ADRP Blog

Volunteer Spotlight: Kathy Billings

Kathy Billings
Retired

What were you doing when we founded ADRP? Where did you go from there? Where are you now?

In 2004 I was in my sixth year as the first Director of Donor Relations at Bowdoin College. I retired from Bowdoin in 2009, did some consulting and then devoted six years to caring for my parents at the end of their lives. In 2018, I published a short work of creative historical fiction called From a Distance. I am now in Scarborough, Maine, retired, in year three of a cancer journey – stable, enjoying beach walks with my dog and occasional visits from my two sons and grandchildren.


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In Service: The Column of the ADRP President - September 2024

Brie Aguila | ADRP 2023-2024 President 

Asst. Vice Chancellor for External Relations
Office of Advancement 
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

 

Peace Out…

After returning from the 2024 International Conference, I am channeling my inner child…hence the “Peace Out” reference. As my term as president comes to a close, I’d like to reflect on the incredible journey we've shared over the past year. 

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Secure the Early Bird Rate for ADRP 2024

  Keynote   |   Schedule   |    Hotel   |   Cohort   |   Excursion

We hope this message finds you well. With the 2024 ADRP International Conference just around the corner on September 15 - 17, we wanted to extend a special invitation to join us in vibrant Indianapolis. It’s shaping up to be an extraordinary event celebrating ADRP's 20th Anniversary, and we don’t want you to miss out.

Early Bird Registration ends on July 29, so register now to get the best rate! Now is the perfect time to secure your spot. Imagine engaging discussions, innovative ideas, and the opportunity to connect with inspiring professionals from around the world. 

Thank you for enriching our profession through ADRP. We deeply appreciate your interest in expanding your knowledge, connecting with industry leaders, and contributing to the future of philanthropy alongside us. Your presence is invaluable to our community.
Please take this opportunity to secure your place today, and join us in Indianapolis this September. Together, we can continue to inspire positive change in our shared mission.

With Gratitude,

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Gear Up for the 2024 ADRP International Conference

Keynote   |   Schedule   |    Hotel

If you have already registered for the ADRP 2024 International Conference, congratulations – virtual high-fives all around!

We're thrilled to have you join us in vibrant Indianapolis this September for what promises to be an unforgettable conference experience. Your decision to be part of this momentous occasion means the world to us. Thank you for choosing to celebrate ADRP's 20th Anniversary with our global community, where we'll honor its profound impact on philanthropy.

With just two months to go, we couldn't wait to give you an exclusive sneak peek into what awaits. Imagine engaging discussions, innovative ideas, and the chance to connect with inspiring professionals from around the globe.

Get ready to pack your bags with curiosity and wonder – this conference is set to inspire and empower. We can't wait to welcome you!

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Volunteer Spotlight: Jaime Porter

Jaime Porter

Interim Vice President University Advancement Saint Xavier University

2004 – 2005 ADRP Founding Board Member

 

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July 2024 - In Service: The Column of the ADRP President

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

 

 

What a broken arm and donor relations have in common…

Sadly, my five-year-old daughter broke her arm about a month ago. I've found surprising parallels between this incident and life as a donor relations professional. First, they both bring something completely unexpected and unplanned. How many times do you get something completely unplanned dropped in your lap? It’s unlikely that a day goes by where that doesn’t happen, right?

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Volunteer Spotlight: Rose Dalba

Rose Dalba

2004 – 2005 Founding Board Member

 

 

 

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Many Thanks to Penelope Burk

Debbie Meyers

ADRP Founding Board Member

Writer/Editor, Rutgers University Foundation

 

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In Service: The Column of the ADRP President - June 2024

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

 

 

We are halfway through 2024…how did that happen?
Did you catch last month’s edition of The Hub? The throwback to the first issue was exciting and what an honor to have the first ADRP President, Joe Donnelly, make a guest appearance. It has been fun to reminisce at #ADRP20Years as we look forward to our 2024 International Conference in September. Registration is OPEN! As I registered, I had a hard time selecting only one session per time slot—there are SO many good ones. Whether you are new to donor relations or you have been doing it for decades, there is something for you.

I have been with my organization for 16 years and while I never thought I would stay somewhere that long, it has been the ability to learn from my peers in our industry and put that wisdom into practice that has kept me energized, engaged, and growing. The more recent emphasis on self-care through ADRP offerings has been well-timed and appreciated too. 

If you want to make a change, check out the postings on ADRP’s job board. On the other hand, if you are looking to tap into the amazing talent we have in our ADRP members, you can post your open positions here as well.

As we continue to reflect on #ADRP20Years and look forward To Being a Kid Again in Indianapolis, don’t miss some amazing webinar offerings we have this summer!

Enjoy your summer!
Brie 

In Service: The Column of the ADRP President - April 2024

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

 

 

During our board meeting earlier this month, we heard updates on all of the amazing committee work that’s being accomplished. As part of that, and upon reflecting on the last #ADRP20Years, we find our gratitude invariably pointing in one direction: toward YOU, our devoted volunteers. Your unwavering dedication and enthusiasm are the backbone of ADRP. Without your efforts, our mission to be the authority in donor relations would be a lofty ideal rather than the dynamic reality it is today.


This month’s newsletter is a tribute to you: the advisors, the strategists, the doers, and the passionistas (I think I made that up) who donate not just your time but their creativity and expertise to this organization. Each of you, through countless hours of service, whether behind the scenes or at the forefront of our initiatives, has played an indispensable role in our achievements.


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Volunteer Spotlight: Debbie Meyers

Debbie Meyers

2004 – 2005 Founding Board Member

2011 Conference Chair

 

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Member Spotlight: Melissa DeClue

Melissa DeClue

Chief Engagement Strategist
Amplify Missions

 

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

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In Service: The Column of the ADRP President - March 2024

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

 

 

 

There is a lot to celebrate in March. The first day of spring, Pi Day, National Puppy Day AND Cuddly Kitten Day, International Day of Happiness, Daylight Savings…and of course Women’s History Month. March is always special to me as I have the opportunity to celebrate the women in my life and thank all the people who continue to lift me up. I am grateful for the strong and courageous women that have contributed to the success of ADRP and ensured our place as the authority in donor relations. There have been countless women through #ADRP20Years that poured passion into our association and our industry, and have played a huge role in elevating us to where we are today.

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In Service: The Column of the ADRP President - March 2024

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

 

 

 

There is a lot to celebrate in March. The first day of spring, Pi Day, National Puppy Day AND Cuddly Kitten Day, International Day of Happiness, Daylight Savings…and of course Women’s History Month. March is always special to me as I have the opportunity to celebrate the women in my life and thank all the people who continue to lift me up. I am grateful for the strong and courageous women that have contributed to the success of ADRP and ensured our place as the authority in donor relations. There have been countless women through #ADRP20Years that poured passion into our association and our industry, and have played a huge role in elevating us to where we are today.

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Meet Your 2024 Conference Chairs: Kimberly and Dawn

Dear ADRP Members and Friends,

We are deeply honored to serve you and our global philanthropic community as chairs of the 2024 Association of Donor Relations Professionals International Conference, September 15 - 18, 2024, in Indianapolis, IN.

This opportunity holds deep personal significance as ADRP has played a pivotal role in shaping fulfilling careers, forging lasting connections, and grounding us in gratitude. We wouldn’t be here without so many of you. ADRP's steadfast commitment to excellence, innovation, and nurturing authentic connections has truly been transformative, and to now have the privilege of contributing to an association that has profoundly influenced our lives is both humbling and inspiring. 

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. 

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Member Spotlight: Heather James

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. 


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In Service: The Column of the ADRP President - January 2024

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! 

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In Service: The Column of the ADRP President - December 2023

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. 

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A Year in Review - 2023

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.

 

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In Service: The Column of the ADRP President - November

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. 

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