunate that I have been able to develop and deliver exciting and meaningful stewardship programs and opportunities for donors over the years. Developing a Donor Relations & Stewardship program at Pathways is a big one. But mainly, I love that my role allows me to be both strategic and creative. Any time I am able to bring donors closer to the work we do, and help them to better understand the impact of their support is an achievement in my book. For example, we don’t have bricks and mortar recognition opportunities at Pathways, so I have had the opportunity to create some incredible custom thank-you videos for our most generous donors over the years. You can see last year’s general thank-you video that was created by the team and features an amazing Pathways alumnus here.   

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 am really excited about working with the team here at Pathways to create a mid-level giving strategy for our donors, as well as a corporate employee engagement program to make sure we are connecting with our different donors in a meaningful and appropriate way. 

How big a role does the use of social media play in your work?

Social media plays an increasingly important role in our work. It’s a terrific vehicle to connect with the communities, program staff, students, and alumni we work with, as well as engage with our supporters through information sharing, recognizing/calling out their generosity, and demonstrating the impact of their support.

Is there a resource, i.e., book, blog, website, etc., that you would recommend to other ADRP members?

In addition to ADRP, a few go-to websites/resources for me include:

http://www.goodworksco.ca/  

http://www.donorrelationsguru.com/

http://kciphilanthropy.com/lang/en/

What is the best piece of professional advice you have ever received?

To always be curious, collaborate, borrow from the best, and not be afraid to take some measured risks.

Are there any particular stories, insights, etc., from your experiences in donor relations and stewardship that you would like to share with our colleagues?

We can’t determine what is most meaningful and impactful for our donors without asking them! It’s important to check in with donors from time to time to ensure that what is on offer is reflective of their values and interests. Recognizing that we might not have the capacity to deliver everything on their wish list, learning about what gets them out the door in the evening to an event, motivates them to continue giving, or makes them feel most connected to the work they are supporting is critical in being able to develop the right program. It’s never one size fits all, so having flexibility (yet equity) when it comes to recognition and engagement is really important. And never underestimate the power of surprising your donors with something they consider unexpected (even if you were planning it all along)!

If you would be interested in being featured in this column or have someone you would like to suggest, please contact Dianne Dyslin, Member Spotlight editor.