(This post is from Kari Mirkin, program assistant at the Foundation Center-Cleveland, her first for Philanthropy Front and Center-Cleveland.)
The Greater Cleveland chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals recently held its 25th annual National Philanthropy Day celebration, welcoming more than 700 area nonprofit professionals to Signature at La Centre in Westlake for networking, educational sessions, and most importantly, lunch! I joined Cindy Bailie, Foundation Center-Cleveland director, in representing our organization as vendors at the event. Our booth was situated among several other vendor stations, each vying for the attention of attendees as they walked to and from their various activities. It seemed to me that most who passed our booth were already familiar with the Foundation Center and our services. I even noticed a few of our “regulars” in the crowd!
As we walked into the banquet hall for the lunch and awards ceremony, I sensed that, with only one year of nonprofit work under my belt, I was a fairly small fish in a very big pond. Hundreds of veterans were seated around us, representing some of the area’s most well-known and well-respected organizations. The awards were handed out among applause from the crowd and everyone joined together in good spirit, despite the tough economic times surrounding us and the uncertainty of how foundations, corporations and individual donors will react in the months (and possibly years) to come. The awards ceremony didn’t really focus on the fundraising profession at all. In fact, it was more a celebration of philanthropy and the opportunity the philanthropic spirit provides to connect people who can give to the causes they care about. Maybe that’s why the phrase “financial crisis” was noticeably absent that day. Philanthropy is a long-standing tradition that is definitely going to weather this economic storm as it has in the past, and while the future may witness an increasingly competitive edge among fundraisers nationwide, National Philanthropy Day reminded me that raising money isn’t just about the money.
--Kari Mirkin
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