I did not expect, when I accepted the job at FundRaiser Software eighteen years ago, that it would become such an important part of my life. I had expected it to be a part time job that would smooth out some of the ups and downs of self-employment. What it actually turned out to be was a deeply engaging workplace where I learned the richness of the nonprofit sector and the joy of working on an aligned team. That experience has changed my life.
I also did not expect that eventually my work at FundRaiser would play a large role in reshaping my own small business. After working at FundRaiser, I offered to do a bit of volunteer work for a favorite nonprofit helping them with their donor outreach. Eventually, that turned into a full-on engagement in the issues that nonprofit addressed. That has been so rewarding, that I’ve decided to focus more attention on these issues. After almost two decades at FundRaiser, I’m saying good-bye to my role here to take on a larger role in that field.
Leaving my job at FundRaiser is most certainly ‘sweet sorrow’. While I am excited about what the future holds, I am also sad to leave my regular contact with FundRaiser customers and staff which I have found so nourishing.
I am deeply grateful for the model of workplace sanity that FundRaiser has offered through the years. First the founders, Gene and Marcy Weinbeck and then their successors Autumn and Joshua Shirley have created an atmosphere where people are seen as not just workers but also as fully human.
The emphasis on customer service has also created a warm environment, full of respect. It feels good to be in a place where every person is treated thoughtfully.
I feel great admiration for FundRaiser customers. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing some of the people who use our software. It has been richly rewarding to hear their stories first-hand-- how they work to accomplish their missions with creativity, compassion, and skill. I’ve also learned from these customers about what it means to really do the work of fundraising. It affirms the beauty of the human spirit to experience how many caring people there are, working to make the world a better place.
As I move on to apply many of the lessons I’ve learned at FundRaiser, I carry with me these rich memories and the friendships created. I am leaving things in good hands, and will continue to be a friend of FundRaiser’s recommending the software wherever I go.