The origin
Fundraising is more than just "raising money" for me. I am drawn to organizations with impactful missions that are often smaller in stature, but are much stronger than they realize because they are pillars within their communities.
Helping people communicate value, build trust, and create relationships strong enough to sustain important work over the long haul is the culmination of everything I love to accomplish across a broad spectrum of missions.
Upon graduating college, I realized I loved the intersection of persuasion, politics, relationships, and mission-driven work. Using all of the inheritance left to me by my grandfather, I invested $5,000 to attend graduate school to learn about nonprofits and develop my first fundraising pitch for a central Illinois museum. From there, I gained my professional footing through two capital campaigns.
Through many invaluable trials and tribulations, my love of people, big challenges, creativity, and mission-centered work has carried me forward ever since.
30 years in this field taught me to deeply value the commitment and time of others
Small organizations often carry the deepest community trust while operating with the fewest resources. Fundraising is emotional labor as much as it is strategic work.
Clarity matters more than jargon. Relationships matter more than performance. Consistency matters more than perfection.
Nonprofit leaders carry extraordinary pressure behind the scenes while trying to serve others at the highest level. Part of my work is to bring strategy, experience, perspective, structure, and encouragement—so organizations can move forward with greater confidence and capacity.
The book
The Unseen Fundraiser is a personal expression of professional and life lessons. It is part memoir, part reflection, and part practical guidance drawn from decades inside small shops, community organizations, legal aid programs, arts organizations, and grassroots work.
The book is an acknowledgment of the people doing important work without recognition, from fundraisers to founders, organizers, and relationship builders who are holding entire missions together behind the scenes. It also gave me an opportunity to validate many people in this field who rarely see their work reflected back to them honestly.
My goal was to create something honest, useful, and uplifting during difficult times.
