Blog
July 23, 2024
Salesforce expert and experienced nonprofit leader Sterrin Bird joins Attain Partners as Nonprofit Executive in Residence
In June, Sterrin Bird, a legend in the Salesforce ecosystem known for her ability to radically transform and improve the operations of nonprofits, joined Attain Partners as our first Nonprofit Executive in Residence. Designed to bring the best minds in the business to our clients, the Executive in Residence program allows key leaders to consult with Team Attain, sharing their expertise. We are thrilled to have Sterrin working with our tremendous nonprofit experts within the Attain Digital practice.
Attain Partners is the premier Salesforce consultancy for the nonprofit industry. As a Salesforce Summit Partner, our team of experts is always striving to invent the future and be the best in everything we do. From the ALS Association to the SEED Foundation, our strategy and CRM experts first work with nonprofit visionaries to identify their business problems and then design and implement a tailored solution to help them move their missions forward. With Sterrin helping to bring innovative ideas to life, our nonprofit clients are poised for incredible transformation.
Learn more about Sterrin and her passion for the nonprofit industry in our interview below. Plus, don’t miss the opportunity to hear from her directly!
Attain Partners (AP): Why are you passionate about helping nonprofits advance their important missions?
Sterrin Bird (SB): First of all, I want to say that I believe inherently in humankind and our desire to help each other and to live in community. I also think we grossly underestimate the way the nonprofit sector is holding up communities around the world, filling in the gaps and providing the scaffolding and infrastructure that the private and larger public sector cannot (and will not) manage. So, with that said, I think we need the nonprofit sector to not just survive, but to thrive! I have been unbelievably blessed to work in this sector for my entire career—I have a lot to share but also a lot to learn. If I can be a catalyst of supporting my colleagues around the world with innovation by leveraging my experience and the team at Attain Partners, then I’m in.
AP: How did you start working in the nonprofit industry?
SB: I grew up in a family that was very philanthropic when times were good and at the time of their passing, my parents were homeless. I’m acutely aware of the generosity of others that propelled me through high school, college, and beyond. I knew what it was like to have and to have nothing and need to ask for help. I suppose it was my destiny to work in this amazing industry.
AP: What made you decide to join Attain Partners as Nonprofit Executive in Residence?
SB: From the moment I met Kristi Phillips, I knew she was approaching this work differently than the others. Kristi was developing the strategy with equal parts heart and mind. We agreed that we can’t keep doing things the same way and re-packaging it saying it’s different and wishing for an alternate outcome. We have a responsibility to collaborate with the NGOs we serve to deliver sustainable roadmaps, strategic guidance, and uncommon coaching. Let’s not overcomplicate this—let’s do it! We need to partner differently, to learn differently, and to build community around the work. Because the work is hard.
“We have a responsibility to collaborate with the NGOs we serve to deliver sustainable roadmaps, strategic guidance, and uncommon coaching.“
Sterrin Bird, Nonprofit Executive in Residence, Attain Partners
AP: What are the biggest areas of opportunity for nonprofits right now?
SB: I think one of the biggest areas of opportunity right now is with collaboration and learning about how to practically leverage tech in service of fundraising—that’s how Attain Partners approaches it. Not talking at you, but learning and growing with you. And, we must advantage the innovation we are watching unfold—at a minimum, get your data house in order! We also want to get back to being human. This work is human work—we need to get back together and be together in the work. The NGO industry is by definition built on sharing—let’s work together!
AP: Which of our seven core values speak to you the most?
SB: That’s easy—Be Bold!
AP: What are the biggest ways you’ve seen digital transformation initiatives impact nonprofit organizations?
SB: I remember visiting with Paul Luu, the CEO of the Chinese American Service League in Chicago, and hearing the story of the work his organization does for the Chinese community. Their journey with Salesforce began prior to the pandemic, and, by God’s grace, allowed them to support and scale their work during COVID. The lessons learned, their journey, response, and impact were mind-blowing. He reminded me that digital transformation is a misnomer—it’s an evolution, not a destination.
AP: What do you enjoy outside of work?
SB: I love my family! My son, Tommy, just graduated from high school and is off to Colorado State in the fall, and my daughter Mary is a rising junior. I love my yellow lab, Jerry Garcia, too—he will be joined later this Fall by a little sister puppy, Joni Mitchell. I guess you can tell by my dogs’ names that I am a hippie at heart and an avid music lover! I enjoy spending time in Lake Tahoe in the summer and winter and Newport Beach. New York is my favorite US city and New Orleans is a close second. I’ve been to New Orleans Jazz Fest 29 times and the Kentucky Derby 10 times, and I love spending time in Napa and Sonoma, too!
Attain Partners – Salesforce Experts
No matter if your organization is beginning its Salesforce journey or 10+ years into development, Attain Partners is here to help you achieve your goals. Contact our team today to learn how we can help you advance your mission by harnessing the power of Salesforce.
To learn more, check out our Salesforce Innovation services, read case studies about our transformative work, and explore blog posts from our Salesforce experts. Read our latest advancement insights here.
Learn more – Sterrin Bird
Sterrin Bird is a global fundraising leader and transformative figure in the nonprofit community, universally recognized for her nearly three decades of exceptional dedication to philanthropy. Her expertise spans the future of fundraising, building robust teams, and mastering the art of relational fundraising. With a keen focus on breaking down silos and fostering human-centered change, Sterrin excels in leveraging technology in support of mission outcomes and is an advocate for utilizing AI for fundraising innovation.
Prior to her tenure as a development officer, Sterrin catalyzed growth as a development consultant for three notable international consulting firms, where she blossomed into a cross-functional leader. In 2010, she founded her own consulting practice, orienting her approach around uncommon coaching and leadership mentoring. Throughout her multifaceted career, Sterrin has orchestrated over three dozen capital campaigns across the globe, cumulatively raising more than $5.5 billion, securing her reputation as a global fundraising leader.
In her professional journey, she has held pivotal leadership roles at prestigious nonprofit giants such as Duke Medicine, the University of California, the American Red Cross, the March of Dimes, and United Way. Sterrin also spent four years as the in-house nonprofit expert with the global team at Salesforce.
Sterrin holds an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School. She is also a True North Leadership Fellow and was named to the Advisory Council of Rogare, a fundraising think tank in the UK at the University of Plymouth.
Her extensive experience with C-suite executives, nonprofit directors, and leadership across complex organizations speaks to her ability to exceed funding objectives while leading teams and managing the ever-changing nonprofit industry. A distinguished cross-functional leader, Sterrin navigates the intersection of fundraising, marketing, brand positioning, and program advancement with ease.
Originally from Short Hills, New Jersey, Sterrin now calls the Bay Area home, living with her two children, Thomas and Mary. She is a prolific public speaker and is also deeply invested in her community, she sits on the board of Maimoni Valley Preserve, One Life Counseling, and the Young Men’s Service League, embodying the spirit of engaged and impactful citizenship.
Interested in speaking directly with Sterrin? Fill out this form to be connected!
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