Spark your creativity! Spark your enthusiasm! The Spark, The Phoenix Philanthropy Group’s e-newsletter, generates energy and ideas for your organization. GREETINGS! Conferences offer time for professional growth, rejuvenation, and reflection, and, if you are lucky, even a little relaxation. For me, July’s CASE conference in NYC for education leaders stimulated my thinking about how to succeed in today’s competitive environment. It reinforced for me four key strategies for fundraising success: •Take an integrated approach to fundraising and constituent relations. •Think expansively about resource development. •Be global. •Leverage the power of the network. See my further thoughts on these key points at www.phoenixphilanthropy.com. In this issue of The Spark, Steve Zastrow begins a dialogue on discovering new talent for your organization. We invite you to join the discussion by recommending a book or other resource you have found useful for beginning advancement professionals. Read, enjoy, and remember, we’re your network too, so call us anytime to share ideas and creative solutions! Richard Tollefson President Issue 2, Fall 2010 In This Issue Greetings from Richard Replacing a Star Player Energizing Our World The Fun in Fundraising: Challenge Results Last issue’s question was: What is the funniest thing that has happened to you as a fundraiser? Our favorite answer was: The program director was let down because she couldn’t get the daughter of the head of the Buffett Foundation to speak at her event. I was on the first week of my job and said, “Well, if you can’t get Jimmy, what does it matter if you can’t get his daughter?” She replied, “Not the Jimmy Buffett Foundation. The Warren Buffett Foundation.” Oops. A special gift is on its way to Chris LeBlanc of Arizona’s Children Association for his honest and funny answer. About Us The Phoenix Philanthropy Group partners with organizations to optimize their impact on our global society. We do so by serving their needs with strategic, innovative, accountable, and outcomes-driven fundraising, constituent relations, and organizational development programs. Contact Us EMAIL: info@ phoenixphilanthropy.com PHONE: 602.380.2478 TOLLFREE: 1.877.524.8774 FAX: 602.468.9547 Visit us at: www.phoenixphilanthropy.com The Phoenix Philanthropy Team: Richard Tollefson Laurel Kimball Jan Halpin Marc Kellenberger Julie Iacobelli Steve Zastrow Kellie Teskey Brandi Carter Laura Brehm Myra Garcia Laurel Kimball The Spark Editor-in-Chief kimball@phoenixphilanthropy.com The Spark Staff: Dayna Gabler Thomas Porter Photo Credits: Photos of R. Tollefson, S. Zastrow: Ken Easley Photography Photo of 7th Annual Early Learning Awards: courtesy of frontdoors.biz Photo of L. Brehm: Gerry Kano, Kano Photography Photo of L. Kimball: Pam Spicer, Spicer Photography Photo of Moore Alumni Weekend: courtesy of Moore School REPLACING A STAR PLAYER by Steve Zastrow, Senior Consultant The question is the same in nonprofits and professional baseball. When a ten-year veteran player leaves, does management recruit a seasoned, free agent from another team or bring a rookie up from the farm club? Before you automatically seek that free agent by posting a job description requiring ten years experience, consider looking for talent within your organization or your network. Just as in baseball, there is more than one way to build an effective professional advancement team. Veteran or Rookie? Often, in our search for talent, we look for long résumés with impressive titles and well-crafted bullet points promoting individual accomplishments. While demonstrated success is important, professional searches based on these criteria alone may limit an organization’s ability to identify quality candidates for a successful hire. Profile Your Desired Team: Think about your staff’s professional development as you would a board of directors’ development program. Create a staff experience grid to define the qualities you desire in your professional team, to assess your bench strengths, and to identify where you need to build or recruit strengths. Build a “Farm Team”: Consider ways to grow and nurture new professionals. Talent, values and creativity may not be teachable, but specific skill sets are – and why can’t those skills be gained at your organization? Create career paths and educational opportunities to help these internal candidates develop their skills. These professional development opportunities will also attract new employees to your organization. Always Be Scouting: Get involved in the not-for-profit community through professional associations and civic organizations. Even when not actively recruiting, network with professionals who demonstrate the values, qualities and character your organization needs. When the time comes to search for a new staff member, you will already know several exciting candidates well enough to discuss the subject of employment. The next time your organization gets ready to make a new hire, pause first. Look around your organization, and search your network of colleagues. Your next development officer, marketing guru or volunteer coordinator may be closer than you think. And best of luck – if you’re pursuing these strategies, your search has already begun! Share your team building experiences with Steve at zastrow@phoenixphilanthropy.com. LET US KNOW What book or resource do you recommend to a beginning development officer? Email us its title and tell why you recommend it. You may win a special prize. ENERGIZING OUR WORLD University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School held a successful, well-attended May Carolina Alumni Weekend on May 14-15, under the leadership of Director of Alumni Relations Gabriele Clark and Alumni Relations Project Manager Carrie Varouhakis, with strategic assistance from Phoenix Philanthropy, who also helped them develop a long-term plan for growth of their alumni relations program. Dean Hildy Teegen (right) is shown here at one of the weekend’s events with Steve Zastrow, in center, and an alumnus. Daniel J. Pedersen, President, Buffett Early Childhood Fund, spoke at the 7th Annual Science of Early Learning Awards given by New Directions Institute (NDI) in May. Marc Kellenberger, Phoenix Philanthropy Principal who was instrumental in NDI’s merger with Arizona’s Children Association, is shown here at the luncheon with Robert Sarver, Phoenix Suns owner, and Fred Chaffee, President and CEO of Arizona’s Children Association. Congratulations to Marc, who is winding down a rare second term as Chairman of the City of Phoenix Arts and Culture Commission – serving in a time of great challenge in public funding for the arts and a transition of Commission leadership. Laura Brehm, (left) Of Counsel to Phoenix Philanthropy, serves on the Board of Directors of the Five Valleys Land Trust in Missoula, Montana, a group committed to saving western Montana’s open lands and quality of life. Julie Iacobelli, Senior Consultant at Phoenix Philanthropy, is completing her first year as a member of the Mesa Historical Museum Board of Directors, a former Phoenix Philanthropy client. Read the blog on the Valley Forward website http://valleyforward.org/ blog/, by Laurel Kimball, Phoenix Philanthropy Principal, who serves as a vice chair of this nationally recognized environmental and urban planning organization. UMOM New Day Centers held their 2nd Annual 5K Walk for Homeless Families on Saturday, September 25. The Phoenix Philanthropy team met the challenge and was there at 6:30 AM –that’s 6:30 AM—to benefit UMOM families. The Phoenix Philanthropy Group ׀ www.PhoenixPhilanthropy.com