Fund-Raising Women

From the OC Metro – September 20, 2001

One of those esoteric skills of which little is know.

Fund-raising is one of those esoteric jobs of which little is known – unless you are personally involved in the field. Fund-raising brings to mind walkathons and dinner dances, and while they raise needed dollars for charity, people grow weary.

Lee Ann Marienthal, co-chair of the Casa Teresa 25^th anniversary celebration, is aware of this, which is why she chose to hold a different type of fund-raiser. After much collective brainstorming, the Casa Teresa board decided to do a Poncho Sanchez concert at Mission San Juan Capistrano on Sept. 22 (714-538-4860) to raise funds to serve women alone and pregnant.

"This is nerve-racking because it's the board's first year at being concert promoters," says Marienthal. "And it was my big idea! Yet, it's creating excitement because it's a change from the deadly dinner dance theme which I'm completely burned out on." While she volunteers for Casa Teresa because she loves the organization, Marienthal says she has considered someday fund-raising professionally.

This is how many women get started in fund-raising careers. "Women are always raising money – for schools, charities – or seeking resources for their families and communities," says Elizabeth Martinez, a consultant, UCLA professor, and former Orange County librarian who helped fund nine Orange County libraries. "Women are naturals at it, perhaps because we're passionate about what we believe in. It's like shepherding a child – taking a project and making it grow. You have to take what you believe and sell it to others."

While classes and certificate programs aren't necessary, they can help fill in the blanks and keep you current. Networking may be the best way to enter the field. At noon on the fourth Tuesday of each month, the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (www.afpoc.org), with 25,000 members nationwide, meets at the Turnip Rose restaurant in Anaheim. Joan McBride, an instructor at UCI Extension and owner of the Consultant to the Nonprofit Community in North Tustin, says it's a great way to learn and to meet people in the field. McBride has been in fund-raising since she was an undergraduate at UCI and sees it as a way to help change or save lives.

"That's the No. 1 reason you get into fund-raising," she says. "And women are so good at multitasking. I've been doing this for 20 years and two days are never exactly alike. It's a wonderful field, a wonderful way to make a difference and to use a variety of skills. And the pay is good!" As well as varied: $20,000 for an entry level position with a small organization to six figures for a top job.

Even if you believe you lack a track record, you may actually have a vital experience and not realize it. "Translate what you contributed to a cause or what you did for you church," says Martinez.