May
27
Bridgette JordanSenior Donor Events Planner
Rotary International
Background Info:
1. Can you tell us about your career trajectory? How did you come into donor relations as a career?
I came into donor relations unintentionally, actually! I was an event planner for the Harris School of Public Policy at University of Chicago, and my team often collaborated with both the Harris and University alumni relations and development teams on various events. A thread was established, and that brought me to the role I’m in today.
2. What influenced your interest in and passion for donor relations?
Referring to the thread I mentioned, I realized that the events I enjoyed most were often those centered around fundraising or stewardship. It was less about the actual events, and more about the stories behind the people in the room. Conversing with donors and hearing about their journey to a particular initiative was the meaningful connection that drew me.
3. What lessons, words of advice/inspiration would you like to pass on to other donor relations professionals?
Get to know your donors. I can’t tell you how many instances we’ve seen positive outcomes from simple gestures rooted in the investment of being knowledgeable about your donor base.
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?
Every year at our organization’s annual convention, we produce a program called The Rotary Foundation Donor Summit. It’s a plenary dedicated to the donors of the organization, and it’s one of the few opportunities that our team has to collectively recognize the generosity of donors at various giving levels.
Connection to ADRP:
1. When did you become an ADRP member?
I became an ADRP member in 2022.
2. Why is ADRP membership important to you?
Donor relations and the philanthropy landscape as a whole is ever-evolving. It’s important to engage with a variety of ideas, skill sets, methods, and so on when navigating an expansive environment, and ADRP provides that outlet.
3. ADRP is universally recognized as the authority on donor engagement for the philanthropy profession. In your own words, how does ADRP serve you in the form of professional development?
I’m a lifelong student — if I’m the smartest person in a room, something is seriously wrong! Both personally and professionally, I can attribute every piece of growth to the interpersonal connections I’ve made, and there isn’t a reality where I would’ve experienced success without them. Knowledge is power, but connections are key: in order to learn, we must be taught. Professional associations allow us to share all that we’ve learned and gain insight in return, a necessary component for expansion.
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