Her Story
About Alison
I currently serve as the development director for both Texas Yes Project and Puppy Food Bank, roles I've held for about a year and a half. My typical day revolves around donor stewardship, which I'm really passionate about because I think it lends to continued giving and great partnerships. I also do a lot of donor research to see what people are focused on and what they're giving to. We have lots of meetings and collaborate with all different departments and different businesses in the building, so it's always busy juggling both organizations. Before these roles, I worked at the San Antonio Museum of Art and San Antonio Pets Alive during my eight years here in San Antonio. I'm originally from New Jersey, where I did investor relations in New York and some political work. I wanted to get on the other end and be boots on the ground, see what's going on, see what solutions nonprofits are coming up with, and now I can't imagine doing anything else. Texas has so many things that need improvement and need some guidance and some help, so I'm glad to be part of that. We're approaching incredible milestones - Texas Yes is almost at delivering a million school supply kits, probably next year, and Puppy Food Bank is almost at a million pounds of food distributed, which we should hit at the end of this year.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alison
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that you have to stick to your guns, you have to go into a field that you really are passionate about, because you have to put life lessons into what you're doing. You need to have research-driven models of how you're going to foster philanthropy, so you have to be able to put real-world spin onto what you're doing and how you're helping, and you have to know why you're doing it. We have to know the causes and all that, so a comprehensive passion for the field that you're in, for sure.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think people are struggling, and there's a sense of what's going to happen in the future. I know when people suffer, animals suffer, it's like a whole cycle. I think the education system in Texas is a little bit out of whack. I won't get into politics, I know that's not good. But I think people are just - it's a really interesting year, but I'm glad I'm here, boots on the ground, trying to come up with solutions to these problems.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, number one, always. Being genuine and authentic, I think are the second. And third, compassion slash empathy for others, being able to put yourself in their shoes, or understand to a degree what they're going through and what they need, and how to help, and do well - you can do well and do good. And I think that if you do do well, you ought to do good, too. That's huge for me.
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