Heather James 
University of Minnesota | CFANS Development Office
Stewardship and Donor Relations Specialist 

About Heather

Can you tell us about your career trajectory? How did you come into donor relations as a career?
Unexpectedly. In 2019, just short of my 20th anniversary at my previous company in a different sector, my position was eliminated. It was scary! I’d found that job in the newspaper. (You know, that big paper thing that would show up at your door and turn your hands inky when you looked through it…) So, it had been a while since I had looked for a job. It was also in a bit of a unique position, and I wasn’t finding similar positions out there. Also, I wasn’t sure I wanted to do the same thing. There were aspects of my former position that I liked a lot, but I was often rather bored. 

I found some state career resources for dislocated workers that were helpful in not only figuring out modern job search methods but in helping me figure out a path that might suit me. I decided to take a fundraising certificate program at a local university—and I loved it. I made sure to avail myself of the revolving instructors, who all worked in some aspect of fundraising, to ask what advice they might have for my situation. The first one I spoke with quickly ascertained from what I told him that donor relations/stewardship had actually been part of the work I had been doing—I just didn’t know it or call it that. That work was some of what I had enjoyed doing at my old gig, so I looked into it and thought it seemed a good fit. 

Brie Aguila | ADRP President Asst. Vice Chancellor for External Relations
Office of Advancement 
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Hello, and Happy New Year!

We made it through the end of the year, and it feels like 2024 is already flying by. I have just returned from Seattle, where your ADRP board met to plan for the years ahead. I continue to be impressed and honored to serve with this board. They bring passion, curiosity, fun, and so much drive to make ADRP the best it can be. We got a sneak peek into the Donor Relations Fundamentals Curriculum and the timeline for the year — get ready! We finalized our budget and started plans for the next MyADRP Live in Boston, hopefully in June! Plus, there is so much energy around regionals for the Midwest, Northeast Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast. We discussed updates from the various committees, and they have been busy! 

ADRP's Big Hairy Audacious Goal is to be universally recognized as the authority on donor engagement in the philanthropy profession. We are in the middle of executing a five-year strategic plan that serves as a road map and we’ve made significant strides in 2023.

As we end the year, let’s be proud of our profession and our own accomplishments as donor relations experts. If you see something that makes you smile or warms your heart, consider sending a note to a fellow ADRP member who may have led the way or share the sentiment with others via MY ADRP. If you have feedback or wish to get involved to move the needle even further, consider becoming a volunteer.

We remain grateful to all members and look forward to an equally productive 2024.

Brie Aguila | ADRP President Asst. Vice Chancellor for External Relations
Office of Advancement 
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Anyone else just trying to keep your head above water? While I know it’s that time of year, I continue to find myself caught off guard sometimes. Between the increase in personal commitments this month coupled with end-of-year giving and time away from the office— there aren’t enough hours in the day. And yet, it is also this time of year that I am reminded why we do this work.

In my day job, we often say, "There's a hole in people's hearts that can only be filled by generosity and service. People want to be connected to something bigger than themselves that will echo beyond their lifetimes." We see our job as assisting our benefactors in filling that hole and creating lasting change in the world through their philanthropy. 

I honestly believe that without the work you all do in donor relations and stewardship, filling that hole isn’t possible. You take the time to acknowledge and report impact. You take the time to convey the importance of their support. You take the time to surprise and delight. Without you, the connection to something bigger and the desire to change the world would fall a little flat. 

Brie Aguila | ADRP President Asst. Vice Chancellor for External Relations
Office of Advancement 
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

This is my favorite time of year. It is the one time of year when gratitude is front and center for everyone. Since in donor relations we wish gratitude took center stage all year round, I take the opportunity to really enjoy the season of gratitude. Did anyone count how many times I’ve used the word gratitude?!

I am grateful for every one of you. Each member strengthens our expertise, and each volunteer invests their time for the greater good of our industry and ADRP. 

I recently heard that the reason the car windshield is so big and the rearview mirror is so small is that we should always be looking forward. That resonated with me, but in my gratefulness and reflection, I can’t help but look in the rearview mirror and know we wouldn’t be where we are today without every one of you. I hope you take time this season to reflect, and explore your own gratitude, whether personally or professionally (but hopefully a little bit of both!). I encourage you to share your gratitude with someone who contributes to it. In donor relations, we see firsthand how meaningful it is to be thanked. Never underestimate the power your gratitude has to change someone’s day for the better. 

Brie Aguila 
Asst. Vice Chancellor for External Relations
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

1. Can you tell us about your career trajectory? How did you come into donor relations as a career?
I actually started as a development assistant and had no idea that philanthropy existed in such a sophisticated fashion. I moved into frontline fundraising for a period of time and then an opening became available in stewardship. I had a legal background and loved fund agreements and compliance so it was an easy jump for me. I was a one-person shop that was barely doing acknowledgement letters and only a handful of events. Fast forward 12 years later, and we have a fully established team that I am so proud to be a part of. 

2. What influenced your interest in and passion for donor relations? 
My interest really stemmed from my legal background. I was able to be a part of showing impact for a donor’s generosity, I was hooked! Creating memorable experiences and moments for those choosing to invest in our institution is so humbling and rewarding!

3. What lessons, words of advice/inspiration would you like to pass on to other donor relations professionals?
It can be overwhelming when it feels you have so many things you aren’t doing but you want to do. Make small goals and as you meet them, look to the next. In addition, always think about your experiences with organizations, businesses, etc. If it appealed to you, how can you replicate it in your work?

4. Can you talk about a specific donor engagement or stewardship activity that makes you feel like you are providing the best experience for donors?  
We are HUGE fans of “think-its” not trinkets. It doesn’t have to cost a lot, or be free, it just needs to be thoughtful. It needs to be about the person and show you are really listening to them.  

Brie Aguila | ADRP President 
Asst. Vice Chancellor for External Relations
Office of Advancement 
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Anyone else getting into the spooky, creepy, scary season…or maybe just the fall vibes? I left Minneapolis with all the fall vibes, but then I returned home to reflect on the amazing conference and found myself with a bad case of the “scaries.” The conference represents a wonderful time to connect, network, learn, inspire, and energize but it also represents a time of transition to the new president. EEEEKKKK… that’s me! I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little afraid to fail in this position. But then I am reminded that we often learn the most in our failures, and I am a big fan of failing forward.
 
Donor relations is just that…learning, failing, learning, succeeding…and so on. So, while the scary pranks may be in full force this month, let’s not be afraid to fail. I am surrounded with amazing members, volunteers, staff, and the board so I know we will succeed together. 

Speaking of fear…have you wanted to get more involved in ADRP, but you were afraid to take that step? As Debbie Meyers shared in Minneapolis, JUST DO IT. You won’t regret it. Fill out our form and our amazing Volunteer and Member Experience Committee will get in touch to see how we can get you involved. 

I look forward to a great year, including celebrating 20 years of ADRP in 2024. 

And I cannot thank this year’s conference committee enough for kicking off my year as president with a bang. 

Let us know about your ADRP international conference experience.

• What did you learn or appreciate most?
• Did you meet new friends and make connections?
• What was your favorite session?
• Was this your first ADRP conference or one of many?

The donor relations profession embodies storytelling so share yours about this year’s conference. Ultimately, if you will be in Minneapolis next month, have the best time and travel safely! That’s the ADRP way.

Robb Hoffheins
Head of Product
Mythos

1. Can you tell us about your career trajectory? 
I learned the ropes and got an on-the-job masters in business, marketing, and sales at America Online. I then had a few successful small business ventures of my own before meeting Jon Budington (Mythos CEO) through a former colleague. I have been working with Jon for over 10 years leading the development and marketing of the Mythos platform.

2. In simplest terms, describe how Mythos fits into the donor relations paradigm. What differentiates your company from others with the same offering?
Stewardship teams use Mythos to simplify the process of creating personalized and meaningful donor communications. Mythos harnesses the power of storytelling to help donors better understand the impact of their giving. The platform streamlines the process of beneficiary story collection, financial data reporting, and communications design and distribution—both online or in print. There is no other product that combines this breadth of services.

3. Are there any lessons, words of advice, or words of inspiration that you would like to pass on to the donor relations community from a vendor perspective? 
Donor relations is an incredibly valuable function and, I believe, is becoming more so every day. Don’t ever forget that what you do is the bridge that enables experiences and education that can’t really be quantified. Though it can be qualified and then shared with donors to cultivate more of the same.

How do you define philanthropy?

For most, the word is synonymous with giving to a worthy cause. Yet the idea of philanthropy didn’t begin that way. A look into the word’s ever-changing meaning provides us clues into the motivations that drive philanthropy and how the practice will likely evolve.

Image Credit: Heinrich Füger (German, 1751-1818), “Prometheus Brings Fire to Mankind”/Wikimedia Commons

The concept of philanthropy first appeared in the 5th century BCE. Aeschylus’s play, Prometheus Unbound, tells the story of Prometheus—a god-like titan who took pity on humanity left freezing and starving in the dark. He steals fire from his fellow gods and gifts it to mankind. It’s a gift he knows will likely cost him dearly, but Prometheus is motivated by a universal and unconditional sense of altruism: philos anthropos, or the love of humankind.

Cheryl Smith Lintner

Executive Director, Donor Relations

Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation

It’s almost time for me to put on nice pants again - just a few more weeks until the ADRP 20th Annual International Conference. I’ve got Purple Rain on repeat, and I’m practicing my enunciation - there are a lot of syllables in Minneapolis!

Margaret Coad 
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

This year, the ADRP International Conference in Minneapolis on Oct 5-7 will feature deep-dive workshops that address leadership development at all stages as well as crash courses in the fundamentals of our profession. We are proud to present leaders in the field that address what is often the stickiest aspects of our work.

Theresa Haenn will focus on finding calm in the chaos and breaking down silos, and Kay Coughlin will guide us in tools to manage up, down and across. Nicole Wood will provide a leadership coaching session, and ADRP veterans Jen McGrath, Eliza McNulty, Mark Lanum, Debbie Meyers and Kathleen Diemer will provide a DR 101 road map if you're just joining the field or want to brush up on the latest in best practices.

The organizing committee has placed careful attention on curating game-changing connections for you through multiple networking opportunities. This year we are bringing back the option to participate in a small-group cohorts to develop close contacts that last beyond conference, a welcome party for all participants, and not one but TWO group excursions!

Increase the Volume of the Quiet Rebel in You with the 100 Voices Framework ADRP Experiential Conference Session 

Tracie Jae, aka The Quiet Rebel, doesn’t make any guarantees – with one exception. She promises that you will walk away from her 100 Voices Framework at the 2023 ADRP conference with what you need.

You define that, not her.

Tracie’s commitment to offering audiences experiences that connect us to our shared humanity and foster a space where we feel safe and seen is among the many reasons we are thrilled to feature her in this year’s conference.

Cheryl Smith Lintner

Executive Director, Donor Relations

Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation

Cheryl Smith Lintner

Executive Director, Donor Relations

Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation

Barbara C. Mlawer

Can you tell us about your career trajectory? How did you come into donor relations as a career?

I began a career in healthcare development communications over 15 years ago, cutting my teeth at two incredible medical institutions: the first one as the director of development communications at Northwell Health and now as the director of stewardship at NYU Langone Health. 

Stewardship, as a distinct unit within the development and alumni Affairs department at NYU Langone was, believe it or not, somewhat new so while I ‘sit’ on the stewardship team, I really feel that my work more closely reflects donor relations work. 

As a donor relations professional, using my visual arts background, I get to partner with our fundraisers to develop communication pieces that capture the impact donors have when they make a gift. It’s both creatively fulfilling as well as strategically specific to our mission and donor interests.