Blog
October 7, 2024
Nonprofit Executive in Residence Sterrin Bird Gives her take on We Are For Good
Sometimes when I log onto LinkedIn and see people traveling week after week to conference after conference, I wonder to myself, “Who is back at the office actually doing the work?” After grappling with that question for the last week or so, I now see these events as opportunities.
These are opportunities for each of us to ask ourselves what our role is in making the world a better place, to find community, and to re-energize ourselves in the sometimes-maddening world of resource-constrained nonprofit offices. When we choose where to spend our “free” time or professional development resources, we have to invest wisely.
As nonprofit executives, people, and parents, how can we let the little things add up to the big shifts the world needs to change? How can we make small changes that have a big effect? In fact, I recently put the answers to those questions in action. Let me introduce you to an organization that I am super excited to talk about—one that I am personally and professionally passionate about.
We Are For Good
We Are For Good is a nonprofit media company that is obsessed with celebrating the power of philanthropy through their podcast and other content. It’s run by some good friends of mine that, believe it or not, I “met” in an online chat room on Clubhouse back at the height of the pandemic. We’re a COVID “love story!”
We Are For Good’s work aligns nicely with Attain Partners’ core value to give back to the communities in which we live and work—which we call Obsessing Externally.
I recently got involved with their nontraditional gathering, Impact Up. It was exactly what I, and everyone in that room, needed. We spent the morning in a global, virtual convening talking about shifting the power dynamics in our sector, including between nonprofit executives and their board, the nonprofits and the people they serve, and the nonprofits and the philanthropists. Then, from 6 – 7:30p in 29 cities around the world, we gathered in person. I hosted a small cohort of about 41 people in the Bay Area. We had wine and cheese and talked about what those power dynamics meant in our careers and lives.
This gathering revealed to me how out of whack so many power dynamics currently are in our local, regional, and global communities. This event crystalized for me the power that we DO have—we can each trust the light and intentionality inside of ourselves. If we can focus on the fact that each and every one of us brings light and energy, including our own power to our work in the nonprofit sector, then WE can share our light with each other and the people with whom we work.
Small Dents Create Big Ripples
If enough of us strive to make small changes or dents, then all those dents will create one big ripple in the world. In the words of We Are For Good, an impact uprising.
We need to look to ourselves to fill the gaps and honor our own power. To name it, be proud of it, and not shy away from it. At the end of the day, we will need to step into the gap of the leadership vacuums we may see at home, at work, or in our communities.
Ask yourself, “What can I do today, this week, this month, and this year to make a change in my sphere of influence?”
That’s exactly what we did in this event, and it led to thousands of people from around the world having this essential conversation simultaneously.
ImpactUp: PAUSE – Oct. 10, 2024
The next ImpactUp event is on Thursday, October 10. During this event, we’ll discuss mental health and wellness and how to take care of each other while we do important life-changing work in the nonprofit sector.
Once again demonstrating our commitment to being intentional partners to the nonprofit sector, Attain Partners is proud to be sponsoring this global event. Learn more about how you can participate for free here.
Attain Partners – Your Partner in Driving Meaningful Impact
At Attain Partners, we’re familiar with the unique challenges facing mission-focused organizations and use our extensive experience to help nonprofits leverage Salesforce to accelerate their fundraising efforts, expand engagement with their constituents, manage the entire program lifecycle, and measure their outcomes and impact. Contact us today to learn how we can serve your organization.
For more, check out our Salesforce Innovation services, read case studies about our transformative work, and explore blog posts from our Salesforce experts.
About the Author
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.
