Share what you love most about your work at Sacramento Region Community Foundation. As a native Sacramentan and super fan of our region, I am proud of the role the Sacramento Region Community Foundation plays in addressing the challenges that face our community and the collaborative spirit of the Foundation to work together with key partners, philanthropists, and the nonprofit sector to find solutions. I love my work at the Foundation because I have the opportunity to make a community-wide difference, am fortunate to work alongside amazing team members, and have the privilege of working with people in the region who want to make an impact.

What has been your favorite part about being a member of PGFGS? I have more than one favorite thing: I have learned so much from other members of PGFGS, and the networking with other nonprofit professionals has been invaluable. Plus, the speakers at the lunch and virtual sessions have opened my eyes to practical and inspiring ways of approaching planned giving.

How have you been able to relate your experience and learnings from PGFGS to your work? As I have evolved in my career, from my early years in annual giving and event planning to securing major gifts for the organizations I’ve represented as my profession advanced, I have found that working with donors on planned gifts is the most fulfilling but also the most challenging. The resources and expert advice I’ve received from PGFGS have given me ideas and creative approaches to providing solutions to donors that I would likely have not considered otherwise.

Which membership/sponsorship benefit(s) do you find most valuable? Networking with other professionals is so valuable to me (especially when we’re able to meet in person). Not only do I learn from fellow members, but I am inspired and humbled by their depth and breadth of knowledge, tireless work for the communities they serve, and their high level of professionalism.

Share a fun fact about yourself. A fun fact about myself is what I love to do in my spare time: play music. As a musician, I play the flute, piccolo, the native flute, and saxophone, and I’m a backup singer (and play the occasional tambourine) with the cover band, CausePlay, alongside a few other fellow PGFGS members. We typically play for fundraising events associated with the Rotary Club of Sacramento but could be inspired to play for others!