Career Track - Fall 2009

Michelle S. Gollapalli, MBA, CFRE, associate director, principal and major gifts (Eastern Region) at Alzheimer's Association

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About you:

How many years have you been in fundraising? 11-plus years.

What achievements are you most proud of in your career? Co-chairing the Color of Money conference in June that brought together more than 140 fundraisers of color for a learning experience that was uniquely crafted to meet the needs of this diverse group. I have also had the opportunity to mentor young fundraisers starting out in their careers. Whenever one of them reaches a milestone in their own career path, I feel a sense of deep pride!

What have you enjoyed most about being a fundraiser? The ability to build relationships with donors and connect them with critical giving opportunities that, in turn, helps move missions forward. I also love being able to work in a team environment with colleagues who are both talented and as passionate about the cause as I am.

What have you liked the least about being a fundraiser? Challenging a common misconception outside the nonprofit world that fundraising is like begging. The fact that nonprofits play such a pivotal part in impacting positive change and that relationship development is such a complex process is barely considered.

What is your motto? Find what you are passionate about doing and do it well; on the way, share that passion with others.

Who or what has had the greatest influence on your life, and why? My grandparents. They demonstrated incredible strength in the face of adversity and were remarkable in their persistence towards accomplishing their goals.

If you could invite three people to dinner, whom would you invite and where would you go to eat? William Wordsworth, George Eliot and Rabindranath Tagore. We’d dine at my home (I would cook, of course) and we would have a wonderful discussion on literature into the wee hours of the morning!

Name at least three things you like to do when you’re not fundraising. Spending time with my children, doing voiceover work for companies and volunteering with organizations whose missions I am passionate about.

If you hadn’t been a fundraiser, what would you like to have been? A novelist. I am constantly fascinated by the beauty and depth of the written word.

About diversity:

In your own words, describe diversity. Diversity is, quite simply, the quality of being different, of being able to embrace that difference and transform it into the unique way in which you are able to contribute to the community around you because of who you are. A commitment to diversity gives you the ability to respect the differences you see in others and bring this to bear on working together to achieve a common goal.

What do you think fundraisers can do to foster deeper inclusion in fundraising and the nonprofit sector? Provide opportunities for learning about the unique characteristics of fundraising within diverse audiences. Organizations and professional associations should also bring together fundraisers who represent diverse groups on a regular basis, providing a forum to discuss, learn, network and enhance their own experiences.

About fundraising:

What most concerns you about the profession? The lack of succession planning in our development departments that leads to turnover as colleagues see fewer opportunities for advancement and growth within the same organization.

What is the key to a successful “ask”? Knowing your donor’s interests and needs and being able to provide a giving opportunity that is tailored to meet them—one that’s also in keeping with the strategic direction of the organization as a whole.

Ideal donors are those who look beyond their checkbook and want to become engaged with the organization in a meaningful way, empowering its programs and service to the larger community.

What advice would you give to a new fundraiser? Find your local AFP chapter and become involved! Network among your peers there and you’ll reap some rich rewards in professional relationships that will last you a lifetime!

What is the most essential quality of a good fundraiser? Integrity. A good fundraiser should be able to reach out to organizational stakeholders and be a key spokesperson, representing the organization’s mission and vision with the utmost integrity, connecting people and creating a lasting, mutually beneficial relationship.

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