4-5 minute read
By Sarah Seigrist
What inspires a person to choose philanthropy as a career path? For everyone the reasons are different and often very personal. For me, it was a combination of a personal desire to help others with real, immediate, impact and doing something that would challenge me every day. My path was not always clear, and I turned to several supportive guides along the way that identified qualities in me and helped nurture what I did not initially see.
Life Happens
Like many philanthropy professionals, I found my path to fundraising as a career by experience, experimentation, and growth. I had always wanted to make a difference and for many years my plan was to inspire others through teaching college students. I worked hard in my chosen field, as a student I attended academically rigorous graduate programs, working program-support positions, and as adjunct. I wanted to gain as much experience as I could to best prepare me to enter a humanities field with a tough job market.
I had my plan; I was ready to succeed.
It was the start of the semester, August 2005. I had my classes, I had my teaching assignment, I was ready. Then life happened. Hurricane Katrina barreled into the Gulf coast and aimed itself at New Orleans. I had visited the city multiple times and knew folks that lived in a region about to be swept away in floods and torrential rain.
Watching the abject suffering unfolding for thousands while I fretted about parking spots close to campus and what library book loans I would need felt inconsequential. I spent that week going through the motions of the start of the semester – the classroom, the library, the local coffee shop gathering as much information about the fate of Louisiana as I could. I watched those around me to see if they were as affected as me. What I experienced was surreal. Few acknowledged the suffering taking place, no conversations beyond a passing, “did you see what’s happening? That’s rough.” Like I had been just days earlier, the start of the semester was most important.
Something broke inside me. Cracks started to appear in vision of the future I had established.
Are you Up for Challenge, and the Rewards?
I wish I could say I dropped everything and focused my energy on helping those suffering. I continued my academic journey for two more years. When it was time to leave the classroom, I found a job at Behringer-Crawford Museum right as the 2008 economy descended into what I will politely call chaos.
Part of my many duties as assigned were to write grants and facilitate standard fundraising activities like preparing mailing lists. As resources were stretched to the breaking point, I was recruited to write the donation request letters, plan special events, and connect with donors.
The challenge of fundraising for a mid-size regional history museum during the Great Recession of 2008 was not for the faint of heart. If I wanted a challenge, I had one. For the first time I was able to combine my desire to serve others, educate, and make a real difference.
My fundraising activities were literally helping to keep the lights on, the doors open, and keeping everyone paid. As the organization’s financial picture improved, I was redirected back to the initial intent of my hired position. I continued my work and began to consider if my heart and career were being directed along the path to focus on the challenging field of philanthropy instead of curatorial and administration work.
When in Doubt, Consult the Experts
When in doubt, consult the experts. I have been blessed through my life to have met some fascinating, fantastic people doing wonderful things to serve, educate, and support. In thinking about potential next steps, one friend had the wisdom I sought.
Danielle Gentry-Barth and I had attended grad school together. We bonded over a shared dedication to support the good in the world. I found that my career path and interests mirrored Danielle’s; several years before she had started working for a regional history museum and made the transition to a career in philanthropy. Who better to ask about the challenges, rewards, and how to succeed in a new field than someone who experienced the process?
I met with Danielle, not altogether sure of what I felt about selecting philanthropy as my potential chosen career path. She listened intently to my jumbled thoughts and asked questions that helped me clarify my vision. She shared her experience in the field with me, what success can look like, and how to avoid common points of stress and failure. Over the course of several conversations, Danielle guided my fledgling interest and provided recommendations and support.
I walked away from our conversations not only feeling ready to tackle the challenge of a change in career paths, but also with a new vision of what my desire to serve, educate, and to make a real difference can look like. In 2012, I made the leap from academia and the museum world to working in philanthropy for a senior social service agency.
I have held positions serving a wide field of nonprofits including senior social services, agriculture education at Gorman Heritage Farm, and now healthcare. I started with Dearborn County Hospital Foundation, where we underwent rebranding and an organization acquisition within three years. I currently serve as Development Director, Foundation Operations for St. Elizabeth Healthcare where I oversee behind-the-scenes processes of the department as well as serve as a frontline fundraiser for Southeast Indiana.
My proudest accomplishment to date is the successful campaign for the Dearborn Cancer Center which raised over $10 Million in support. This innovative community-centered facility provides access to St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s world-class oncology program and provides care for my family, friends, and neighbors.
Now, when I encounter someone new and I invariably hear, “You ask people for money? I could never do that.” I share this was my thought, once, too.