November 2018 Member Spotlight

Name: Marletta Boyd II Institution: The Children's Center Position: Director-Individual Philanthropy ADRP member for 1 year

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

I started my career as a Finance Manager at Microsoft Headquarters for seven years before I officially shifted to a role in donor engagement. While at Microsoft, I had the pleasure of being deployed as a fully dedicated resource to lead their $90M internal Employee Giving Campaign. Through this project, I discovered my gift and passion for inspiring impact by connecting people to a community’s greatest needs. The aftermath of this successful campaign was that I was no longer content in Corporate America as a Finance Manager. I was compelled to resign and relocate to my hometown of Detroit, Michigan, to start the work of challenging my community to be change agents through talents, treasures and time. I’ve been blessed to be in the field of Philanthropy for the past eight years.

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

The Children's Center is home to many specialized clinical services, operating as one of the largest and most comprehensive frontline child-serving agencies in Michigan. We serve almost 7,500 children and their families annually, helping them overcome behavioral, emotional, educational and physical challenges, so they can heal, grow and thrive. We don’t just treat a child’s specific issue. We look at all factors – family, school, and social environments – so we can treat the whole child.

Do you host any special events for the children in your care at the holidays?

Since 2009, we have hosted our annual Holiday Shop, which offers children in need a new toy, stocking stuffers, basic need items (such as hats, gloves, and fleece blankets), and a gift card towards a family holiday meal. Individuals and organizations in the community rally to support this event through financial contributions and in-kind donations. We then transform our lower level into a magical winter wonderland, filled with new, unwrapped items for families to “shop” free of charge, with dignity and pride, as they select the perfect gifts for their children. Last year, we were able to support 1,722 children with this initiative.

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

I most appreciate the opportunity to grow and develop as a subject matter expert/industry leader. ADRP does a great job of asking its members to submit proposals to present at local, regional, and national events, as well as webinars. It is a safe space to share best practices, with very few barriers in the way of members presenting a relevant concept or idea to the community.

What is your greatest donor relations/stewardship achievement?

I was hired into The Children’s Center as the Director of Corporate Philanthropy. I stepped into this role at a time when the Department was going through a change to triple its revenue within three years. I was tasked with developing and leading strategies to enhance our corporate giving, and convert corporate relationships into individual giving. As such, I was at the helm of developing corporate engagement opportunities, namely our Family Game Night through our Consumer Enrichment Department, which allowed our corporate partners to engage through volunteerism and sponsorship on an ongoing basis. We successfully tripled philanthropy, and five years later the Family Game Night is still a vital opportunity that allows our longstanding corporate partners to stay connected to our work and new corporate partners to become affiliated with our work, resulting in larger corporate gifts, more involvement at the leadership level, and a deeper penetration of corporate employees converting to individual donors.

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.?

In an effort to develop my professional identity in fundraising, I am preparing to sit for the CFRE exam. I believe that the hallmark of any profession is in your dedication to the field, and that is accentuated through certification. In addition, one of my performance goals this year is to develop a more comprehensive donor relations and stewardship process for the entire Philanthropy Team at The Children’s Center (15 staff, including seven solicitors) in order to increase and sustain engagement throughout the year with our many donors.

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

Social media is critical to today’s fundraising strategy. At The Children’s Center, our social media is managed by the Senior Director of Strategic Marketing and Branding, and I am able to work with his team to leverage our social media platforms to recognize and highlight donors and to engage the community.

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

I would recommend Asking: A 59-Minute Guide to Everything Board Members, Volunteers, and Staff Must Know to Secure the Gift, by Jerold Panas. It provides great perspective on how to engage board members and volunteers in more meaningful ways, and makes it “less scary” for them to do so. 

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

We are not asking people to give us money for our personal benefit; we are conduits – connecting donors with the interests about which they are most passionate. When we present ourselves as match makers (as opposed to solicitors), everyone wins – the donor, the agency, and, most importantly, the cause the agency supports. (Advice received from Tammy Zonker, to demystify the “fear” of asking for money early on in my career.)

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

Always remain donor-centric, and no matter if you are working with an individual, corporation/institution, or foundation, develop a year-round engagement strategy that includes more than just asking for money. Search for opportunities to show donor love and provide experiences that speak directly to that donor’s interest, and you will have a supporter for life.