Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Christy Gilmour, Principal and Owner of Gilmour Consulting, who highlights her work with nonprofits in strategic planning, fundraising, and communications. Christy shares her background and explains her consulting approach, emphasizing the importance of early involvement in projects and tailoring strategies to each organization’s unique needs. She discusses current trends in fundraising, including the availability of funding and the need for strategic communication with different audiences. Christy highlights the importance of authentic storytelling and being proactive in communication, especially during holiday seasons when engagement may drop. She also shares success stories from her work with organizations like Contemporary Arts Memphis and Madonna Learning Center. The conversation concludes with Christy expressing optimism about new developments in Memphis, including the new Museum of Art and the Metal Museum’s move to Overton Park, as well as the arrival of new leadership in local nonprofits. Christy invites listeners to connect with her through LinkedIn and her website, www.cgilmourconsulting.com, for those seeking support in the nonprofit sector.
Summary
Christy Gilmour discusses her background and expertise in consulting for nonprofits. Christy shares her journey from being an accidental Memphian to becoming a successful consultant, highlighting her work in strategic planning, fund development, and impact communications. She emphasizes her focus on creating effective strategic plans that organizations can implement and her experience working with over 75 organizations in the past 12.5 years.
Christy emphasizes the importance of engaging early in the planning process for nonprofits, suggesting that effective communication and strategic planning are crucial for successful fundraising. She highlights the availability of funding in the current climate, urging leaders to seek out opportunities and network within their communities to access these resources.
Christy discusses her approach to fundraising, emphasizing the importance of strategic, relational, and mission-focused strategies. She highlights the need to analyze an organization’s financial portfolio and realign funding sources to match their mission, using an example of an organization that secured significant county funding after identifying misalignment. Christy also stresses the significance of authentic storytelling in effectively communicating an organization’s mission to donors, grantors, and sponsors.
Christy discusses the importance of strategic planning with communication, especially around key fundraising periods like Giving Tuesday and year-end giving. She highlights the changing consumer behavior, noting that the last two weeks of the year are now a less effective time for outreach due to holiday season, and stresses planning well in advance for end-of-year campaigns.
Christy discusses the importance of having a strategic media plan to effectively communicate successes and achievements. Christy shares her experience working with Contemporary Arts Memphis, a nonprofit organization founded by Derek Fordjour. Over four years, the organization has evolved from a summer camp featuring an arts experience in New York City to a thriving artistic environment in Memphis, offering various programs for high school students. Christy highlights the success of their recent gala, “Deck the Walls,” which featured student artwork and celebrated the organization’s mission of empowering young people through art.
Christy discusses the unique experiences and relationships built through working with multiple organizations, emphasizing how these experiences transform both the organizations and the individuals involved. Christy shares her personal growth, highlighting how her previous role as an Executive Director taught her the importance of being authentic, compassionate, and respectful of boundaries. She also notes the shift in her approach to communication and work culture awareness, particularly in the context of the post-COVID environment.
Christy discusses the unique cultural and philanthropic aspects of different Tennessee cities. She emphasizes the state’s business-friendly environment, including the lack of income tax and thriving industries. Christy also stresses the importance of relationships in her work across cities, noting that while she may not always know the key contacts, she can still navigate through her network to achieve her goals.
Christy discusses her optimism for Memphis’s future, highlighting the positive impact of new cultural institutions like the downtown Museum of Art and the Metal Museum’s move to Overton Park. She expresses enthusiasm for new leadership at local organizations and their potential contributions to the community.
Christy invites listeners to connect with her through LinkedIn and her website, www.cgilmourconsulting.com, for those seeking support in the nonprofit sector.
