Member Spotlight: Tiffany Nobles
Tiffany Nobles Advancement Officer OhioGuidestone
Q: Tell us a little about your organization. Mission. Population you serve. What do you like most about working there?
A: Throughout its 156-year history, OhioGuidestone has evolved to meet the changing needs of the vulnerable individuals, families, and neighborhoods in our community, helping them reset their path, reclaim their autonomy and restore their purpose. Today, OhioGuidestone provides transformative behavioral health solutions to meet the complex challenges people face. I work in our Central Ohio office which opened in 2007 and is headquartered in Columbus. We also have physical offices in Lancaster, Marion, and Marysville. Our programs focus on both prevention and treatment, and in the past several years our services have expanded to better reach individuals struggling with drug and alcohol use disorders.
There are several things I like most about working at OhioGuidestone, from our faith-based beginnings to our strong sense of adaptability and duty to meet the needs of our neighbors across the 32 counties where we provide services.
Q: How long have you been an AFP member, and what has your involvement been?
A: I joined AFP in December 2018 about a few weeks after starting with OhioGuidestone. I currently serve on the National Philanthropy Day Nominations Committee and the Technology Committee and am a mentee in the 2020 AFP Chapter Mentoring Program. I also participated in 2020 AFP ICON Virtual after the in-person event was changed.
Q: What do you consider the most valuable part of your AFP membership?
A: The availability of effective and consistent professional development opportunities is the best thing about AFP membership. From the monthly chapter luncheons to the webinars to the resources and articles, it is all about helping members succeed in our field and life.
Q: How long have you been in fundraising, and how did you get into it?
A: Prior to joining OhioGuidestone, I worked on the grants side of fundraising for several different nonprofit organizations in Columbus focused on housing and homelessness. My current role was my introduction to individual and major gifts fundraising. This role affords me the opportunity to both build relationships and continue to write grant proposals.
Q: What has been your biggest success in your career?
A: Although I am still in my fundraising career infancy, I would say so far my biggest success has been building a relationship with a small group of women interested in supporting a specific subset of our client population from one phone call and turning it in to a successful fundraiser. The money raised established a small fund to assist clients in our population meeting that criteria. It was a first fundraiser for the group as well as me.
Q: What has been your biggest learning opportunity in your career?
A: Learning should never stop. When it does, we set ourselves for failure.
Q: Tell us a fun fact about you that other AFP members wouldn’t know.
A: I left my high school in Pittsburgh after junior year and went to the United World College USA in Montezuma, New Mexico to complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program with 200 other students from 75 different countries.
Q: What is your favorite part about living/working in Columbus? Favorite place to go?
A: I am not originally from Columbus but I have developed a true appreciation of the giving nature of the people and companies based here. I enjoy people-watching at Marcella’s in the Short North and brunch at Valter’s at the Maennerchor in German Village.
Q: What advice would you give to a new member of AFP?
A: There are plenty opportunities to learn as a member of AFP, which is great but go at your pace to avoid being overwhelmed. Allow yourself time to process information and make a plan to put the practices that work best for you and your organization in to practice. If a strategy isn’t best for where you are right now, put it in your toolbox for the future.
Q: Do you have a favorite book/blog/podcast/etc. that has been very helpful in your career that you’d recommend?
A: I am currently reading Engagement Fundraising by Gregory Warner and receive the newsletter from his company MarketSmart (https://imarketsmart.com/). They offer great templates, strategies, webinars, and insights for fundraisers at no cost.