Member Spotlight: Emily Calkins-Reed

Name: Emily Calkins-Reed
Institution: Columbia University
Position: Assistant Director of Strategic Donor Relations and Stewardship
ADRP member for 2 years

How long have you worked in donor relations/stewardship and how did you get involved in this profession?

I have been working in Donor Relations for three years. I started out at Columbia as a graduate student, where I found an interest in the operating challenges of a university. One thing that led me to stewardship in particular is the unique opportunity to further an organization’s mission by elevating stories of those who are having an impact. I thrive on sharing the good that is being done.

Could you tell us something about the organization you work for?

Columbia is one of the oldest, most respected universities in the country, and our current efforts involve promoting innovation within the school’s walls and on a global scale. In recent years, we opened our new Manhattanville campus, along with our newest Columbia Global Center, to help achieve this goal. Through these efforts, we deepened relationships with our lifelong supporters and welcomed a new generation of donors.

What do you like most about being a member of ADRP?

I attended the international conference in Miami this September, and I enjoyed the opportunity to speak with so many professionals in different stages of their careers. One thing I did not expect to benefit from was the Gather program for executives. Gather provided separate space for the executives to workshop major industry questions, and they were excited to share those discussions in more informal ways. As an early-stage professional, I benefited greatly from those conversations and the connections I made through the conference.

What is your greatest donor relations/stewardship achievement?

One project I am proud of is our endowed professorship reporting strategy, which is ongoing. I am collaborating with my supervisor, who has worked to optimize our customer relationship management software for the project. This past year, I conducted an extensive data audit and re-design of our report package. Now we are refining our capabilities to capture information on new professorships and vacancies, schedule reports for approval far into the future, and produce different types of reports over the lifecycle of a professorship appointment. Ultimately, we are hoping to be the best partners we can to our colleagues in Development and increase stewardship touches for this important donor pool.

What is the most important professional goal you are currently pursuing, i.e., attaining a degree, preparing to give a presentation, an initiative at work or in your community, etc.?

Columbia has stewardship teams across its campus, including my team, which sits centrally. Recently, I started planning and managing quarterly gatherings that bring this community of donor relations professionals together. We meet to network, share successes, communicate University-wide initiatives, and problem solve. I recently had the opportunity to host the community’s annual retreat. As the group manager, I am in conversation about designing content and updating our event schedule to provide the most value for our donor relations colleagues.

How big a role does the use of social media play in your work?

Social media hasn’t played much of a role in stewarding the donors in my portfolio. My team has the benefit of working closely with other teams, who run sophisticated social media campaigns. For example, our annual fund colleagues recently ran a stewardship series on social media to thank those who gave online during our Giving Day.

Is there a resource, i.e., book, blog, website, etc., that you would recommend to other ADRP members?

When a new member starts on our stewardship team, our director gives them a copy of The 4 Pillars of Donor Relations, by Lynne Wester. Reading it at a time when I was considering how I would fit into the donor experience at Columbia was very helpful, and I would recommend that book to any early-career, donor relations professional.

What is the best piece of professional advice you have ever received?

One piece of advice that has stuck with me is to always build and maintain relationships. Even within an office, networks are a huge asset. It makes it easier to ask for and give help and, ultimately, to be stronger as a unit.

Are there any particular stories, insights, etc., from your experiences in donor relations and stewardship that you would like to share with our colleagues?

One trend I am excited to see in higher education is the emerging focus on women’s philanthropy. Many schools, like Columbia, are in a unique position to cultivate this group, because of the large cohort of women alumni and professionals, who are now reaching their leadership and retirement years. These women haven’t always benefited from the same attention as their male counterparts. I think this is an exciting time to engage these women with the personalized touch that donor relations teams can offer, as we incorporate their talents into our donor community.