Little Man in a Big World

Dublin, Amsterdam, and London can seem  like far off places that one thinks about visiting, but may never really think about cities to work in.  I had the opportunity to visit each of those cities recently and speak to fundraisers and fundraising consultants about the state of their sector, what they need to fulfill their missions, and of course show them eTapestry.  Let me share some of my random thoughts from my travels.

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• The passion that organizations have for their missions is the same no matter where you travel.  It always amazes me when speaking with the people in the organizations I visit because you can see the passion in their eyes, hear it when they speak, and see it in the work that they do.  I love soaking that up!
  
•  You are likely to get hit by a bicycle (there are soooo many to watch out for) or a tram (which I did) in Amsterdam if you are not paying attention.
  
• There are different ways of fundraising in other cultures and you need to travel to those areas to understand why.
  
• While there are a lot of differences, there are a lot of similarities too.  Every organization wants to be able to do things like take donations online or send out thank you letters.
  
• Organizations are looking for a powerful, yet easy to use solution to manage their fundraising.  Give me something to use that makes me more efficient, gives me the power to do what I want to do, but I don't have a lot of time to learn how to use it.  Sound familiar?
  
• The front doors in Dublin are amazing.
  
• Organizations are very busy and most people working there wear many hats, so having a system that allows them to keep track of their donors while managing a whole bunch of other things going on at the same time is vital.
  
• Non profits play a huge role in their communities, regions, and countries.  They are a vital part of the communities that they are in and supporting.
  
• Bitterballen's are a delicious snack in Amsterdam.
  
• The fundraising sector is a growing and vibrant area to be in worldwide.
  
• It is important for us to remember just how important of a role that Blackbaud plays as a company, and eTapestry as a product, worldwide.  The knowledge, ideas, resources, and services that we provide can truly help charities all over the globe making it a better place to live in.
  

Thanks for letting me share some ramblings from my trip.  I do believe that these travels will make eTapestry a much better product for all organizations, no matter where they are located.  While there are differences everywhere you travel, the similarities of what is needed are great.  This, along with the ideas from all users, will propel eTapestry well into the future.