Rising Stars
Judy Grunke
Board Member
Weiser Memorial Hospital Foundation
“Fundraising is indeed a calling, and as a fundraising executive for 25 years, it is fun to see someone who didn’t know they had a calling become a fundraising natural,” writes Layna Hafer, executive director of the Weiser Memorial Hospital Foundation. She explains that she was delightfully surprised when retired educator Judy Grunke “ignited our board with a renewed ‘we can do this’ optimism, ‘let’s try something new’ encouragement and especially her excitement for ‘let’s celebrate our success.’” While Judy isn’t a paid fundraising professional, she no doubt exemplifies the mind-set that paves the way for board members to be a vital part of an organization’s fundraising success.
“Judy joined the hospital foundation board just over a year ago because one of the board members told her it would be a lot of fun and that she would be a part of a couple of fundraising events,” Hafer writes. “She soon learned that although the board is indeed fun, the members take their fundraising responsibilities seriously beyond two events, raising money throughout the year. The learning curve was steep, and during her first year she was eager to learn all the details … as well as what hospital projects needed the foundation’s fundraising efforts.
“For the foundation’s 26th annual Festival of Trees in December, Judy began in July looking for ways to make the event more financially successful, and after incorporating two new fundraising opportunities within the weeklong event, Judy raised an additional $8,000, pushing this year’s event over the $32,000 mark,” Hafer writes.
We salute Judy’s attitude and commitment. Here’s hoping this recognition gives other board members something to strive for!
Justin McCord
Digital Account Supervisor
Stratmark
Justin McCord joined Stratmark in 2012 (after five years in sports marketing), taking on Susan G. Komen for the Cure at the height of a media controversy. With net revenue dangerously below expectations, he went straight to work on a donor-centric digital communication strategy that would remind constituents of Komen’s true mission. As he fought to make up for net revenue losses in 2012, Justin implemented gender testing and specialized marketing for donors who gave in November and December 2011. Under his guidance, Komen released its first-ever mobile-optimized e-mail campaign.
