The Diversity Advancement Fellowship changed the trajectory of my career. In 2020, I felt that I was at a standstill with less than 3 years of experience under my belt. The pandemic forced most of our events and fundraising campaigns to come to a halt despite the growing need for my organization to deliver service to individuals and families impacted. I found the Planned Giving Forum of Greater Sacramento through the Impact Foundry as I was researching new ways to fundraise and engage our donors in this new landscape.

Not only did I learn new skills and methods to increase my organization’s fundraising efforts, I was able to grow in my professional development and confidence. My PGFGS liaison empowered me to take on leadership roles and expand my network of professionals.

I am especially thankful to the Diversity Advancement Fellowship and the Planned Giving Forum of Greater Sacramento for supporting me during my transition to a larger organization in 2021. I was given feedback on my resume and interview responses that empowered me to apply for positions at levels higher than what I was used to working at within a non-profit organization. I also gained more insight into what path I wanted to follow in my career as a fundraising professional. I can’t thank the Diversity Advancement Fellowship enough for the life-changing impact it made to my career.