Each week, we’ll be giving one of our members a platform to talk about their work and why it’s meaningful.
•
First up, our AFP-CI President, Andrea Wright!
•
•
Andrea is the Director of Fund Development at the Iowa Center for Children's Justice (ICCJ). ICCJ is one of only a few nonprofits in the nation providing legal representation for children of divorce or custody disputes.
ICCJ’s work is important because it focuses on providing caring and knowledgeable child-focused resources for the family law community and children whose parents are embroiled in conflict. While we represent kids, we seek custody resolutions and promote co-parenting solutions that are in the best interest of the entire family. All of ICCJ’s programs and legal services seek to foster a healthy future for our clients and their families.
•
•
•
Three valuable lessons that Andrea learned in her fundraising career are:
1 - The importance of relationships - not only relationships with supporters, but relationships with others in fund development. Surround yourself with fundraising friends who understand the work you are doing and can help you celebrate the successes, recover from the misses, and remind you that some things are best dealt with after a full night of sleep.
2 - Authenticity will get you everywhere with donors, sponsors, community partners, etc. Be brave enough to bring your whole self, and you will be remembered and respected for it.
3 - "No" doesn't mean never, it might just mean "not right now." So many are afraid of the "no" but I try to remember that my role is to present opportunities to others that might fit their passion and purpose, and for different reasons, now might not be the best time for them. This doesn't have to mean it won't ever fit, so continuing to stay in contact may lead to something else down the road. #Networking #Fundraising #FundraisingProfessionals #AFP #AFPCentralIowa #ICCJ #NonprofitLeadership
Thank you for all your help!