After much thought, I’ve made the bittersweet decision to move on from my position as Director of Philanthropy here at Gathering Waters. I’ll be taking some time to be with my young family before finding my next professional chapter.
But before I go, I wanted to say thank you to each of you who I have worked with over the past six years.
Every fundraiser I know landed in this profession circuitously. I’m no exception. For me, it started with a love of nature, which took me first to environmental education, then to program coordination, and eventually, to fundraising.
Once I landed in fundraising, it was and is, you, our wonderful supporters, who have kept me here.
You–the dedicated garlic mustard puller–who inspires me with your nature knowledge and birding expeditions.
You–the outdoorsman–who stopped hunting years ago and quietly and generously supports land protection.
You–the organized and smart former professor–who shares your love for the world through poetry.
You–the quirky trumpet player–who excels in numbers and isn’t afraid to invite others to support a good cause.
And you. You. You. And you.
Many of you graciously accepted my invitation to get together so I could thank you for your support. Initially, I got to know you through your love of nature and your support of Gathering Waters. Eventually, I got to know and appreciate you for the many other wonderful qualities you possess.
I’m so grateful for my time at Gathering Waters. I’m so grateful for you.
Finally, I’m happy to share that my replacement has already been hired. Our roles will overlap for training so the transition is as seamless as possible before I leave.
Danni Niles comes to Gathering Waters after having worked in fundraising at two of our member land trusts and she currently serves as a board member at one of them.
I know that Danni will be able to help you make a difference for land protection in Wisconsin.
And now, I’m entrusting Danni to all of you! Take good care of her–just like you did of me.
To ease the transition, I’ve asked Danni to take a moment and introduce herself to you.
P.S. I’ll be at our Winter Open House at the Gathering Waters office from 4:30-7 pm on Tuesday, December 9. I hope you’ll stop in to say goodbye!
And a Hello from Danni…
I am so excited to be joining the Gathering Waters team!
For many years I’ve admired the work that Gathering Waters has done to boost the protection made possible by local land trusts and the excellent advocacy work for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
I deeply value the lands and waters that my family and I live and play on.
Having grown up working on my parents’ CSA farm, I learned that it is everyone’s job to care for and protect the land. I saw how the vibrant fabric of partnership and community connections supported the rural area where I grew up.
As an adult, I’ve built on those foundational values to work on providing care and protection for our environment through fundraising for nonprofits.
Now, stepping into my new role at Gathering Waters, I’m looking forward to working with you to help you protect more of Wisconsin’s land, water, and wildlife for the next generation.
As we embark on this transition, I thought it might be helpful if you knew a little more about my background and the love of the land that we all share.
I’ve spent the last few years forming bridges between folks who love the outdoors and great conservation organizations. These bridges made protection and care possible all across Wisconsin. Previously, I’ve held development positions at Groundswell Conservancy, Driftless Area Land Conservancy, and Monk Botanical Gardens. Currently, I serve as the board president for Driftless Area Land Conservancy.
Through all of these experiences, I’ve had the privilege of getting a front row seat to inspiring stories of perseverance from landowners, immense generosity catapulting organizations to new horizons of effectiveness, and moving moments of connections between people and place on strolls through the woods.
As the new Director of Philanthropy at Gathering Waters, I hope to continue Creal’s work to bring funding and resources to our local land trusts. Creal has formed beautiful relationships with supporters and built an incredible team. Before she departs in December, she has graciously offered to work collaboratively with me through this transition. I’m eager to learn from her, the team, and from you.
From what Creal has told me about you and our other incredible donors, I believe that together we can, and will, continue to safeguard Wisconsin’s special places. I look forward to meeting with you.
You can help me get started by introducing yourself.
Do you have a conservation story you think I should know about? Is there a public protected place I should visit (bonus points if it’s a great place for kids to explore!)? Please share with me!
