My first week at CHA was incredible! 

Being the Development Fellow means helping to plan A Taste to Remember (TTR), CHA’s late summer fundraiser. The fundraiser takes place in Dublin, OH and brings in local food vendors from all over central Ohio. This week consisted of brainstorming various items for both the live and silent auctions at the event. I researched what baskets have done well at past events by consulting event records, found new potential contacts for donations, and then began to group items together. Given that the event is a Casino Night theme, I enjoyed integrating ideas from Vegas Vacation and songs made famous by the Rat Pack for titles and themes of each basket!

In addition to working diligently on this spreadsheet, I drafted an email template that I will use to reach out to these contacts next week. Every Tuesday, the Development team has a check in with Marketing to ensure everyone is on the same page. I was able to participate in this meeting, and join my supervisor at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) monthly luncheon. The educational program was given by Trace Kingham, Founder and CEO of Reimagined Experiences. He talked about his company that helps nonprofits amplify their highly anticipated events, and how to continue donor engagement and momentum once the event has passed. We networked with other nonprofit development professionals, allowing me to have a glimpse into what a career within this field could look like. 

Anne Marie has also had me do research on AI and its role in mission-driven nonprofits. As AI continues to emerge, there are concerns about how it will impact an organization’s voice and if it will take away from opportunity. Like any employee, AI requires training to obtain the best result. My readings have found that if the organization is on board and has staff to support the integration, it can only set them up for success.