Twinkle, Twinkle ... Fundraising Stars!
I'm really digging the way the FS Fundraising Professionals of the Year Awards shaped up this year. First off, we had more nominations than ever before — 55, to be exact. The program is growing by leaps and bounds each year.
But even more important than the number of entries we get is where they come from and who they represent. Everyone knows there are folks who are considered rock stars in the fundraising arena. And everyone knows who they are. We love them. We respect them. We flock to their sessions at nonprofit conferences and other events throughout the year, and we pore over their insights in fundraising publications like this one and others. They get lots of attention and accolades — all much deserved. We've honored many of them in this awards program.
But increasingly over the years we've been running the FS Fundraising Professionals of the Year Awards — and quite predominantly this year — nominations are coming from development directors and CEOs from smaller nonprofits who want to honor those staff members whose faces you don't see in conference program books, who work just as hard and with just as much passion, pride and humility as anyone else.
And that's great! The fundraising sector is made up of fantastically devoted people who deserve to have the light of recognition and appreciation shone on them, whether they're raising millions of dollars a year for behemoth organizations that have been around since the dawn of time or struggling to get their tiny nonprofits' first direct-mail pieces out the door before it's time to get dinner on the table for the family. I'm so glad we've been able to represent almost that whole spectrum over the years.
These awards are open to anyone who raises money to support the work of nonprofit organizations because no matter what role you play in the grand design of nonprofit fundraising, what you do matters. Your work is important, and the world is a better, brighter, safer, saner place because of it. Like I say at this time every year, from the bottom of my heart, I continue to be humbled by the fabulous, selfless work you do, by your passion and dedication, and by your unflagging spirit. Thank you for what you do and for allowing FundRaising Success to be a part of it.
