Summary: There is a silver lining in the high turnover among fundraising professionals: the opportunity to understand how fundraising plays out in different contexts. After growing up and beginning her fundraising career in the mid-Atlantic, Amanda and her husband transitioned to the southeast in order to pursue some new opportunities. Amanda Fabrizio-Grzesik, M.Ed. is Director of Development at Tennessee Technological University. In many ways her career reflects EAB’s curious chameleon research that intrigued many of us several years ago. Whereas she was accustomed to everyone talking faster, louder, and with their hands, Amanda's new post has allowed her to develop an appreciation for a different pace of life, indirect communication and a healthier work-life balance. Transitions often allow us to better understand the history of an organization, its structure, and its funding streams. Amanda has observed how historically state-funded institutions are beginning to catch up with the fundraising capacities of private institutions. The ability to be transparent, show kindness, and demonstrate great communication skills are essential for all fundraisers and will enable fundraisers to bridge even the most difficult of barriers. For those interested in reading Amanda's blog, go to Fabulous Fundraising. Amanda can also be found on LinkedIn. For those who may be interested in EAB's Curious Chameleon research, start here.
