Giving Institute Colleagues:

This morning I had a zoom session with Josh Birkholz (current Giving USA Foundation Chair), Erin Berggren (Giving Institute and Giving USA Foundation Executive Director) and new Giving Institute (GI) board member Miriam Droller. Miriam is a Managing Director with CCS, a longtime GI member firm. She is representing CCS on the GI board, with Chris Looney having recently stepped down as a GI board member. This was an engaged conversation, and I left the meeting with a few thoughts I’d like to share:

• Miriam came to the meeting having researched both GI and Giving USA Foundation (G-USA). She came with questions, curiosity and insights. Having agreed to serve on GI board, she was already considering how she can engage and serve effectively. This made me reflect on how GI and G-USA are blessed with active and engaged leaders. Our great volunteers make both organizations dynamic and ever striving to improve. Fun.

• When Miriam asked what her role as a board member may be, one of the first things we discussed is how she can represent GI and G-USA to other members of CCS and invite them to participate in our programs and/or one of our committees. This made me wonder if all board members might improve in engaging their colleagues in the life of our organizations. Do we make sure they are on the GI e-mail list? Have we helped colleagues access programs? Have we invited colleagues to write a blog when our firm’s turn comes? Have we considered whether we have colleagues who may wish to serve on a committee?
• We briefly discussed the GI Mentor Series, a program designed for newer employees of our firms. We typically hold this in the fall and will have such an offering in Chicago later this year. It dawned on me that our current Summer Symposium co-chairs, Lee Ernst and Ryan Woroniecki, both first encountered GI through the Mentor Series some years ago. This is a fun experience for your newer colleagues. They get to meet others in the field and think about how our profession can improve. And some of them become GI or G-USA leaders. Please think about this when the Mentor Series comes around this fall.
• When Miriam had structural questions about GI or G-USA, Erin stepped in to provide valuable information. By the end of the meeting there was a list of 5-6 things Erin pledged to share with Miriam so she can be an informed board member. Remember that we rely on strong management to advance the missions of our two organizations. If you need more information about how you can engage with GI or G-USA, see if Erin and his colleagues at MCI (our association management firm) can help you.
• If you are a new GI board member and I have not reached out to you, please see if we can meet via zoom sometime soon to see how you can be an engaged leader of our organizations. Josh and Erin and I are happy to meet with you.

Speaking of Summer Symposium, remember the event will be in Indianapolis this year from July 19-July 21. Early bird registration is open until June 1. Thirty people have registered so far. Please consider bringing multiple members of your firm. You can register by clicking here. It is looking to be a great event. Thank you!