10 Questions or Less for Adam Donaldson

10 Questions or Less is a feature here on the Forum’s Forum in which we get to know regional association staff members a little better—their work, what drives them, and more. This week,  Adam Donaldson, Member Services Director at Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers. If you would like to suggest someone for a profile through 10 Questions or Less, contact Dan Brady.

You have a Masters in Public Policy and have played an active role in Foundations on the Hill. As we head into 2012, an election year, what issues should be at the forefront in regional associations staff’s minds?

All politics is local, which in this context is my way of saying regional association staff always have members at the forefront of their minds! So the questions are what are your members concerned about and what are you doing to engage and to listen to them? Have you established policies with your Board and members that allow you to advocate or lobby when opportunity or need knocks? In the Baltimore area, our members are anxious about government budget cuts and reduced private giving to nonprofits as a result of the economy. We are monitoring carefully the national conversation on charitable deductions and other efforts to gain government revenue from nonprofits and foundations.

You recently shared ABAG’s member renewal “thank you” letter on the Member Marketing listserve. ABAG seems to have a great relationship with its members, partially because of special touches like this. As the Member Services Director who also has a lot of other duties on his plate, how do make sure you get these important details right?

If I do get things right, it is precisely because I turn to the Forum network for best practices and rely on feedback from ABAG staff and long-time members (I believe in group writing). To focus my attention I rely on writing a fairly detailed annual plan and then pour my brain into my outlook calendar (my ring tone is “If I only had a brain”). Everything from reaching out to an unengaged member to taking my toddler to gymnastics happens because my iPhone buzzes. Send me a meeting maker anytime.

Staff Meeting: Mary O’Neill, Director of Programs

Staff Meeting is a feature here on the Forum’s Forum through which we check in with Forum staff members to find out what they’re working on, how you can get involved, and what they do in their off-hours.

Name:Mary O’Neill
Position: Director, Programs
Years with the Forum: 6.5

What are your primary responsibilities at the Forum?

As is the case at many regional associations with smaller staffs, I do a little of everything. My primary areas of focus are member benefits, programs, events, public policy, external partnerships, and special initiatives. I also handle administrative issues such as human resources and support Mike with board and funder relations. Every day is different!

What is the most enjoyable part of your job?

I enjoy having a variety of projects to work on, and there is never a shortage of projects at the Forum! I am a task-oriented person so I like being in a position to use the ideas and guidance of those of you who are experts in a topic and turning them into a program or resource that can benefit everyone. I also love working with and learning from my colleagues at regional associations and other infrastructure groups. I’ve been in this field for almost 15 years now and have built strong relationships that help me do my job better but have also led to real friendships which I value greatly.

FOTH Stipend Applications due Friday, December 16th

Stipends will once again be available to attend Foundations on the Hill (FOTH) in 2012. Foundations on the Hill is an annual event co-sponsored by the Council on Foundations and the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers for grantmaking and regional association representatives to meet with their members of Congress to promote the important role philanthropy plays in serving the public good. The upcoming FOTH will take place on March 21-22 and includes training sessions and meetings with members of Congress.

Each stipend will cover up to $1,200 in travel and hotel costs associated with attending Foundations on the Hill. Registration fees will also be waived for all stipend recipients. A stipend recipient’s regional association will also receive a $300 award to continue public policy and advocacy efforts in the state.

New Look for LearnPhilanthropy

Earlier this fall, LearnPhilanthropy (LP) conducted 22 hands-on user tests of the LearnPhilanthropy prototype with staff, donors, and trustees from a variety of different types of grantmaking and philanthropy support organizations. These tests have helped LearnPhilanthropy to identify eight priorities for site improvement:

1. Redesign the front page so that it’s inviting, active, compelling, and clear.
2. Further develop LP’s search function – make it easier to find and more highly functional
3. Improve initial search screen
4. Populate and format the resource landing pages
5. Improve the log-in/register page
6. Build out the individual profile functionality
7. Add and build more interactive elements
8. Test initial value-added content, like collections of resources, Q&A, etc.