The Dream: Part One.

Making a Dream Happen

So today I took a baby step. I think dreams are all really a series of baby steps – each piled one on top of the other until they reach somewhere. They are ideas, and then they are passionate ideas, and then they are something more than both of those things put together.

I have ALWAYS wanted to turn my job into consulting. It has been a component of what I do for a long time (in my head.) Don’t you love circumstances like that? You have this passion and this drive, but it hasn’t made it out of your mind.

Today, in all attempts to leave behind the “just in your head” syndrome, I am starting my pro-bono fundraising business. That’s right – nonprofit worker? Working on a government grant? Interested in strategizing about philanthropy?

Look no further. For more details, click here.

It’s a work in progress. It’s my DREAM, part one. So if you know anyone who is looking to get involved – Get in Touch.

Help me make it happen.

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Career, Philanthropy | Beth Oppenheim February 18, 2010

12 Comments to “The Dream: Part One.”

By Emily Jasper, February 18, 2010 @ 7:19 pm

YAY!!!
By Beth Oppenheim, February 19, 2010 @ 9:36 am
By Sam Karol, February 19, 2010 @ 10:11 am

Congrats!! And, best of luck on your new adventure
By Jason Parker, February 19, 2010 @ 10:25 am

Beth, great to see this. Would be interested in discussing how I can help–once I move up there, of course!
By Beth Oppenheim, February 19, 2010 @ 10:46 am

That would be great, Jason. I think that there’s real opportunity!
By Jenny Blake, February 19, 2010 @ 1:43 pm

Congrats Beth! I am so excited for you! I hope you get a chance to go out and celebrate this weekend
By cameron plommer, February 19, 2010 @ 2:47 pm

Always great to hear people doing thangs in the nonprofit world, because, well frankly, we need a lot of help! Big Ups!
By Beth Oppenheim, February 21, 2010 @ 12:34 pm

Thanks! I still have to schedule in that celebration…
By Beth Oppenheim, February 21, 2010 @ 12:34 pm

Thanks Cameron, I really appreciate it.
By ali la loca, February 26, 2010 @ 11:11 pm

I’m interested to see how this turns out for you. It’s a tough field – you know a little bit about my background and experience – and I have to say that I became very, very, very cynical after 5 years writing proposals and business plans for programs and entrepreneurs with – on the surface, at least – good intentions and a desire to help those who are less fortunate. Like anything else, the grant/proposal-writing, development-promotion field is AN INDUSTRY – make no mistake about it. There is a hustle and a good portion of BS and schmoozing just like any other field…so be prepared. My conclusions – and I’d be glad to discuss them with you more in-depth via email – are that if you are truly wanting to “make a difference”, work on the smallest scale possible, as directly with the beneficiary(ies) as possible, and really, seriously, soul-searchingly question your motives as to why you want to help, and whether people really want to change their lives and put in the hard work that requires. It’s not easy, but there are some success stories and I’m happy to say that I have some personal ones to share…but they are, undoubtedly, few and far between.
By Beth Oppenheim, March 1, 2010 @ 9:15 am

Thanks for your perspective, Ali. I definitely appreciate it. After 5 years in fundraising I definitely have learned some of the same lessons. I think you are also right about the small scale. Grassroots has been my first love for a long time and I think it’s right – that the closer you are to the beneficiaries, the closer you are to the “stories” and good experiences. Really appreciate your perspective