Tracey Wilson
Development Officer, Grant Medical Center
OhioHealth Foundation

Q:       Tell us a little about your organization. Mission? Population you serve? What do you like most about working there?   

A:      OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare organization with Methodist roots.  Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is an integrated, regional health system with a presence in Ohio for over 100 years.  Serving patients since 1891, OhioHealth’s mission is “to improve the health of those we serve.”  Each year, OhioHealth has over three million patient visits at our hospitals and care sites spanning a 40-county area and affords each patient high-quality healthcare, wellness, and prevention and education services – regardless of their ability to pay.

I’m proud to represent OhioHealth Grant Medical Center and find working with our patients and their families the most rewarding part of my role. 

Q:       How long have you been an AFP member, and what has your involvement been?

A:        I joined AFP beginning in 2005 but due to working outside of Columbus let my membership lapse until I rejoined in 2014. 

Q:       What do you consider the most valuable part of your AFP membership?

A:        I find the opportunity to network with colleagues in the fundraising profession to be one of the best aspects of joining AFP.  I also enjoy the monthly educational luncheons and the opportunity to learn and gain new insights into philanthropy which enhance my skills.

Q:       How long have you been in fundraising, and how did you get into it?       

A:        I started my development career in 2005 after leaving The Longaberger Company as their Director of Corporate Giving where I was responsible for working with non-profit organizations in the communities where our associates lived and worked.  I found the passion and commitment that non-profit leaders needed to be successful was a motivating factor to transition to this very rewarding career in development.  

Q:       What is your favorite part about living/working in Columbus? Favorite Restaurant?

A:        I love working in Columbus because of the diversity and entrepreneurial spirit where businesses and the community as a whole thrives.  Columbus is a big city, but still has that small town feel that makes living here and raising a family here so enjoyable.

Cooper’s Hawk is one of my favorite restaurants.  I love the wine tastings and the food is always great!

Q:       Tell us a fun fact about you that other AFP members wouldn’t know.

A:        I’m the proud Mom to 4 young men, Taylor – 23, Spencer – 21, Hunter – 21 and Jared – 17.  If I can raise 4 boys as a single-parent, I figure I can do just about anything!!

 
Posted: July 2016

Sarah Edwards

Executive Director
Simply Living

Q:        Tell us a little about your organization. Mission? Population you serve? What do you like most about working there?  

A:         Simply Living is entering its 25^th year. The germination of the idea came when its founders were participating in Earth Day 1991 at Whetstone Park. People were expecting about 2,500, and instead 25,000 people showed up! Clearly it was time to create an organization that honored the Earth year round and Simply Living was created! Our vision has remained the same: Creating a compassionate and sustainable world through personal, community and cultural transformation.

The vision has remained the same, but how we work toward manifesting the vision has grown with the times as the interests of the community have changed: Simply Living is a largely volunteer, community organization celebrating and promoting sustainability and the power of localism through educational outreach and partnerships within our community. We connect people to learning opportunities that promote environmental, economic and social justice.

Always believing in the value of accessible education, our major initiative is Simply Living Sustainable U. We are taking a major step forward to optimize our efforts by creating a virtual hub that aggregates local courses, workshops and training opportunities related to environmental, social and economic justice. The campus is the community, the instructors are from the community and the learners are our neighbors, family, friends, and those who want to learn about and activate a sustainable lifestyle. (www.university.simplyliving.org)

Q:        How long have you been an AFP member, and what has your involvement been?

A:         I moved to Columbus in 2014 from a rural state whose entire population is smaller than the City of Columbus! One of the first people I met was a current board member of AFP. So, I have been a member since 2014. My involvement began with becoming a mentee of a terrific director of another small non-profit. He helped me learn the ropes of the City and introduced me to the AFP community.

Since then, I have been participating in the BeThe Cause campaign, which is a membership fundraiser the raises dollars for scholarships. I expect that my involvement will increase over time.

Q:        What do you consider the most valuable part of your AFP membership?

A:         So far, the most valuable part of being a member of AFP has been the educational component. The monthly lunch series has been very instructive on a number of levels, especially helping me to stay on top of the latest thinking in philanthropy and expanding my knowledge of the field in general. It has also provided an invaluable review of the basics. There was a 10-year hiatus in my career and I enrolled in the Fundamentals of Fundraising course. As the director of a small organization, it is not unusual to have to wear all the hats! AFP has helped me fill in the gaps.

I am also part of the Small Shop affinity group. This group is comprised of small non-profits that have many challenges in common. We brainstorm solutions or someone in the group has met with the same issue and can offer practical solutions that you might not have thought of. An added bonus: it is lively and there is always a healthy dose of laughter. A great networking opportunity!

Q:        How long have you been in fundraising, and how did you get into it?

A:         I began working for non-profits (equals fundraising!) as a grant writer. Believe it or not, I find the grant writing process rewarding. How often do you get to take a thought, develop it and see it through to the end? Of course it is always more fun when the effort results in a funded proposal! Thanks to AFP I am now learning to become a better fundraiser in general.

Q:        What is your favorite part about living/working in Columbus? Favorite Restaurant?

A:         My favorite part of living in Columbus is the vibrancy that is exhibited everywhere from community food gardens, to a lively arts and food scene, to a strong community of collaborative non-profits doing great work. I also like that rivers run through it which allows for kayaking, reverie and scenic walking.         

Q:        Tell us a fun fact about you that other AFP members wouldn’t know.

A:         I love swimming in biologically active ponds!

 Posted June 2016

Kaleidoscope Youth Center

www.kycohio.org

As told to us by Siobhan Boyd-Nelson, Development & Marketing Associate

Mission, Vision & Population Served

The mission of Kaleidoscope Youth Center (KYC) is to work in partnership with young people in Central Ohio to create safe and empowering environments for LGBTQ and Ally youth through advocacy, education, support, and community engagement. Our vision is for youth across the spectrums of sexual orientation and gender identity to live healthy, whole lives with acceptance and freedom from oppression.

Kaleidoscope’s programming focuses on building resiliency and reducing risk factors for LGBTQ+ young people ages 12-20. KYC engages young people in inclusive, affirming, and empowering positive youth development programming. Our staff, volunteers, and participants work together to cultivate a safe and supportive community in which our participants can thrive.

The Center primarily serves youth from Columbus and surrounding communities, while the GSA Network spans the state.  Youth from more than 48 zip codes participated in KYC programming during calendar year 2015.

During 2015, KYC’s after school programming served 413 youth who made a total of over 4,000 visits to the Center to participate in programming.

Kaleidoscope serves hundreds of additional youth through the Ohio GSA Network, a program providing education, consultation, events, and organizing for our local Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) network and youth-serving professionals.

Involvement with AFP

Kaleidoscope has become more involved with AFP over the last few years as we have dedicated more time and resources to fundraising.   AFP has been a great resource as I evolved into the position of Development and Marketing Associate, the first development position established at KYC.  I completed the Fundamentals of Fundraising Course in 2015.

Special Events

Kaleidoscope moved to a new, bigger facility this year, opening our doors on February 29.  We will be opening our doors to the community for a second housewarming celebration on Thursday, June 9, 2016, from 7pm – 9pm.  Kaleidoscope will also be celebrating the Columbus Pride holiday by marching in the parade, hosting a Teen Tent, and participating in the festival, all on Saturday, June 18. 

Left to Right: Michelle Jordan, MSW, LSW (Center Program Coordinator), Siobhan Boyd-Nelson, JD (Development & Marketing Associate), Amy Eldridge (Executive Director), Michael Eblin (Prevention Specialist), Danielle Boyd, MSSA (GSA Network Coordinator)

Posted June 2016

Ariane Bolduc

Development Writer

COSI

Q:        Tell us a little about your organization. Mission? Population you serve? What do you like most about working there?  

A:         COSI’s mission is to inspire interest in science and encourage people to want to know more about their world. I love the collective talent and dedication of my amazing co-workers, and I feel extremely proud to be part of the COSI Team.  Also, it’s meaningful to me to be part of an organization that encourages critical thinking, teaches science inquiry skills, and supports a larger culture of curiosity—which, I believe, are all essential to a healthy society. COSI offers so many programs that support the development of these habits of mind. Whether through outreach to 280,000+ students a year or bringing students onsite to our Teen Tech Studio— to me, it’s about supporting the innovators and scientists of tomorrow, yes, but also (equally important) supporting the development of informed and engaged citizens, the problem-solvers of tomorrow. It’s about asking questions, testing solutions, and sharing ideas… whether programming a robot or creating a more fair democracy. I love contributing to that!

Q:        How long have you been an AFP member, and what has your involvement been?

A:         I became an AFP member four years ago. I completed the year-long Mentorship program under the guidance of the fabulous Ruth Watkins and also completed the Fundamentals of Fundraising Course. Especially for those starting new in the profession, AFP is an amazing resource to gain practical knowledge, a nurturing circle of colleagues, and practical steps for advancing a career path in the field.

Q:        What do you consider the most valuable part of your AFP membership?

A:         I would say the supportive colleagues. When I took on my first Development Director position, I felt no hesitation whatsoever in picking up the phone and calling a much more established AFP colleague for advice (for some random, elementary database issue, if I recall) — not someone I knew particularly well, just someone I’d run into along the way. I felt very comfortable and confident that I would receive a warm and helpful response (I did!)— simply because it feels like that’s the kind of community the central Ohio AFP has built over time. The veterans are so helpful to the newbies and give (both formally and informally) of their talents and expertise for the good of the profession and the success of our collective central Ohio non-profit base.

Q:        How long have you been in fundraising, and how did you get into it?      

A:         I began my fundraising career over ten years ago, when I joined the Columbus Symphony as the Associate Director for Grants and Foundations. I had just completed an MFA in Creative Writing and wanted to use my writing skills in a non-profit setting. Grant writing seemed the ideal fit. Over time, I’ve used writing to help build donor relations, communicate impact, and advocate for my organization’s value among many different stakeholders. 

Q:        What is your favorite part about living/working in Columbus? Favorite Restaurant?

A:         I have an enduring love affair with everything German Village, which is where I first lived when I moved here from California… 15 years ago! I also love our Metro Parks and library systems. Restaurant-wise, I would never turn down a meal at Hunan Lion on Bethel— always delicious, always peaceful.

Q:        Tell us a fun fact about you that other AFP members wouldn’t know.

A:         In an earlier version of me, I was studying to be an opera singer. That was my first major in college, before I switched to poetry. It’s still a dream of mine that one of my poems will be set to music for some soprano to perform from the bend of a grand piano!

 
Posted May 2016

Dana Ward
Donor Relations Coordinator
Mid-Ohio Foodbank

AFP Member Dana Ward accepting a donation from the Sweetheart of Queens on behalf of Mid-Ohio Foodbank

Q:        Tell us a little about your organization. Mission? Population you serve? What do you like most about working there?  

A:         Our mission is to end hunger one nourishing meal at a time and co-create a sustainable community where everyone thrives.  We serve people who have a hard time providing food for themselves or families – which can be anyone!  Hunger does not discriminate.

My favorite part about working at the Foodbank is building relationships with our donors and clients.  Our donors are so generous and care about the well-being of people in their community.  The stories people share when they need to ask for help are so moving – it keeps me passionate about the work I do every day.

Q:        How long have you been an AFP member, and what has your involvement been?

A:         This is my first year as an AFP member.  Before I was a member, I took the AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising course and really enjoyed it.  I am currently the NextGen affinity group chair and was paired with Ann Snider (OhioHealth Foundation) as part of the AFP mentor program. 

Q:        What do you consider the most valuable part of your AFP membership?

A:         Networking.  At one of the first luncheons I attended, I was called out for sitting with a coworker and that lesson really stuck with me.  I want to branch out and meet people in the fundraising world, and it won’t happen if I stay in my Foodbank bubble.  I have so much to learn in the profession and there are many people I can learn from through AFP.  A lot of people I’ve met through AFP have turned into genuine friendships which was not something I anticipated.  It’s great having a group of people that you can count on in both a professional and personal sense.

Q:        How long have you been in fundraising, and how did you get into it?      

A:         I’ve been working in development for the last three years, but got into fundraising accidentally.  I was an AmeriCorps VISTA at Mid-Ohio Foodbank working on nutrition education and my program was at a standstill because we didn’t have a registered dietitian on staff.  I moved onto our Operation Feed team to help with campaign research and various different fundraising events.  I loved it.  The pace of the events kept me on my toes but working with campaign coordinators and building relationships with people made it worthwhile (along with the amazing mission of Mid-Ohio Foodbank). 

Q:        What is your favorite part about living/working in Columbus? Favorite Restaurant?

A:         My favorite part about Columbus is the livability of the city.  I’m originally from Chicago and moved here a little over five years ago.  Chicago is expensive and a little too big for me, but Columbus is affordable and has a bigger city feel but is easy to manage.  I recently moved to the south side and the community is fantastic!  There is a large revitalization happening there and it feels great to be part of it.

I love to eat – my favorite restaurant is either Harvest Pizzeria (their kale Caesar salad is something I dream about) or Akai Hana (salmon skin hand-roll!!). 

Q:        Tell us a fun fact about you that other AFP members wouldn’t know.

A:         I ran the Chicago Marathon in October.  It was my first ever and I ran to fundraise for Marathoning for Meals (a fundraising program for Mid-Ohio Foodbank).  After I hit mile 17, I basically cried the entire way (man, was it painful!).  I told my friends to remind me how horrible I felt after and that I would never do it again…  Now, I’m thinking about signing up for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Marathon!  I may be a quick forgetter.

 
Posted: April 2016