Cara Haberman, global philanthropy specialist for UNICEF, has spent almost a decade working in fundraising for a number of international development and human rights nonprofits. Last year, Haberman and her team began looking into professional development programs in order to build capacity for UNICEF’s major gifts fundraisers.
“We had a good experience working with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy when we participated in the event ‘The Changing Landscape of Global Philanthropy’ in Washington, D.C. in 2018. The school released the Global Philanthropy Environment Index at this event, and UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore was interviewed by David Rubenstein,” Haberman explained.
After conducting research into content offerings for major gift fundraising and knowing the reputation of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and The Fund Raising School, Haberman and her team knew that a custom partnership with The Fund Raising School would be the most useful for participants.
Major gift officers from the U.S., Canada, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, India, and the U.K. attended the weeklong training in November, with UNICEF U.S. Director of Development Barron Segar and chief operating officer of UNICEF partner Kiwanis Children’s Fund Ann Updegraff Spleth also offering insights into the fundraising field.
Senior Major Gifts Officer Liz Freirich enjoyed learning about data that is driving emerging areas of fundraising, and also loved meeting colleagues from around the world.
Haberman hopes that the workshop built talent, provided skills and strengths-based training focused on the psychology of using a relationship for influence, strengthened community among major gift officers from different countries, and empowered staff to help strengthen organizational readiness for major gift fundraising:
“Long-term, we hope that this training will help us better raise funds for children in need.”
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