Meet Amanda Downs!
Meet (and friend!) Amanda Downs, a Blackbaud NetCommunity, Raiser's Edge, RENXT, and BBMS user, with West Virginia State University. Be sure to read about her "typical day" --- wow!Â
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Meet Amanda Downs!
This week's Community Corner spotlight shines on Raiser's Edge, RENXT, NetCommunity, and Blackbaud Merchant Services user, Amanda Downs, with West Virginia State University. |
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Tell us about your family (fur babies count!) "My husband and I have been together for over ten years and we have a beautiful little girl who will be turning 3 in a couple months. We also have one fur baby, Fergie, a calico cat who still looks like a kitten 5 years later." Where do you live? "Saint Albans, West Virginia." What do you like to do for fun? "I love spending time with my family - we love to go swimming or go to the park. I also love to bake, garden and read (not necessarily at the same time.)" |
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What’s a life achievement you are particularly proud of? "I'm definitely proud of earning my Master's Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University (Let's GOOOOO Mountaineers!)." |
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Tell us about your organization: "I work for West Virginia State University, an HBCU located in Institute, WV. Our institution is celebrating its 125th year in 2016 and remains dedicated to the mission of being student-centered and providing the very best education possible for State students." What’s a typical day like for you? "One word - crazy. As the Director of Advancement Services and Communications I am in charge of not only maintaining the database, but also communicating with our department's constituents - predominately alumni and donors. A typical day could include any number of the following (and some days all of the following): logging incoming donations through Raiser's Edge Batch; processing EFT recurring gifts; running financial reports in RE for upcoming meetings; exporting acknowledgement letters; making gift adjustments or writing off gifts; creating content and maintaining our NetCommunity pages including registration and donation pages; creating and/or sending out emails to constituents including our monthly alumni & friends e-newsletter and our monthly planned giving e-newsletter; designing electronic as well as print publications for upcoming events; checking and processing NetCommunity donations, event registrations, memberships, sign ups and other requests; maintaining a list of annual giving donor bricks that need to be installed prior to our next Homecoming; taking calls from alumni and donors in regard to upcoming events or their donation or registration history; troubleshooting any database or technical issues within my department; facilitating training and hosting Q&A sessions about issues relating to the database; managing and creating content for Alumni Relations social media accounts; designing major gift proposals....lunch." |
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What’s the best part of your job? "As a third generation graduate of West Virginia State, I love talking to alumni and friends who truly love the University. To see the lasting influence that the University has had on these individuals' lives is incredibly powerful." What advice would you give someone starting out in the non-profit field? "Practice wearing multiple hats." What do you love about the Blackbaud Community? "I love being able to reach out to individuals who know what I'm going through, who have a similar work background and who may be experiencing the same issues." |
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| Finally, if you were a sandwich - what kind of sandwich would you be?:Â "Two words - Avocado Toast." | ||
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Great advice, and you seem to wear them well.Â