AFP Member Spotlight: Katie Tilford

AFP Member Spotlights are a recurring series of interviews with AFP members, highlighting the unique individuals and career paths that exist within the fundraising profession. If you know an inspiring fundraising professional who deserves to be featured, please email afpmarcom@afpglobal.org. 

In this member spotlight, we interviewed Katie Tilford, interim executive director at the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers & Native Plants, who shared with us how she’s cultivating both plants and donors. Just as you can’t expect an oak tree to grow overnight, you can’t expect your donors to give without developing the relationship over time. 

Q: How did you start your career in the fundraising profession and what led you there? 
A: My first fundraising experience was at my college radio station, KUCI in Irvine, doing the annual fund drive to support our operations. I started working at Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants in 2020 out of a love for gardens and nature. I got sick with COVID and had a slow recovery that prevented me from keeping up with the physical aspects of the job. Confined to a desk, I started looking into the administrative side of things, and found ways to improve our customer database and membership/donation processes. From that research I found AFP and this whole fundraising world that combined all my passions into one. 

Q: When and why did you decide to become an AFP member? 
A: Early in my fundraising journey, I had so many questions about nonprofit policies and procedures. Having no network of my own to learn fundraising from, I looked for online communities and found AFP. Once I joined, I could search the community forums any time I had a question and see answers from others who had gone through the same things. It was like having an instant community of supportive people who can all relate to the same challenges.

Q: Are you doing anything innovative at your organization (or a past organization) that you think other fundraisers could benefit from? 
A: Being in Los Angeles and having an amazing community of plant lovers, we are lucky to have lots of chance interactions that can lead up to bigger things. For example, pro skater Lizzie Armanto started visiting our nursery in the last couple of years, and that led to us releasing a skateboard deck with her that features native plants and animals. At the same time, we are keeping some old traditions from our 60+ year history alive, like our Wildflower Hotline which is currently in its 41st year. For us, it’s important to strike a balance of much-loved traditions and new opportunities that still align with the mission.  

Q: What is your favorite word? (only one word) How has this word influenced or inspired your career? 
A: I have to go with “cultivate.” We’re all plant people here at TPF and we’re usually talking about cultivating plants, so it always gets a laugh when I shift into fundraiser mode and talk about cultivating donors. When planning a garden, you have to think years into the future and imagine how things will develop based on your choices today. Just like plants, you need to cultivate your relationships with people for them to grow. Having a gardener’s mind helps me think long term and not expect an acorn to grow into an oak tree overnight. 

Q: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? 
A: My favorite accomplishment so far has probably been starting our major giving group, the Friends of Ted. It’s so fun building relationships with these passionate individuals because we get to look at beautiful gardens and appreciate nature together. I feel super lucky to have them and honored to be trusted to steward our mission with their support.

Q: How has being an AFP member and participating in the AFP affinity groups benefited you in your career? 
A: Doing the work that we do, it is easy to fall into the busy trap and spend all your time in the bubble of your own organization. Through AFP and the affinity groups, I have connected with people at other organizations in different fields, with different ways of doing things. It has helped me think outside the box, and also made me really appreciate our own organization and all the ways that it is unique. 

Q: In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing the nonprofit fundraising profession today?
A: I think the biggest challenge is burnout. If you are busy all the time, you don’t have time to think or strategize about how to actually improve systems. We have to remember to take care of ourselves and establish a healthy work-life balance to sustain our ability to serve our constituents. Don’t feel guilty for taking care of yourself and encourage your colleagues to do the same!

Q: What advice do you have for other fundraising professionals, or people interested in getting into the field?
A: Join AFP and find your community! It’s so important to connect with other fundraisers to put things in perspective and find support. Everyone I have met has been so helpful and welcoming.