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.

Will León
Arizona State University Foundation
Director, Donor Digital Engagement Services

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

Given that I've spent 25 years in the higher education space, it's fair to say that higher education is in my wheelhouse. I began my career in donor relations after working in the University of Texas at Austin Development Office in corporate and foundation relations. When I relocated to the Phoenix area, I was hired by Arizona State University and have continued my career there.

What influenced your interest in and passion for donor relations?

Donor relations found me! Also, what better way to spend one’s time than expressing gratitude! Receiving gratitude makes donors feel good about their decision to give, and it makes me feel good to express gratitude to donors and colleagues as well. I think it's an honorable thing to acknowledge that people are supporting your organization and to find additional ways to engage with donors and connect them to their passions.

Cheryl Smith Lintner

Executive Director, Donor Relations

Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation

In just a few weeks, I will be on a short flight to Toronto, Canada, where I will gather with the other members of the ADRP board for two days of intense and thoughtful discussions at our annual spring in-person meeting. On the agenda are new board director nominations, membership structure, by-laws (so fun!), and policy development (also so fun!). And while I jest, these important conversations and decisions always leave me energized and excited about the future of ADRP. More to come on that front!

It’s never too early or late to reflect on one’s career especially after a life-changing experience like a global pandemic. Many of us have likely changed in small ways over the last two years including where you find yourself on the donor relations spectrum. Leave us a comment to let us know in the comments below!

Sara Moïse
Tulane University
Senior Director of Donor Relations

One of the most prevalent struggles I hear across education-based donor relations professionals is getting scholarship recipients to submit content for stewardship reports. I also spend a lot of my time thinking about JEDI. (Yes, my husband is a mega Star Wars nerd, but I mean Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.) These two topics cross lightsabers in my mind with high frequency… and I think there’s A New Hope for the future.

As we work toward equity and inclusivity, I find myself examining the power dynamic between scholarship donors and recipients, who should express gratitude to donors, and what best serves our donors and students (i.e., our future donors!) in the long term.

At my institution, we don’t require gratitude from scholarship recipients. We strongly encourage it—with repeated, months-long reminders that are laborious and ineffective. Even in-person events often fail to generate content as the Jedis-in-training are focused more on free food and swag.

1. Network with colleagues all over the world.
2. Get the inside scoop on ADRP activities before everyone else does.
3. Make a difference: Is there something you’d like to improve about ADRP?
4. Join a committee and make the change yourself!
5. Work and learn alongside donor relations veterans.
6. Make friends.
7. Learn new skills such as event planning, project management, communications, and presenting.
8. Gain professional experience that you can add to your resume.
9. Have a platform to share your ideas and expertise.
10. Broaden your perspective.
11. Have fun! 

Carrie Flood
Dalhousie University  
Director, Donor Relations

Corey Smentek
MIT
Director, Donor Relations & Stewardship

Carrie and Corey currently lead ADRPs marketing and communications committee.

Cheryl Smith Lintner

Executive Director, Donor Relations

Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation

It’s kind of hard to shout out an enthusiastic message in a static written column. Stage directions might help.

Cheryl enters from stage right with a bullhorn. She taps it, and whispers “Is this thing on?” Then, she shouts:

Jennifer Hughes
National Park Foundation
Senior Manager, Board and Council Relations

Volunteers are special people. They offer your organization a diverse skill set and bring incredible abilities to help deliver on your organization’s greatest needs. Volunteers make a difference by recognizing no task is too small or insignificant. Each volunteer is a tiny piece of the puzzle with a large purpose in making change and creating opportunities throughout the world. One of my favorite quotes comes from Mother Teresa: “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

I spent the last seven years in a donor relations role. I had the great honor to be able to communicate the impact and importance that philanthropy has on our national parks as part of our stewardship events team. Last year, I transitioned over to a new role in governance and working directly to manage our Board of Directors and National Advisory Council, some of our organization’s biggest supporters and ultimately, volunteers. Being able to think of creative ways to thank them for their volunteer leadership and philanthropy is a rewarding aspect of stepping into this new capacity for me. Sometimes we get caught up in the details of our roles without appreciating the broader ways that our daily efforts help meet the organization’s mission.

This is a friendly reminder that they are not just volunteers. They’re not just planting trees. They’re not just serving a bowl of soup. They’re not just planning the next ADRP International Conference. We know that our volunteers’ impact far exceeds the action that is taken in our communities, and we should continuously thank our volunteers for their commitment and talents. I encourage you to send a note of kudos to your volunteers and show your appreciation for all of their heart work and dedication to help build upon your mission today.

Cheryl Smith Lintner

Executive Director, Donor Relations

Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation

Have you heard of the Swedish tradition, fika? According to Google’s Oxford Languages dictionary, fika is defined as “a break from activity during which people drink coffee, eat cakes or other light snacks, and relax with others.” I first heard about this custom in 2020 in the midst of a flurry of idea-sharing about how to manage remote teams and keep in touch with friends during the pandemic. And I thought, wow, you had me at coffee. But also the “break” and “relax with others” parts were appealing. I started holding virtual fikas first with friends, then with colleagues, and now with my team. Every other Friday, we log on to Zoom for a Friday afternoon fika. No work talk. Just coffee (or tea), a little BYOS (bring your own snacks), and a chat. It’s been a great way to unwind, vent, and celebrate - to be among people who share common interests and genuinely want to get to know each other better. 

And that, my friends, is the essence of ADRP. We are a group of like-minded people who share a common interest and want to get to know each other better. So I encourage all of you to start your own little fika. Have you been exchanging messages with someone on MyADRP and want to talk face-to-face? Did you meet an awesome fellow newcomer at an event last year? Are you looking to pull together colleagues who live in your area (psst…the ADRP Office can help with that)? Host a fika! 

Karen J. Hamilton

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship

Background Info
 

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

Our skill set as a Donor Relations professional prepares us to be ready in many different situations and scenarios. This got us thinking. What other career could you see yourself in if you were not in the Donor Relations world? Leave a comment on the post in link below to let us know your thoughts! 

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

My degree in communications led to an internship at a science museum’s development office where I began to learn all the tools of the trade. It turns out that I had a knack for storytelling and wonderful mentors in the cultural realm, medicine, and youth development who gave me opportunities to hone it!

What influenced your interest in and passion for donor relations?

Every day, I get to meld data with heartfelt experiences and stories to build positive, rich relationships among the people who benefit from our mission and the people who believe in them. It’s a perfect job for someone like me who wears their heart on their sleeve!

Suzanne Bellanger

Brown University

Associate Director, Direct Response & Stewardship Marketing

Recently my college-aged daughter texted me an image of her freshly manicured (blue! pointy!) nails and titled it “self-care”. She’d had a rough week acclimating back to school after winter break and felt the need to do something for herself. Self-care as a “thing” is pretty buzzy these days and she buys into it wholeheartedly. And I admire her for it. She’s a serious student and she tends to be anxious in a lot of situations. But she’s also really good at recognizing internal cues and understanding when she needs to indulge a bit in order to refocus or redirect. It’s a talent she didn’t inherit from me.   

Sonja Dotson

Associate Director of Donor Relations for Principal Gifts

Western Michigan University

Background Info: