We are pleased to welcome Tom Wick, who has recently joined the TWB team as Senior Counsel. We asked Tom a few questions to learn more about his expertise, serving as an introduction for anyone seeking a seasoned development professional to partner with.
Following my graduation from Lawrence University, I became an admissions counselor for a small college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. While I was focused on recruiting students, the college’s chief development officer became my first career mentor. He introduced me to philanthropy and how it can positively impact a nonprofit, which sparked my desire to become a fundraiser.
After moving to Chicago, I was able to secure a job as assistant director of annual giving at Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech). Early in my tenure, I had the opportunity to work with Illinois Tech’s VP to cultivate a prospective donor for a gift. The VP was Clyde Watkins, and from that moment, Clyde became my professional mentor. He convinced me to make a commitment to this career, and he has provided a pathway that I have followed, which has led to meaningful professional experiences.
There are two unique experiences that I bring to my work with TWB:
I have had the opportunity to build collaborative and goal-oriented fundraising teams and productive programs. For example, at the University of Chicago, I became Chief Development Officer for a new Institute – the Urban Education Institute (UEI). UEI had no alumni, grateful patients, or subscribers. Working closely with UEI’s leadership and members of the UChicago board, we built a convincing and compelling case for support and a pool of major gift prospective donors. We then “pounded the pavement” to engage the prospective donors that inspired them to make major, principal ($1M) and transformational ($10M) gifts for key UEI priorities. These contributions enabled UEI to improve educational outcomes for students in Chicago public schools.
It has also been my privilege to create and direct the Management Fellows Program (MFP), a professional development program that prepares fundraisers to become philanthropic leaders through the Development Leadership Consortium. Through this experience, I have learned how to teach and guide colleagues to deepen their fundraising expertise and put what they have learned into action. I have also become familiar with a wide range of nonprofits that provide vital services that meet the needs of individuals, families, and communities throughout the Chicago region.
Philanthropy is a team game. Fundraising success is produced because the team has 1) confirmed what we are trying to accomplish together, 2) determined the “game plan” or specific activities that need to be taken to achieve the goals that have been set, and 3) clarified the roles and responsibilities that each member of the team needs to fulfill to efficiently and effectively put the plan into action. Proactive communication is crucial to keeping everyone fully informed and involved in these efforts.
Finally, my work with donors has taught me the importance of being an active listener. We need to learn about their interests and expectations. With this information, we can customize their engagement by helping them build relationships with the leaders and staff members who possess the knowledge that will meet their priorities and aspirations.
I am translating my commitment to donor-centric fundraising to client-centered consulting. My highest priority is to help my clients raise the philanthropic support they need to fulfill their missions even more effectively. I want them to have an even more positive impact on the people and communities they are serving.
To achieve this outcome, 1) I will listen and learn about their strengths and opportunities for growth and 2) work hand-in-hand with representatives of the clients to use this information to develop and implement the strategies that will lead to increased philanthropic support.
I believe deeply in TWB’s values and purpose, which I experienced firsthand as a client: “We are committed to ethical practice, integrity, honesty, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work and our client relationships.”
These values and purpose allowed our team to achieve our immediate fundraising goals, and they put us on a pathway for sustained fundraising success. I would like to bring this type of positive outcome to other nonprofits.
Read Tom's full bio or contact him about fundraising counsel at twick@twbfundraising.com.