In this Member Spotlight, we spoke with Elissa Sensbach Murphy, Annual Giving Officer at the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. Elissa serves as the Member Communications Chair for the AFP Central Ohio Chapter and is also part of the editorial team behind our monthly newsletter, The Central Ohio AFP Digest.
Q: Tell us a little about your organization. Mission? Population you serve? What do you like most about working there?
A:The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati brings people and partners together to meet urgent needs, strengthen our sense of belonging, and build toward a future where Jewish life thrives. I really enjoy the fact that I learn something new everyday, both professionally but also personally as I didn’t know much about the Jewish faith and culture before joining.
Q: How long have you been an AFP member, and what has your involvement been?
A: I joined AFP in fall of 2022. I participated in the mentorship program from 2023-2024, and was so grateful to have Kari Roll as my mentor. I also was on the NPD committee and helped our social media efforts.
Q: What do you consider the most valuable part of your AFP membership?
A: I really value the connections you make with people. I can feel intimidated at big conferences but with the smaller, intimate sessions our local chapter offers I have met some amazing people.
Q: How long have you been in fundraising, and how did you get into it?
A: I started right out of college, which was the summer of 2022. I have always been interested in giving back to your community, as I did Big Brothers Big Sisters both as a little and a big. So when graduating college and not sure what direction to take, I decided to turn nonprofit. From there I learn about development and fundraising. Shout out to Tiffany Priest to being an amazing boss and showing me the ropes of fundraising!
Q: What is your favorite part about living/working in Columbus? Favorite place to go?
A: I love just being in a big city and exploring different cultures. I love experiencing cultures through food. Now that I live in Cincinnati, I miss Min-ga Korean restaurant!
Q: Tell us a fun fact about you that other AFP members wouldn’t know.
A: While I work in the non profit space, I studied International Studies with a focus on East Asian Studies in college. I also minored in Korean, and recently have been taking classes again to not lose the language.
Q: What has been your biggest success in your career?
A: I remember in my first couple of years of work I was so proud of myself when I was able to launch and run a consistent newsletter to engage our stakeholders, along with a consistent social media page. With that hard work, it led to more brand awareness and gifts.
Q: What has been your biggest learning opportunity in your career?
A: I would say I (along with many others) struggle with Imposter syndrome. I felt like just because I wasn’t an expert in an area or may not have someone to assist me, that I couldn’t do something. But being in the workforce for a few years now, no one is an expert but we learn to adapt and do our best. So now when I face challenges it doesn’t seem as daunting as much since I have proven myself wrong!
Q: Where would you take your dream vacation?
A: I would love to visit South Korea one day. I hope to start saving up for an international trip soon!
Q: What is one thing your organization does really well?
A: I really love the culture and sense of community here. Even though I am not Jewish myself, I have never felt excluded from something, and my coworkers take the time to explain things to me.