Member Spotlight: Lori Hunter Overmyer, MBA, CFRE

Lori Hunter Overmyer, MBA, CFRE

Executive Vice President, Goettler Associates, Inc.

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

Goettler Associates, Inc. is a trusted fundraising consulting company, serving the nation’s nonprofit organizations since 1965. Goettler Associate’s mission is to lead nonprofit organizations toward the realization of their full philanthropic potential through a full continuum of effective services. We have helped over 1,500 nonprofit organizations raise more money. We serve nonprofits from every industry sector: arts and culture, human services, health, environment and animals, with budgets both small and large. Although achieving fundraising success is the focus of our clients, it’s the variety of organizations, people, and institutional cultures that make every engagement different and interesting.

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

I became a member of AFP in 1986 when it was still called NSFRE. We were living in Madison, WI and the chapter was brand new – just 32 members. We moved to St. Louis, MO and I joined that chapter immediately, chaired NPD and eventually joined the board as an officer. From there we moved to Nashville, TN and I also chaired NPD and became an officer of the chapter board. We moved to Columbus 18 years ago it was terrific to have an AFP “home.” I was on the board for about six years and served as the chapter’s president in 2010. I was so honored to be elected to the International AFP board in 2016 and now serving my second term.

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

Definitely the opportunities for personal and professional growth, and the community of people you get to know through relationships formed. It’s been a through-line for me for my entire professional career.

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

I received my MBA in Nonprofit Administration, with a focus on the arts, in 1986. During my last semester I was interning at the JB Speed Art Museum and they hired me as their first-ever development staff person after I graduated. I’ve been in the development field ever since!

What is your favorite part about living/working in Columbus? Favorite place to go?

To see the growth in Columbus since I moved here in 2000 – it’s been incredible! We live in Worthington, which is such a walkable community and has THE BEST farmer’s market. We love the annual Arts Festival downtown, going to events at the McConnell Arts Center, and one of our favorite, favorite things to do is to go to the Moonlight Market which takes place on the second Saturday of the month between April and October. It’s fantastic!

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

As a child, I had a pet turkey that I pulled around in a wagon. Did I mention I grew up in a small town? FYI – turkeys are not really the most affectionate pets! Now I stick to cats.

 

Posted April 2018