Hello, and thank you for visiting my website. People often ask me how I got into a fundraising career. Actually, I slipped into this profession through the back door of solid interest and little experience. I have been an avid Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra subscriber for about 30 years. Back in 1984, I was asked if I would be interested in a new fundraising position at the MSO. “Sure!” I said, not really knowing what I was getting into. I learned everything about fundraising from then on, on the job, as MSO assistant development director and then MSO development director.
But my childhood experiences presaged my interest in fundraising. I grew up in a neighborhood with about 20 school aged children who played together regularly. In the summers, my girlfriend and I would organize the whole group into giving a talent show. Each child would offer at least one act: singing a song, reciting a poem, telling knock-knock jokes. We sold tickets (10 cents each) to all of the adults in the neighborhood; after all, their kids were talent show stars. Then we had our mothers make punch and cookies, which we sold at the show.
When the talent show was over, we counted our profits – around $3.15. Then we walked over to the public library and proudly donated our proceeds to the library. Yes, I was managing special event fundraisers at the age of ten!
You can read about my other fundraising successes in my resume and client list. The most important things I can tell you about myself are that I will take your project as seriously as you do, I will give you my best 100% of the time, and I will always make sure you know exactly where you stand.
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