Starting Point

Terence Bodak, Senior Director of Constituent Programs at Rutgers University, talks about getting outside perspective, digging into data, being more aware, knowing how donors want to get involved, making radical changes, and more!

Samantha Hill, Director of Phonathon and Student Giving at Duke University, talks about interacting with humans, using your education, helping students feel prepared, building relationships, hearing what alumni have to say, and more!

Brandon Tabor, Associate Vice President for Annual Giving, Stewardship, and Storytelling at the University of Notre Dame, talks about finding great stories, knowing your audience, being consistent with your messages, hiring people who are humble, hungry, and hopeful, doing really good stuff, and more!

Erin Glidden, AVP for Pipeline Strategy at South Dakota State University, talks about continuing to call, being more strategic, looking for shiny objects, building the base, settling lofty goals, and more!

Megan Poole, Director of Direct Marketing at the University of Virginia, talks about working from where you work best, skywriting (and other solicitation channels), being on the receiving end, depending on others, starting all over again, and more!

Anessa Rios Ezeude, Director of Annual Giving at the University of Houston, talks about understanding your mission, inclusive giving, being ahead of the curve, finding heart in fundraising, tapping into community, and more!

John Templeman, Director of Annual Giving at Cleveland State University, talks about doing fun things, writing a giving day rap song, leveraging social media influencers, acting like a mad scientist, letting things go when they don’t work, and more!

Megan Rajski, Director of Annual Giving at Fairfield University, talks about making the decision to take a job in a different part of the country, negotiating salary, working “in” the office, applying experience at a big nonprofit to educational fundraising, starting out as a volunteer, and more!

Executive Director for Annual Giving at Penn State, talks about leading through adversity, staying tuned in to current events, doing crazy dances, taking care of your own, being kind, and more!

Christy Moss, Vice President of Membership & Marketing at the University of Illinois Alumni Association, talks about dealing with hallucinations, using Artificial Intelligence, recognizing the next big thing, continuing to learn, planning like Taylor Swift, and more.