Vision Philanthropy Group

It's an honor to serve on the Nashville Opera Board and now I'm so pleased to join my colleagues in announcing this newly created position! It is a very exciting time at Nashville Opera. As a Level 2 opera company in the U.S. (as rated by Opera America, Inc.), Nashville Opera has a special opportunity as a visionary leader in the art form. This is a unique opportunity for the right major gift development professional who is ready to be a part of and help lead an expanding program! Come join us! For more info, please reach out to Christy Passmore at [email protected] who is leading this search.

Such a great conversation with the Breakfast Club of Nashville members last week when my colleague, Christy Passmore, and I enjoyed the opportunity to talk about "Building Bold Boards", something we're really passionate about. Best of all, we were introduced by our former Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vision Philanthropy Group colleague, Jane Ferrell. Not surprisingly, a majority of the very talented women attending were affiliated with a non-profit board of some type. According to a 2019 survey by the Council for Non-Profit Organizations, 64 million people serve on boards or as volunteers! The impact of these dedicated and committed individuals on all facets of our society is profound. Yet, two-thirds of CEOs and Board Chairs surveyed confess that their board members struggle as effective fundraising partners. As our non-profit community and organizations continue to face the challenges posed by economic uncertainty and the continued impact of the great resignation, we need more than ever for our boards to be confident, comfortable, and well-equipped partners in the fundraising enterprise, especially in major and transformational giving. This requires that organizations are committed to a culture of philanthropy that prioritizes best practices throughout our organizations and that boards, non-profit professionals, and fundraisers lean into Big Vision, understand the psychology of giving, and embrace the tools that build meaningful connections and relationships for transformational giving. That's all about "Building Bold Boards" and the leaders and staff who are their partners.... uniquely equipping them with those tools and education is the mission we're on! (Photo credit: Elizabeth Cotton Walls)

Great group at last week’s Planned Giving Council of Middle Tennessee when my colleague, Christy Passmore, and I spent the day-long session in lively discussions, group work and role-playing on a topic near and dear to our hearts, “BE BOLD BETTER, Creating Transformational Gifts”. Terrific Group! Learn more about the road to gifts that transform your Big Vision at visionphilanthropy.com

My happy place! Long walks here give me the gift of time to reflect on what and who is most meaningful in my life, to reconnect deeply with my values and passions, who and what I am grateful for, and to really focus on a higher purpose outside of myself. It is a time to think about the “Why” of life. It’s time like this that all of us as development officers and nonprofit professionals so need to recenter ourselves and become crystal clear on our values, passions, beliefs and gratitude for the organizations we serve, and how we tell their stories. It is only then that we can truly bring our true bold, courageous and even vulnerable selves fully to our work. At Vision Philanthropy Group, we call this work “Signature Language”. It’s all a part of our Bold Asking major and transformational gift training and coaching program. We’re on a mission to help others bring their bold, courageous work to the causes they serve, to Be Bold Better! Join Christy Passmore and others of us at VPG as together we explore the world of transformational giving!

Honored and excited that my colleague and friend, Christy Passmore, and I will join with colleagues throughout the Midsouth for a lively discussion about what it takes to creates transformational giving, and how together we can raise the bar for the organizations we nobly serve! We’ll talk about things from culture of philanthropy to Bold Vision and the anatomy of a bold ask! Come and join us, learn with us and contribute to this lively conversation and interactive session, April 5!

April 5, 2023 Super Session Program (2023-04-05) BE BOLD BETTER: WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE TRANSFORMATIONAL GIFTS Two Interactive, Informative and Engaging Workshops Susan Holt, President & Senior Consultant, Vision Philanthropy Group Christy Passmore, Senior Advisor, Vision Philanthropy Group (Presenter Biographies can be viewed HERE)

Ever feel like this is a steep hill to climb as we continue to walk through these unparalleled times? Our world continues to evolve. This requires our very best practices. Engaging donors in meaningful and significant conversations is some of the best work we can be doing right now. This time calls for us to assess our skills and attributes to make sure we are bringing our best to every day. VPG has provided a step-by-step guide to assessing your strengths, weaknesses and opportunities as a high performing major gifts officer, and ways to put them to use! We are honored to provide our workbook, "Letters to a Young (or Old) Fundraiser on the Journey to Bold Asking: Attributes of a High Performing Major Gift Officer" located in the resources on our homepage.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/512cd25de4b0dc8d3de53439/t/60e610659af6dd0544737da2/1625690224542/Workbook+MGO+High+Performing+Attributes.pdf

Colleagues, join us for the opening session of the Planned Giving Council of Middle Tennessee: a virtual and timely program you won't want to miss! Sept. 1 – Raising Major Gifts of Assets in the Aftermath of Covid-19: New Strategies for a New World.

If you miss my friend, Martha Steele, board member, The Carroll Center for the Blind, and I presenting on listening skills and habits for building relationships and closing major gifts at today's AFP virtual session, "Raising Major Gifts and Elevating Your Philanthropic Culture", check out a video of our conversation and session handouts on the VPG website.

Join my friend, Martha Steele, board member at the Carroll Center for the Blind, and me for a conversation about deep, powerful listening skills and habits key to building relationships and major gifts at the AFP Virtual International Conference, June 29, "Raising Major Gifts and Elevating Your Philanthropic Culture as the World Recovers from Crisis". Melissa Paul, CDO at Mass. Eye and Ear, joins us as another guest speaker on stewardship best practices and high performing major gift officers. Register www.afpicon.com More information www.visionphilanthropy.com .

Join Melissa Paul, Chief Development Officer, Mass. Eye and Ear, and I for a conversations about stewardship best practices and winning attributes of high performing major gift officers for major gifts at Tuesday's AFP International Conference: Raising Major Gifts and Elevating Your Philanthropic Culture as the World Recovers from Crisis. Register www.afpicon.com

Join us for "Raising Major Gifts and Elevating Your Philanthropic Culture as the World Recovers from Crisis" to bring your best to this time! Honored to present this session with my friends. AFP Virtual International Conference, Tuesday, June 29. Register www.afpicon.com