After more than 35 years in nonprofit fundraising, I’m preparing for one of the most bittersweet transitions of my life: my retirement, which will take place on September 5, 2025. It’s been a privilege to work in a field that connects people to causes they care deeply about, and it’s a calling I will always hold close. But as I look ahead, I’m equally excited about what this next chapter means — not just for me, but for the future of the work I’ve helped steward.
Fundraising is demanding, often invisible work. It’s the quiet heartbeat of any nonprofit — creating the relationships, trust, and systems that allow organizations to dream bigger, serve more, and endure. It requires resilience, creativity, emotional intelligence, and deep conviction. Over the years, I’ve learned that sustainability in this work isn’t just about revenue — it’s about leadership continuity, shared knowledge, and intentional handoffs.
That’s why, as I approach retirement, one of my top priorities has been mentoring the next generation. I believe deeply in warm handoffs—transitions rooted in relationship, trust, and preparation. It’s not enough to simply leave a well-organized file cabinet or a database full of notes. We owe it to our missions and our supporters to invest in people, to pass on not just what we’ve done, but why we’ve done it — and how to do it even better.
I’ve had the opportunity to mentor a rising development professional who embodies what this work calls for: a wide range of skills, a passion for justice and equity, and a spirit of adaptability. Adairah brings curiosity to every conversation, a willingness to learn, and an ability to pivot with purpose — qualities that I know will serve her, and the organization, well for years to come. Helping to nurture Adairah’s growth has been one of the most fulfilling parts of this phase of my career and I have learned a lot from her in return. So incredibly rewarding!
From left: Development Director Adairah Thapa, Weitz Fellow Julia Dunn, outgoing Development Director Kristine Morton, and Executive Director Mindy Rush Chipman.
As part of this intentional succession, it was also vital to recruit and mentor someone who reflects and advances the ACLU’s deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Building a future where leadership more accurately mirrors the communities we serve isn’t just a value — it’s a strategy for resilience, innovation, and justice.
Nonprofit fundraising doesn’t offer shortcuts. Success is built over time, through relationships, consistency, and the courage to ask bold questions. But when we take the time to mentor and develop talent, we plant seeds that will grow far beyond our own tenure. The investment we make in emerging professionals ensures that the work continues — resilient, responsive, and rooted in community.
As I prepare to step away, I feel proud — not just of the dollars raised or the campaigns completed, but of the people who are now stepping forward to lead. Retirement, for me, isn’t an end; it’s a continuation of the mission, passed from hand to hand, heart to heart.
Thank you to all who have supported me, challenged me, and collaborated with me along the way. This work has been a gift — and the future is in good hands.