I must admit - the last week has energized every part of my nonprofit soul. I was in Houston attending the University of Indiana Fundraising School for the better part of 5 days. Thinking I knew it all when I went - I was joyful and thrilled to realize how many new ideas the faculty had to offer, along with the highly experienced and incredibly interesting partcipants.
Many thanks to Guiamar F. Sandler, CFRE, one of the most charismatic and fascinating people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. She made learning creative and fun (and as we learned you remember so much more when the learning environment is fun) - so - I think I remember it all - and what I don't remember, I have in my HUGE RED NOTEBOOK (over 8 pounds!!! I just weighed it!) which is now precious to me! Also thank you to our very interesting and nice Ricardo Rodriguez, a native of Chicago who was transpanted to Texas - he had so much to offer us of the characteristics of giving.
Collaboration was also the name of the game with close to 30 interesting and fun participants from all over the country - from New York to Florida, to Oregon, and yes - about 9 from Texas. We bonded and shared wonderful success stories, creative problem solving, and communication techniques.
The Dallas Zoo was there - as was the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Natural Museum of Natural History in Washington DC, one of my alma maters - St Stephens School in Austin (TXNP), Katy Christian Ministries (TXNP), the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in Montana, the Center for Public Policy Priorities in Austin (TXNP), The University of St. Thomas in Houston, the Mind Science Foundation in San Antonio (TXNP), the Mennonite Village Foundation in Oregon, Texas A&M University (TXNP), California Baptist Academy in California, and The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston (TXNP), and so many more!
What powerful and creative people they were and how much I grew from meeting them all and having the opportunity to give and take with them. And along with the traditional methods of fundraising that were reinforced - many new trends and ideas were hashed out so that we could go back renewed and ready to hit the fundraising trail.
While it is not cheap - I think it is a huge bargain! I promise you that if you sent one or more of your staff to this program, you would break out of staleness, and bounce ahead full of new creativity and ideas. Plus - you would have one of the best teams in the world as your advocate and colleague - the University of Indiana! Take a look at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and their world renowned Fundraising School at
http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/funds.html.
Oh - and by the way - charming Professor Guia owns a bed an breakfast on the Pacific Ocean in northern California called the Lost Whale Inn - I looked it up on the web and it is beautiful - crashing waves and all! Go look at
www.lostwhaleinn.com. I am going to lasso my husband to set a date to visit that beautiful part of the country this spring!
