“It’s about the giver, not the gift”. This has been my mantra over the course of my 25-year fundraising career. Success in fundraising, I have learned, comes from an intense focus on relationships with those who give. It’s about creating joy in the hearts of donors by connecting their passions to causes. Gifts, in my opinion, are a fortunate outcome of creating donor happiness. I am an experienced, dedicated, and mission-driven leader with a history of exceeding fundraising goals for educational institutions and not-for-profit organizations. I’ve had the good fortune to work with Boards of Trustees, senior leadership teams, community leaders, business owners, and government agencies to give to good causes. I am fortunate to have found a line of work that makes me completely happy. At the core, I am a strategist, organizer, influencer, team leader, and community servant. Fundraising gives me all of that, and I consider myself lucky. I have produced solid results over the course of my career, but my success is rooted in the great teams I have led. As a team leader, I take great care to select amazing talent that will integrate with the values, mission, and culture of the organization. In addition, I pride myself on coaching, developing, and promoting my team members. Finally, I focus significant attention on creating a team culture that attracts, maximizes, and retains great talent.When you are in my line of work, it is critical to be a part of an organization that benefits the broader community. When your work aligns the heart and mind, it’s a powerful thing. I still have career runway ahead of me, but I know I will be doing mission-driven work for the duration.