Over the weekend I learned that an old friend would be retiring from his job after 27 years at the same company. It wasn’t his first job, but certainly his various senior roles within this company defined his career. I believe he is out-served only by the founder, who now luxuriates in the title of Chairman, with a CEO to do the heavy lifting.
After chiding him for retiring at 27 years (“Why not a nice round number like 31 years?” I asked!), I began thinking … Wow, I wonder if anyone has lasted 27 years as a fundraiser in the same charity or nonprofit? Talk about institutional memory!
I can’t think of anyone. They’d have to have been on the job since 1984.
Is there anyone out there with that kind of longevity? It’s not good enough to be in the fundraising biz that long. We’re looking for someone who’s stayed with one ship for nearly three decades.
Does he or she exist? Put your name forward ( or your colleague’s) if you (they) come even close … 20 years might be enough to claim the title … Senior Fundraiser on the Planet!
Not only will you deserve an Agitator raise … Roger and I will find some additional way to pay tribute.
We’ve been talking a lot about donor loyalty and retention. What about fundraiser loyalty and retention?!
Tom
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I’m pretty sure that Giles Pegram from the NSPCC in the UK would qualify. Now retired, but he saw through at least two of the UK’s most successful fundraising campaigns ever, from the mid-80s through to just last year…
Steve Thomas has been around before the flood (or at least that’s what his bio says!). Steve pioneered direct mail fundraising in Canada well over 30 years ago – sometime in the 1970s. He worked at Oxfam Canada and for the New Democratic Party. And 31 years ago he started his own fundraising business Stephen Thomas Associates (now Stephen Thomas Ltd). 31 years later Steve still works exclusively with non-profits at the company he founded.
And today Steve is as passionate about the non-profit sector as he was on they day he started his career almost 40 years ago.
Oh, and lest I forget Mary Attfield, who has been Steve Thomas’s partner in business raising money for non-profits Stephen Thomas Ltd for 30 years as of this coming fall! She is also Steve’s partner in life.
Mark Lutz is Opportunity International’s senior vice president of global philanthropy. He joined Opportunity in 1989 and brings 30 years of development experience to his position. In his present role, Mark creates strategic alliances with other international development organizations, and advocates for the poor. While overseeing resource development, he grew Opportunity’s private annual revenue from $1 million to $40 million.Mark grew up in South Africa with his missionary parents, and visited some 20 countries before attending college. Living for almost 20 years under apartheid prepared him to become an advocate for justice.
My one-time colleague and now great friend, Judith Davenport has been at the University of New Mexico fundraising for 20 years come this August 12, 2011. With iterations in annual fund and memorial gifts, (leadership) scholarship giving, and gift records management, she is currently leading Endowment Relations at UNM Foundation.
Tom –
20 years won’t do it, I’ve been at Covenant House 25 years but am not the longest living fundraiser here – that’d be Tom Manning our head of communications (1983 to present) or Jim White (1982 to present) or Dorothy McGuinness (head of donor communications who makes 30 years this summer). We like to keep people once we get them.
j
Coincidentally, Ken Burnett had an excellent post on the topic of staff retention this morning. Well worth a read: http://www.kenburnett.com/BlogTimeInvest.html
Best,
Lisa
My husband, Robert L. Off, CFRE, has worked for FarmHouse Fraternity International and FarmHouse Foundation for 38 years as their executive director. During that time, he lead the Foundation through two very successful campaigns, raising millions from farmers and the ag industry during economic downturns. Today, he is executive director emeritus, but still working 40+ hours a week helping beat all past years in fundraising goals with current director, Allison Rickels, CFRE. Their website:
farmhouse.org
As a couple who are both fundraising executives, we are a rarity in the development world. I’ve been a professional development officer for 35 years, but not with the same nonprofit.
Linda
Bruce Donnelly retired three years ago from the Atlanta Community Food Bank after serving as their Development Director for 23 years. He built an incredible program.
Pat Goodmann
Senior Wolf Handler (Curator)
With Us Since: 1974
The resident Wolf Goddess, Pat is the Park’s primary behavioral researcher…among a thousand other things.
Pat first came here in 1974 and worked for FREE! Today she is top in her field!
Kudos to Pat!!!
Hi,
Yes, Reta Lockert of Sonoma Land Trust (http://www.sonomalandtrust.org/) is pushing 30 years with the organization!
At WTVS, Detroit Public Television: Dan Alpert, Senior VP, will celebrate 35 years of service this month, not all of those years in development, but he’s been hosting pledge breaks since 1977, and, as he says, “In Public TV, we’re all in development.” Also, Diane Bliss retired last year after 29 years and 4 months at WTVS, rising from Membership Director to VP to starting the National Fundraising Program Development Department. Counting her previous 5+ years at WCMU, and her current work producing pledge programs, she’s been in and around PTV for 35 years.
My colleague and mentor, Ed Larson, has been in development at Pacific Lutheran University for 41 years! His great work and impressive legacy will pay off for decades to come!