Cool Careers - Foundation President

Interview with Maeve O’Byrne: President, Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation, Nanaimo, BC

1. How would you describe what you do?

I help people realize their philanthropic dreams and intentions. I am also a cheerleader for the Hospital and health care facilities that we raise money for and I manage a team. In that capacity, I am a coach and facilitator for my employees. I report directly to a governance board of directors and often find myself in the role of coach, particularly for those new to policy governance.

2. How did you get started?

Actually, I was recruited when I was in my early 20s. I had done a lot of volunteer work in Dublin and was approached with an offer to be paid for the work I was doing as a volunteer. I went and became the Events Manager for the oldest women’s hospital in the world in the midst of a hunger strike that was going on in Northern Ireland. On my first day, we had a public outreach day. Our people were out in the community assisting during the day, with doctors and nurses supporting in the evening. Tragically that night, a striker died in the H-block. My job was to contact every meeting place and pub to help ensure that doctors and nurses could return safely to the hospital. It was my first day on the job and it lasted 36 hours! I thought – wow! I can do this and love it!

3. What do you like and dislike about what you do?

I love the variety of the work – every day is different. I love meeting people and learning their stories.

Some weeks it would be nice to have a quiet week – that does not happen. Also, there are days that I wish for a 9 to 5 job. The life of a fundraiser is never 9 to 5.

4. How do you make money/or how are you compensated?

I am compensated by a salary that is negotiated as part of my contract. Ethically, it is not acceptable to receive bonuses based on funds raised – it is not part of the way the industry approaches compensation.

5. What education or skills are needed to do this?

Fundraisers need at least an undergrad degree – but the type can be very flexible. When I started you learned on the job by the seat of your pants and hoped for a good mentor. Now, Humber College has a good fundraising program, as do other Universities and Colleges. Also, after 5 years in the industry you can get your CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive).

You have to be personable, you have to like people’s stories and have a willingness and patience to work with your donor as they work through what they need to fulfil a philanthropic intention. You really need to be a quick study and very personable.

People today are quite focused within the philanthropic profession – areas that they will focus on like events or annual giving. When I started we were all generalists. Most people I know came from another profession into the industry.

6. What is most challenging about what you do?

I think keeping all of the balls in the air is the most challenging. My job has a lot of variety. I have a team of young professionals and we also run a coffee shop in the Hospital and a community program. Ensuring that I am aware of everything that is happening is a challenge.

A second challenge is more personal. Today I was notified that one of my favourite donors had passed away. I had worked with this person for 20 years and really liked him. I am close to my donors and know a lot about them – but I am not family. It is a difficult relationship to maintain boundaries while being so close to them and their families. You cannot get too involved in their lives – even if they are alone or in need of help. A line is drawn – you want them to give to the organization because they believe in it – not because they like your company or want to spend time with you. It is truly a privilege to work with the donors who support your organization.

7. What is most rewarding?

You get to see the results of your work. In almost every area of fundraising the results can be seen quickly. We recently raised money for the renovation of a Palliative Care Unit. The difference in the old unit compared to the new unit is amazing and I get a sense of satisfaction knowing I had a part to play in that happening.

8. What advice would you offer someone considering this career?

Make sure that you really do like people and their stories. Also, this is a career that does not have regular hours – it will eat into your home life. Finally, people in this career need to be good at taking care of themselves. It is very easy to get burned out by a project or scheme – they can easily consume you with long hours and events to attend in the community. You can forget about yourself – this has happened to several colleagues and in the end, it really doesn’t help. It doesn’t help the donors, your organization, yourself or your family.

9. What is a common misconception people have about what you do?

When I started the misconception was that these jobs were only volunteer – they were not paid. Today there is more of an understanding that professionals in this sector are paid. We are often manage millions of dollars and, yet, there are still views that we should not be paid reasonable salaries. If you were handing over millions of dollars to a banker or stock broker you wouldn’t expect to compensate them at minimum wage. But people think because we are fundraisers and in the non-profit sector we can be paid less – which really is just not right. Often in their heads they understand the need to pay a reasonable salary, but it is in their hearts that they have difficulty accepting that a portion should come from their gift!

10. What are your goals/dreams for the future?

I am currently enrolled in Royal Roads University’s Coaching Certificate program. My dream is to coach professionals in the fundraising and non-profit sector. I’d like to move into this new arena and help people realize their professional dreams as they move up the career ladder.

11. What else would you like people to know about what you do?

It is a very rewarding career that requires you to be humble. It is a career of service – you are working for others in the fullest meaning of the phrase – it is not about you.

For more information about the foundation, please visit www.nanaimohospitalfoundation.com or I can be contacted at: maeve@nanaimohospitalfoundation.com

Thanks so much for sharing your career with Challenge Factory, Maeve!

Interested in learning about other careers?  Check out our other Cool Careers interviews!