Penni Raphaelson Email & Phone Number

It’s amazing that every day I have the opportunity to change someone’s life. I rarely get to meet the people I’m helping, but I know their stories and their community. I enjoy working closely with direct service providers, either as a funder, collaborator or volunteer to support their mission. It’s empowering to get to know each agency, what they do, who they support and what they need to be successful.There are so many ways to support local community organizations beyond just dollars, it’s exciting to discover those. Connecting an organization with skill-based volunteers provides small non-profits with the professionals they need but maybe can’t afford. One of my favorite initiatives was holding a toy drive for a health clinic and allowing doctors to connect with their young patients and families in a new way. Sometimes it’s valuable to bring two non-profits together to better serve the community, alleviating the need to create a new program while expanding the scope of existing, successful programs.I thrive in a fast-paced environment, and like having multiple projects happening at the same time. When a crisis arises, and they always do, like when a storm knocked out power to the office the day before a major fundraising event, I stay calm and look for the best solution. With the storm, I met a co-worker at a coffee shop to finish putting together the materials for the fundraiser and used the printing services of an office supply store and no one at the fundraiser knew of our lack of power! The important thing is not to panic, there is always a solution!

Listed skills include Non Profits, Program Management, Fundraising, Project Management, and 12 others.

• 

  Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

  Bachelor Of Science (B.S.)