In a chaotic job market, when fundraisers have shorter and shorter tenures within organizations, what can we do to increase fundraising effectiveness and increase employee satisfaction? A strengths-based approach to your team focuses energy on what your team members do well. Everyone has something to contribute: a skillset, knowledge base, an attitude that can be leveraged to support the team and its broader goals. Let’s talk about how to get there.

This presentation introduces the audience to Community Centric Fundraising and its principles, alongside a conversation about the white savior complex. These areas give participants an opportunity to dig deep about how philanthropy is approached by them and by their organization.

Participants will learn to think about their strengths and how to leverage them alongside team members. For leaders/managers, they will be able to think about their team members and how to emphasize strengths to maximize effectiveness. Attendees will learn why a strength's based approach is effective, how to implement, and how it connects to the field of philanthropy.

Elizabeth Freeze is the Senior Director of Philanthropy at Guilford College. Her fundraising career spans nonprofits of various sizes and positions from entry level to organization leadership. Originally from Atlanta, Elizabeth came to North Carolina to attend Davidson College and never left. She has a master's degree in Social Work and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from UNC Chapel Hill. Elizabeth enjoys swimming, reading and spending time outside with her 9- and 5-year-old sons.