My grandmother recently celebrated her 99th birthday. When I was a kid she taught me to needlepoint, play Yahtzee, and the importance of writing thank you notes. If my thank you note for a birthday gift didn’t arrive promptly, Grandma would call me to ask whether I had, in fact. sent her one. Her lessons were top of mind when I became a nonprofit executive director, when part of my job was cultivating donor relationships and thanking them for being part of our mission. In fundraising, thanking donors is a cornerstone of donor stewardship, a core component of a nonprofit development strategy. Effective stewardship practices can lead to repeat gifts from the same donor – and not only repeat giving but increased giving. That’s where I am most energized: at the intersection of communications and fundraising, where I help my nonprofit clients build capacity and connections, advance their missions, and achieve greater impact. I am a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with nearly 25 years of nonprofit experience spanning executive leadership, communications, development, and board service. Connect with me for consulting and coaching on: Organizational Leadership and Nonprofit Management / Integrated Marketing Communications and Branding / Fundraising / Donor Engagement / Board Development and Governance / Event Production / Strategic Planning