Women’s History Month - Interview with Dr. Shalonda Martin
Dr. Shalonda Martin is an ICF-trained coach, DEI, organizational, and leadership development professional with over two decades of experience. She is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion, and creating inclusive work cultures. She also runs her own consultancy, SM Coaching & Consultancy.
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in advancement/fundraising?
During my freshman year at Pepperdine University, I stumbled into a role within the advancement department as a student worker. At the time, I didn't have much insight into what the role entailed, but it seemed like it would look good on a resume. As my undergraduate years progressed, I remained dedicated to the advancement division, eventually securing a permanent position upon graduation.
Initially, my commitment to the team felt more like a job than a career, and I actively explored opportunities within the for-profit sector. However, none of these opportunities felt right. It was during this period of reflection that I began to appreciate the unique mission of higher education Advancement and realized my desire to contribute to this space.
Under the guidance of an exceptional leader, Janice May-Pinkowski, I found mentorship, kindness, and a commitment to team development. It was through her support that I discovered a genuine passion for the advancement space and a desire to cultivate my career within it.
2. How has your journey evolved over the years?
Over time, my journey in Advancement has transformed from a narrow, transactional role to one of leadership and collaboration. I've had the opportunity to build teams, devise strategies, lead transformative efforts, and continually learn. Most importantly, I find great joy in mentoring and coaching others, witnessing their growth and contributions to Advancement.
3. Can you share an instance where you had to make a tough decision that ultimately led to a positive outcome?
4. If you had a time machine and could visit any event in history, which one would you choose and why?
As a black woman, time travel to the past is not appealing to me. While I am very appreciative of so many things that have happened in the past that have allowed society to advance to where we are today, I can’t say there is an event I would want to travel back to.
5. What emerging trends in philanthropy and fundraising excite you the most?
I sense a shift in philanthropy and fundraising towards a more expansive perspective. It's no longer solely about pursuing the next major donation; instead, there's a growing emphasis on the broader vision and long-term strategy. There's also a heightened awareness of how identity influences engagement and philanthropy, along with a widened scope in evaluating alumni engagement metrics.
Dr. Shalonda Martin is an ICF-trained coach, DEI, organizational, and leadership development professional with over two decades of experience. She is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion, and creating inclusive work cultures. She also runs her own consultancy, SM Coaching & Consultancy.
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in advancement/fundraising?
During my freshman year at Pepperdine University, I stumbled into a role within the advancement department as a student worker. At the time, I didn't have much insight into what the role entailed, but it seemed like it would look good on a resume. As my undergraduate years progressed, I remained dedicated to the advancement division, eventually securing a permanent position upon graduation.
Initially, my commitment to the team felt more like a job than a career, and I actively explored opportunities within the for-profit sector. However, none of these opportunities felt right. It was during this period of reflection that I began to appreciate the unique mission of higher education Advancement and realized my desire to contribute to this space.
Under the guidance of an exceptional leader, Janice May-Pinkowski, I found mentorship, kindness, and a commitment to team development. It was through her support that I discovered a genuine passion for the advancement space and a desire to cultivate my career within it.
2. How has your journey evolved over the years?
Over time, my journey in Advancement has transformed from a narrow, transactional role to one of leadership and collaboration. I've had the opportunity to build teams, devise strategies, lead transformative efforts, and continually learn. Most importantly, I find great joy in mentoring and coaching others, witnessing their growth and contributions to Advancement.
3. Can you share an instance where you had to make a tough decision that ultimately led to a positive outcome?
4. If you had a time machine and could visit any event in history, which one would you choose and why?
As a black woman, time travel to the past is not appealing to me. While I am very appreciative of so many things that have happened in the past that have allowed society to advance to where we are today, I can’t say there is an event I would want to travel back to.
5. What emerging trends in philanthropy and fundraising excite you the most?
I sense a shift in philanthropy and fundraising towards a more expansive perspective. It's no longer solely about pursuing the next major donation; instead, there's a growing emphasis on the broader vision and long-term strategy. There's also a heightened awareness of how identity influences engagement and philanthropy, along with a widened scope in evaluating alumni engagement metrics.
Blackbaud, the leading provider of software for powering social impact, and Almabase, the digital-first alumni engagement solution, have announced the expansion of their partnership to the education sectors of Canada and the United Kingdom. The partnership will provide institutions with a modern, digital-first solution to improve constituent data, drive self-serve engagement, and boost event participation.
A Unified Vision
The partnership aligns with Blackbaud’s commitment to customer-centric innovation across digital engagement, Advancement CRM, and financials.
“Partners bring integrated capabilities that extend capabilities and outcomes for Blackbaud customers. We are thrilled that Almabase’s offering, integrated with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT® and leveraging Blackbaud’s best-in-class payment solution, Blackbaud Merchant Services™, is now available to even more of our customers around the world.”
- Liz Price, Sr. Director of Global Partners at Blackbaud
