When I was in eleventh grade, our Career & Life Management class took the ubiquitous aptitude test that everyone takes in high school and that aimed to (hopefully) shed some light on career paths. The test results neglected to mention fundraising as a viable profession, and it certainly didn’t highlight the myriad roles within the sector – from frontline fundraising to donor relations, from database management to gift processing, from prospect research to prospect management, I had no idea that fundraising was the industry it is, and I certainly wasn’t aware of the key roles that need to be played so that the show goes on. It goes without saying, then, that collaboration is the name of the game, and with that in mind, we’re dedicating the June 2014 issue to just that – collaboration – the crucial teamwork necessary for fundraising success.
Alice Wen outlines her experience with collaboration between prospect research and fundraisers, while Melody Song considers the different opportunities prospect research has to be collaborative. Erica Sum takes us through fundraising in a diverse environment, and finally, it all comes together as Tracy Church, attendee at the Canada Council for the Arts Killam Research Prizes, has the opportunity “to see the end results of true philanthropy.”
The opportunities for collaboration are limitless – we can help each other learn, create, and make a difference. Who knows – working closely with our colleagues, we might just discover something we never knew before.
Have a great summer!
Kat
Kat Carson
Susan Loh