Her Story
About Christy
Christy Low serves as Executive Director of Development, where she leads fundraising efforts at an academic medical center. Since entering the field in 1995, she has built expertise in grateful patient fundraising, helping donors find meaning in their experiences of loss or survivorship while connecting them to institutional priorities. Low also focuses on mentoring new development associates through relationship-building and follow-through. A communications graduate of Arkansas State University, she transitioned from a decade as a stay-at-home mom and volunteer fundraiser with Junior Auxiliary in Jonesboro after seeing a newspaper ad for a development officer position at her alma mater. Low credits her success to listening, being genuine, and consistent follow-through, and she advises others to build internal relationships first and to leave situations better than they found them. She values integrity, accountability, loyalty, honesty, and follow-through in both her professional and personal life, where she prioritizes growing in faith with her children and living life to its fullest.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Christy
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to listening and being genuine, along with follow-through. When I train younger people, it's usually based on whether they follow up after visits. You can go see people all day long, but there's always follow-through and follow-up from a visit. Be yourself.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to leave it better than you find it. It's a good mantra for follow-through being key.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Build the relationships internally before you start working with your external relationships. That's key because you can't really go out there and explain stuff without having your stakeholders share what their priorities are. Sit on your hands and listen. It's important to hear their story.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Stability and budget crisis are big challenges. There's always a budget crisis. Staff turnover is an issue because in our business we're in the relationship business, and when development officers leave after 2 to 3 years, you've lost that footprint and have to start all over again.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is most important, along with accountability, loyalty, honesty, and follow-through. Growing in faith with my kids and living life to its fullest are key. The days are long and the years are short.
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