T
TonyaH
Guest
Hi Jenny,
My name is Tonya and I have an 8 year old son with CF. I worked for the Foundation from the time Andrew was born until he was about 5 years old. I worked as a Director of Special Events (aka, fundraiser/event planner). Here are my thoughts.
I thought working with the Foundation would be very rewarding work. I thought that if I was going to have a job, it might as well be something that benefits my son. What I found was the complete opposite.
I worked out of the Metro Detroit office. While fundraising was a rewarding process, I learned so much negativity in the way the Foundation runs...office politics, pitting event planners against one another instead of focusing on their employees talents, etc. I was not impressed with the office locally, and I was even less impressed with the national office. I came to the conclusion that the CFF SPENDS their money very well....focusing on the best studies to follow, pharmaceutical companies to hire, etc. However the way they RAISE their money is a completely different story. I can go into more detail about this if you would like.
I thought it best to end my employee relationship with the foundation. Now, three years later, my husband and I are beginning to plan our next CFF fundraising event, but we are doing it on our own and then giving the money to the foundation. In fact, I just returned home from visiting the venue where the event will take place! I am excited about it and know it will be very successful! It is good to be doing the event and fundraising again.
And as for how the foundation feels about CF patients and families working for them? I know they are trying to steer themselves away from that and I personally think (from conversations I have been privy to) that the two reasons are:
1. cross contamination issues and
2. Bad press...what happens if they have to fire a CF patient and that patient takes it to the news? How would that sound to potential sponsors if the Foundation was firing the people they were supposed to be helping?
I know this is long-winded, but ask yourself why you really want to work there. You can do fundraising work for the Foundation as a volunteer or event chairperson. That will fulfill your desire to make a difference. Your decision to take on a job should have everything to do with the business of the CFF and if you would be comfortable there...not the warm fuzzy feelings you would get....Because in the end you can get the warm fuzzy feelings without the job title, just as we are doing with our event in August. (And in hindsight, I think you get more warm fuzzies as a volunteer than as an employee.)
Good luck and let me know what you decide!
My name is Tonya and I have an 8 year old son with CF. I worked for the Foundation from the time Andrew was born until he was about 5 years old. I worked as a Director of Special Events (aka, fundraiser/event planner). Here are my thoughts.
I thought working with the Foundation would be very rewarding work. I thought that if I was going to have a job, it might as well be something that benefits my son. What I found was the complete opposite.
I worked out of the Metro Detroit office. While fundraising was a rewarding process, I learned so much negativity in the way the Foundation runs...office politics, pitting event planners against one another instead of focusing on their employees talents, etc. I was not impressed with the office locally, and I was even less impressed with the national office. I came to the conclusion that the CFF SPENDS their money very well....focusing on the best studies to follow, pharmaceutical companies to hire, etc. However the way they RAISE their money is a completely different story. I can go into more detail about this if you would like.
I thought it best to end my employee relationship with the foundation. Now, three years later, my husband and I are beginning to plan our next CFF fundraising event, but we are doing it on our own and then giving the money to the foundation. In fact, I just returned home from visiting the venue where the event will take place! I am excited about it and know it will be very successful! It is good to be doing the event and fundraising again.
And as for how the foundation feels about CF patients and families working for them? I know they are trying to steer themselves away from that and I personally think (from conversations I have been privy to) that the two reasons are:
1. cross contamination issues and
2. Bad press...what happens if they have to fire a CF patient and that patient takes it to the news? How would that sound to potential sponsors if the Foundation was firing the people they were supposed to be helping?
I know this is long-winded, but ask yourself why you really want to work there. You can do fundraising work for the Foundation as a volunteer or event chairperson. That will fulfill your desire to make a difference. Your decision to take on a job should have everything to do with the business of the CFF and if you would be comfortable there...not the warm fuzzy feelings you would get....Because in the end you can get the warm fuzzy feelings without the job title, just as we are doing with our event in August. (And in hindsight, I think you get more warm fuzzies as a volunteer than as an employee.)
Good luck and let me know what you decide!